Paula was born in Chicago, Illinois, in the United States. Drawing has been her passion for as long as she can remember. Starting with portraits of movie stars, family, and friends, she later began creating scenes of everyday life in the styles of Norman Rockwell and Walt Disney, which her parents proudly displayed on the refrigerator door. She earned her first money as an illustrator when her great aunt paid her a nickel per drawing.

Discovering quilt art as a means of expression, fairy tales provided a rich tapestry of subject matter. Her original story quilts used commercial patterns, but she soon began painting and decorating the fabric, enjoying the three-dimensional textures and handmade appearance. Acrylic paints, oil crayons and colored pencils are some of the various media used to create patterns and textures that can be scanned into the computer, where the final artwork is assembled.

Following her dream of illustrating books for children she joined the Society of Children’s Book Writers & Illustrators (SCBWI), where she finds much encouragement and support.

Paula has a BFA in Graphic Design and also works as a graphic artist designing print material and websites. Grinelda the Mad Hatter is Paula's first picture book.

You can contact Paula by email:
paula@gumbootbooks.ca

click here to check out Paula's artwork

Birthday: August 18

Favorite Children’s Books:

Toot & Puddle
by Holly Hobbie

I Go with My Family to Grandma’s
by Riki Levinson

Book of Classic Fairy Tales
by Eric and Lucy Kincaid

Princess and the Pea
by Hans Christian Andersen, illustrated by Dorothee Duntze

Artistic Influences:
Walt Disney
Norman Rockwell
Impressionism
Fairytale Quilts & Embroidery by Gail Harker

Favorite Quotes/Sayings:
“I still believe, in spite of everything, that people are still truly good at heart.”
-Anne Frank

“It’s easier to be done than to be satisfied.”
-Quincy Jones

“If you can DREAM it, you can DO it.”
-Walt Disney