Sadee Schilling
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sadeeschilling.bsky.social
Sadee Schilling
@sadeeschilling.bsky.social
830 followers 600 following 260 posts
artist, teacher & #kidlit author-illustrator 🎨 neurodivergent 📚grounded by books, fairy lights & tea 🏕 Colorado ☀️ seeking rep! https://www.sadeeschilling.com
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sadeeschilling.bsky.social
Couldn’t resist updating this favorite with an elusive white rabbit to celebrate the fluffy tail-end of fall! I have lots of ideas brewing & this time of the year is my fav time to cozy up & dream of making magical kidlit projects with an agent/AD/editor team. #kidlitartpostcard

SadeeSchilling.com
Children’s book illustration by Sadee Schilling in graphite and charcoal plus digital color. A glowing nighttime scene in blues and violets with a young girl in a wheelchair wearing a bunny costume. She spies three real rabbits in the pumpkin patch while soft lights hang amongst golden leaves and fiery lights twinkle among the sage blossoms.
November 7, 2025 at 8:03 PM
sadeeschilling.bsky.social
I’ve been regulating my nervous system this week and warming up for a commission with this new great-horned owl cut paper #collage. It’s likely one of the only #calmtober prompts I’ll get to, though I’m still enjoying everyone else’s illustrations! #watercolor #cutpaper #owl #calmtober25
Great Horned Owl art by Sadee Schilling rendered in watercolor and cut paper collage. The artist holds the finished assemblage with detailed, layered feathers and textured watercolor washes in earthy blues, violets, and browns. A watercolor painting of a tree in a similar color palette peeks out from behind the owl.
October 9, 2025 at 3:10 AM
sadeeschilling.bsky.social
It’s midnight tea-time but Luna’s catmint jar is empty. 10 FRISKY WHISKERS should be enough energy for a trip to the garden. But spooky frights & chatty delays wilt whiskers like wet noodles. Luna feels a meltdown coming—what will her friends think? Surprises & kindness await. #dvpit #PB #OWN #dvart
October 8, 2025 at 5:08 PM
sadeeschilling.bsky.social
It’s midnight tea-time but the catmint jar is empty. Luna’s ten frisky whiskers should be enough energy for a trip to the garden. But spooky frights & chatty friends wilt whiskers like wet noodles. Luna feels a meltdown coming—what will her friends think? A surprise & understanding await #dvpit #PB
Children’s book illustration by Sadee Schilling rendered in soft graphite and charcoal with a subtle watercolor wash of violets. Two owls perch upon a clothesline on an atmospheric rooftop. “Whooo goes there,” one of them asks, when they see their kitty friend pass by. The cat wears a pink beret and looks startled. Unseen by the cat, the owls hold a party invitation and a gift.
October 8, 2025 at 2:43 PM
sadeeschilling.bsky.social
Luna needs tea! 10 frisky whiskers should be enough energy for a trip to restock on catmint. But chatty friends & overstimulating delays wilt whiskers like wet noodles. Force a smile & push on or run home to meltdown? What will her friends think? Meanwhile, care & understanding await #dvpit #PB #OWN
Children’s book illustration by Sadee Schilling rendered in graphite and charcoal with limited pops of violet and pink. Three sweet opossums play piggyback to help an adorable kitty character wrap herself in a fluffy scarf, which matches the beret she already wears. One opossum balances a stack of party hats on his tail, hidden from the kitty’s view.
October 8, 2025 at 1:11 PM
sadeeschilling.bsky.social
Here’s a spread from my latest dummy (a PB with neurodivergence rep!) for #kidlitartpostcard today. I enjoy illustrating animals & atmospheric settings for PBs & MG (my own GN is in the works). I’d love to line up more creative projects; agents, editors, art directors, please be in touch! 🌟
Children’s book illustration by Sadee Schilling in graphite and charcoal plus collage and digital color. A dusky violet rooftop scene with two shadowy owls sitting on a clothesline, hooting, “whoooo goes there?” Startled, a kitten who is passing by in a pink beret looks on anxiously. She doesn’t know that hidden on the other side of the clothesline is a wrapped gift and a surprise party invitation.
October 2, 2025 at 2:48 PM
sadeeschilling.bsky.social
A Christmas book would be fun to illustrate! Here are two dusky fall/magical/mysterious nighttime scenes in violet tones. I would be super comfortable with a wintery holiday color palette too! Thanks for the opportunity, Brian.
Children’s book illustration by Sadee Schilling in graphite and charcoal plus digital color. A glowing nighttime scene in blues and violets with a young girl in a wheelchair wearing a bunny costume. She spies three real rabbits in the pumpkin patch while soft lights hang amongst golden leaves and fiery lights twinkle among the sage blossoms. Children’s book illustration by Sadee Schilling in graphite and charcoal plus collage and digital color. A dusky violet rooftop scene with two shadowy owls sitting on a clothesline, hooting, “whoooo goes there?” Startled, a kitten who is passing by in a pink beret looks on anxiously. She doesn’t know that hidden in the other side of the clothesline is a wrapped gift and a surprise party invitation.
September 15, 2025 at 11:00 PM
sadeeschilling.bsky.social
A sneak peek at what’s on the drawing board—another scene with my owls from today’s #kidlitartpostcard. I’m really enjoying the mysterious vibe of this PB dummy!
Sneak peek of a children’s book illustration by Sadee Schilling on the drawing board. Rendered in graphite and charcoal, two owls chat in the foreground of an urban nighttime scene, perched on a clothesline and hiding a gift while sharing a knowing look. In the background, a cat character looks startled and anxious.
September 4, 2025 at 5:08 PM
sadeeschilling.bsky.social
Happy September #kidlitartpostcard day! So begins the season of moody skies & mysteries, initiated here by whispering barn owls.

It’s no secret that I seek agent, editor, AD connections & PB, chapter book & MG projects. I’m also pitching a PB dummy with nocturnal animals soon!

SadeeSchilling.com
Children’s book illustration by Sadee Schilling in charcoal and graphite depicting two adorable barn owls sharing a secret. One holds up a wing to shield his whispers while the other tucks a pink gift wrapped with orange ribbon behind his back. They perch on a clothesline festively striped in gold against a moody violet sky.
September 4, 2025 at 2:53 PM
sadeeschilling.bsky.social
Oops, I hit post before writing a caption on my first image. I’m in the midst of a mixed media experiment for my newest PB dummy in-progress…and having a lot of fun with this process!!!
Children’s book illustration sketch in-progress of a cat surrounded by skunks holding bouquets of flowers. The cat looks like she’s overwhelmed by the mixture of scents and is about to have a meltdown! The image shows a graphite drawing of the animals overlaid by a sheet of tracing paper where collaged flowers have been arranged in the arms of the skunks.
August 11, 2025 at 7:56 PM
sadeeschilling.bsky.social
August 11, 2025 at 7:49 PM
sadeeschilling.bsky.social
The piece I posted for #kidlitartpostcard has been in a drawer since it fell off the wall in my studio during the summer temperature shift (painted brick makes it challenging to get artwork to stick!). I got it out today to admire delicate collage details up close & make sure nothing came unglued!
August 8, 2025 at 8:03 PM
sadeeschilling.bsky.social
Here’s a little mystery writer & her helpful owl friend for #kidlitartpostcard!

I work in a variety of media to illustrate creative kids connecting to the beauty of nature & to their own gorgeous imaginations. I’m open to projects across the #kidlit spectrum!

Portfolio:
SadeeSchilling.com
Children’s book illustration by Sadee Schilling of a young girl with golden hair and a jaunty little hat with a feather writing at a crowded desk with a quill. She is surrounded by stacks of paper, crumpled paper, plus items which lend an air of spookiness: an ornate candlestick, a black crystal tower, a magnifying glass, and ink dripped from a well where she’s been sipping her quill. An owl stands over her atop a stack of books (texts about mystery writing and poetry idles). The owl spreads his wings impatiently and hoots, “Who?” He wants to know the answer to the mystery the girl is writing!
August 7, 2025 at 2:00 PM
sadeeschilling.bsky.social
Rainshine. Like the way life is heavy & beautiful at once. This #kidlitartpostcard day, I’m finding sunshine in the people I love—I hope you are too! As an illustrator who specializes in stories about wrangling big emotions, I create characters who discover that small is mighty & tender is strong.
Children’s book illustration of two kids (sisters) hugging under a red umbrella in the middle of a rainstorm. Part of the storm is a scribbly, smiling cloud with cut-out raindrops, resembling a child’s artwork. The taller child with darker hair basks in the reflected glow of the smaller blonde child, who emanates golden light as if she were sunshine itself.
July 3, 2025 at 6:09 PM
sadeeschilling.bsky.social
Oops! #scbwidrawthis #kidlitart #bakingmess
Sequential children’s book illustration of two sisters in a kitchen. A red-headed child in a teal hoodie and white apron takes a flour jar from the shelf and begins filling a measuring cup. In the doorway, a younger child with black hair, striped shirt, and a ladybug costume plays with insects in a portable bug cage. She comes into the kitchen, bumps the red-headed sister, and a cloud of flour puffs into the air while a bowl of batter spills. The red-headed sister looks surprised and dismayed while the younger sister happily pokes her finger into the spilled batter.
June 26, 2025 at 9:22 PM
sadeeschilling.bsky.social
Happy #kidlitartpostcard day! I’m an artist & illustrator who loves to experiment with media as well as write stories of my own. I’m playing with an artsy animal PB project in my collage style this summer & having a blast! Agents, editors, art directors—I’d love to connect.

www.SadeeSchilling.com
June 5, 2025 at 5:20 PM
sadeeschilling.bsky.social
A joyful companion to my earlier and moodier #kidlitartpostcard, this piece highlights my love for painting landscapes and for depicting the tender bonds of family and friendship that can help make childhood magical.

www.SadeeSchilling.com
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Children’s book illustration in gold and spring pastels depicting a little girl red box and her Papa fox hopping the fence to go fishing. A pond with cattails lies in the distance, surrounded by violet hills and reflecting the pink sky at sunrise.
May 1, 2025 at 9:07 PM
sadeeschilling.bsky.social
Hello #kidlitartpostcard! I love creating cozy stories about relationships built within the beauty of nature and connecting with loved ones close by and far away. I am an author-illustrator and excited to illustrate others’ stories too! Agents and editors, please reach out!

www.SadeeSchilling.com
Children’s picture book art in nighttime blues and grayish violet, with a bit of soft glowing yellow. This illustration depicts a little red fox girl in her cozy bedroom burrow, holding a laptop computer. On the screen is a video call with her Papa fox who is working far away. He wears a camouflage style hat, suggesting military fatigues. Both touch their paws to the screen, saying goodbye for the night.
May 1, 2025 at 3:00 PM
sadeeschilling.bsky.social
Here’s a companion piece for my #kidlitartpostcard from this morning—vignettes of kids enjoying nature, my favorite thing to draw!

I’d love to illustrate middle grade characters like these and PBs too. I’m eager to find an agent and/or start on my next #kidlit project!

www.sadeeschilling.com
Children’s book illustrations of three middle grade children in different scenarios, enjoying nature, drawn in graphite with limited shades of violet and pink. One girl in glasses and a bright yellow lion hat lets snails crawl over her hands. A boy in a ball cap admires butterflies and collects rocks, while a blonde girl picks flowers and playfully puts pine cones on her head.
April 3, 2025 at 10:22 PM
sadeeschilling.bsky.social
Happy #kidlitartpostcard day!

My favorite art to make is the kind that celebrates the magic of childhood imagination within the very real majesty of nature.

I’m open to both picture books and middle grade projects (plus seeking representation too).

www.sadeeschilling.com
Children’s book illustration of three middle-grade children celebrating their friendship with a gentle, golden, winged lion. Created in graphite with a limited color palette of yellow and shades of violet.
April 3, 2025 at 5:25 PM
sadeeschilling.bsky.social
This sounds like a dream project! www.sadeeschilling.com
Children’s book illustration by Sadee Schilling of children camping with their dog, among gray-violet boulders in a misty valley full of moss. Chipmunks peer out from their hiding places between the craggy rocks. Children’s book illustration of a girl in a red hat fishing with her dad who wears green flannel and a blue hat. The viewer also sees under the water, where three large fish—a bass, a bluegill and a yellow catfish—swim among brightly colored grasses and other pond plants.
April 2, 2025 at 9:21 PM
sadeeschilling.bsky.social
Hi Brian, I was just working on this sweet fire engine’s story today! 🚒
March 26, 2025 at 11:06 PM
sadeeschilling.bsky.social
A dreamy #kidlitart landscape on my desk this weekend…with Papa fox and Little fox headed to their favorite fishing pond.
Children’s book illustration of a papa fox and little fox hopping a fence at the fishing pond. A dreamy scene with golden grass and rolling violet hills in the distance, created in watercolor with cut paper details.
February 9, 2025 at 10:27 PM
sadeeschilling.bsky.social
Hi, I’m a neurodivergent artist who most loves to create with watercolor and cut paper. Illustrating #kidlit is my dream and I’m seeking an agent to help me finally break through! 💕
Children’s book illustration created in watercolor and cut paper collage. Three young musicians joyfully play instruments, including trumpet, snare drum, and double bass.
February 9, 2025 at 8:42 PM
sadeeschilling.bsky.social
Little silver fox in a work-in-progress. I’m having so much fun with this watercolor and cut paper process! #kidlitart #illustration
Children’s book illustration of a young silver fox in pajamas, jumping on his bed with a string of stars in a cozy, softly lit fox den bedroom. Created with watercolor and cut paper.
January 28, 2025 at 9:04 PM