Kerri McDermott Studio

About the Artist

Hello! I’m Kerri McDermott, an illustrator, designer, writer, and picture book maker.

My favorite picture books are heartfelt, humorous, and fun to read aloud. The best ones charm with deceiving simplicity, beautiful color palettes, and thoughtful design. I enjoy the solo challenge of the creative process, but I welcome collaboration with other kind humans, especially ones with a good sense of humor.

I’m currently working on my hand-lettering skills and a story about New Orleans jazz. When I’m not at my drawing desk, you can find me planning my next trip, hiking in the Rocky Mountains, or shamelessly eating another award-winning chocolate croissant from the corner bakery.

A Short Story

Once upon a time, there was a little red-haired girl born in Omaha, Nebraska. That’s me. As a kid, I liked to dance, read, draw, watch old monster movies, and make costumes. After high school, I studied graphic design, left my heart in New Orleans, got my first real job at an ad agency, backpacked in Europe, went broke, got my heart broken, moved to Grand Cayman, didn’t move to Costa Rica, and moved back home to study literature and nursing. After many years in healthcare, I eventually got back to my creative roots to pursue an MFA in Illustration at Academy of Art University. I married a music man and now my artist heart is home in San Francisco.

Thanks for stopping by!