Tami Traylor

🫶 Thanks, Katie!

Illustration of a black kitty peering out of a box in purples, greys and a pop of gold for its eyes.

Happy #kidlitartpostcard day. I’m Tami Traylor, Virginia-based author/illustrator and person who likes to draw animals. Thought I’d play with a limited palette this time. 💜💛🖤

#KidLitArtPostcard #kidlitart #procreate

Sketchbook pencil rendering of two kids on a horse with a dog in front of two farm outbuildings an a huge tree with a tire swing.

Close up of the left side of the previous image.

Close up of the right side of the first image.

Tobacco country summer #sketchbooksunday #kidlitart

I was 15 and home sick watching the launch with my grandpa, a huge space exploration fan and the horror that passed befween the two of us in that moment will stay with me forever. Rockets were not expected to explode.

Illustration of a black cat with an irritated face, sitting at a French door on a striped rug looking at a group of mischievous raccoons taunting him through the glass.

I’m late posting on #kidlitpostcard day. 🫥 I’m Tami Traylor, author and illustrator. This illustration is based on a true story…ask my cat.

#kidlitartpostcard #kidlitillustrator #kidlitart #kidlitpostcardday #scbwiillustrator#scbwimidatlantic #scbwi

Core memory unlocked: Lying in the grass under the power lines after school with my best friend, an old radio, and a stack of cassettes. I discovered the soundtrack of my teen years there. Funny how something so simple—sunshine and staticky speakers—sticks with you forever. #kidlitart

Someone told me it’s #doggust so I’m sharing this special doggo, Juice, who happens to have a super cool human, too. (Rumor has it, he’s a secret agent in his spare time…😉) #kidlitart

An illustration of five animals driving various pedal cars on a 2 lane road. A rabbit in a green car with a cardinal perched on the hood leads followed by a fox in a blue car, a bear on a red truck, a grinning opossum in a light blue car and a raccoon waving from a yellow car in the rear.

It is another #kidlitpostcard day! I’m Tami Traylor, author and illustrator. We may all be on our own individual journeys but we’re traveling this road together and that makes the trip all the better.

#kidlitartpostcard #kidlitillustrator #kidlitart

Sketchbook page open on a pine table top dappled with afternoon sunlight. On the white page, a sketch of three expressive felines wearing towels. A purple prismacolor pencil lay across the page at a diagonal above the drawing.

Golden hour. Purple prismacolor. #sketchbook

Illustration of a young girl with brown hair and a pink dress holding a lantern and walking through a dark wood with fireflies.

Greetings and salutations on #kidlitartpostcard day! I’m Tami Traylor an author/illustrator who loves fireflies, summer nights, and a good middle grade historical mystery. #kidlitillustrator #kidlitart #kidlitpostcardday

I met a Luna moth the last of May. She said to me, “Life is sweet. Take joy where you find it; a sun-warmed wall, the breeze through wildflowers, squirrel-chatter, distant laughter, and reading many books. Make haste, winter comes.” She said no more but bent one gold-feathered antennae in farewell.

Meet Frozen Charlotte—First in a series of 19th century curiosities—cheap, silent, & with her own coffin - a popular Victorian penny doll, made in sweatshops & named for the allegorical girl who froze to death out of vanity, she met the era’s expectations for girls: Be small, still, don't complain.

Ink drawing of a mouse and squirrel wearing human clothing, sitting on a log with their arms around each other like friends with mushrooms and foliage surrounding them.

Happy #kidlitartpostcard day! I’m Tami Traylor an author/illustrator who loves middle grade and picture books that focus on connection, kindness, and the magic of small, meaningful moments like this sweet moment shared between friends on a summery afternoon.
#kidlitillustrator #kidlitart

It’s been horrendous in Virginia…even using allergy pills and the spray doesn’t help. 😩

In celebration of #MayThe4th, 
here's a throwback to this fiery young rebel I drew a while back. She was already a force to be reckoned with. #StarWars #LeiaOrgana

Louise Penny’s books are amazing. Every time a new book in the Inspector Gamache series comes out I can’t wait to revisit the tiny town of Three Pines and its colorful residents—they feel like old friends. ❤️

illustration of a raccoon wearing a lime green sweater and glasses sitting in a lamplit library reading a book with a red cover. He is sitting in a wooden chair with blue cushions and a green lamp sits nearby providing light.

✨ Happy #KidLitArtPostcard day! ✨
Life is better in the library...digital and traditional media. #kidlitart #kidlitillustrator #kidlitartpostcard

Thank you for the kind words ab my art. 💕…made my day.

Thanks Reagan! Love your work!

a children's book illustration of two young children and their dog picking berries on a summery day with a mother rabbit and her three babies watching from within the thicket while a black bird is perched nearby.

✨ It’s #KidLitArtPostcard day! ✨
Sharing a sweet summer memory of berry-picking to chase your winter blues away. This spread is a mix digital and traditional media.✨ See more at traylorillo.com #kidlitart #scbwiillustrator #kidlitartpostcard

I spotted your raccoon illustration when I was volunteering at the portfolio showcase set-up. I love your art, too! Sorry we didn’t get a chance to connect in-person but glad I found you here. 😊

Love this little guy! ❤️

What a group of fantastic humans this is! ❤️ Thank you all for all the hard work pulling the conference and the SOI field trip together.

I’ll be there! This is my first official NY conference but I went to SCBWILA in 2016 and it was mind-blowing.

Yay…can’t wait to take your creative lab!

So lovely to see you on Bluesky! I adore your books and have quite a few of them in my “inspiration library.” My favs are “Wherever You Go” and “When You Are Brave.”

Working on some details for a PB spread. Staying warm with summer vibes on a wintery day. 🌞 #kidlitart

Photo of front and back of an illustrated postcard featuring a black bear overlooking an autumn valley and on the back is the same bear eating apples from a barrel in a barn.

New postcards arrived yesterday for the upcoming SCBWI Winter Conference. Illos inspired by the big bear stories my Appalachian grandpa told me. #kidlitart

Sketch of an old sailor with a kitten tucked in his long, full beard.

This weathered, beardy seafarer and his very comfy feline friend is a #sketch from Wednesday’s Mid-Atlantic #SCBWI Illustrator social. TY Cynthia Cliff for leading the discussion and bringing the fun, quirky sketch prompts (like this guy). Thanks to all who showed up, too! #sketchbook #kidlitart

Sketchbook drawing of a hare curled up in autumn leaves

I had the pleasure of attending two Mid-Atlantic #SCBWI craft-focused writing workshops in Charlottesville, VA last weekend this was part of my notes/doodles. I was feeling those Blue Ridge Mountain autumn vibes. #kidlitart