Claudia McGehee Illustration

Claudia McGehee Illustration I'm an Illustrator-Writer living in a tallgrass prairie state. I find inspiration around every corner. Some days I write about pictures.

Some days I draw about words. It's about telling a story. Please visit http://www.claudia-mcgehee.com Commercial illustrator and author/illustrator of children's books

Practicing for the cooler months ahead.
10/10/2025

Practicing for the cooler months ahead.

It’s Banned Books Week, so here’s a call to become aware of the thousands of books challenged or banned in schools and c...
10/08/2025

It’s Banned Books Week, so here’s a call to become aware of the thousands of books challenged or banned in schools and classroom libraries around the country. Scroll for an award winning documentary (out there in theaters and special viewings) that illuminate the struggles of keeping our libraries full of books that illuminate, educate and celebrate all of us.

Rain locally this morning, after a long dry spell. I feel more aligned. Perhaps autumn can start in earnest. This restfu...
10/06/2025

Rain locally this morning, after a long dry spell. I feel more aligned. Perhaps autumn can start in earnest. This restful gull, to honor a dear friend’s mother, who flew ahead yesterday 💙

Such an iconic presence. Goodall was a strong voice for conservation activism. She loved all animals, deeply caring abou...
10/02/2025

Such an iconic presence. Goodall was a strong voice for conservation activism. She loved all animals, deeply caring about their welfare. She left a swath of books and family and friends and a global community that will miss her, no doubt. She visited my college in the early 1980’s. We had a unique Primate Studies program on campus and she was THE guest lecturer for a special workshop. I asked her questions (lowly anthropology student that I was), and she was most generous with her time with us. With her passing, I feel a calling to become more passionate myself about caring for this planet. 🌎 Godspeed, Dr Goodall, and thank you.

Tenth month into the year, keep finding the thermals for lift!
10/01/2025

Tenth month into the year, keep finding the thermals for lift!

Today, a beautiful monarch skimmed above the crowd for several minutes as hundreds of us in Iowa City gathered to protes...
09/26/2025

Today, a beautiful monarch skimmed above the crowd for several minutes as hundreds of us in Iowa City gathered to protest an egregious ICE assault that occurred in the heart of our downtown yesterday morning. The butterfly uplifted my spirit as we galvanized to support Jorge González Ochoa and his family immediately, and for ALL of us facing these unsettling times. Take care, stay vigilant, speak out.

A few more hours of summer here in North America, the fall equinox begins around 1:19pm CT! Hopeful wishes for a good ha...
09/22/2025

A few more hours of summer here in North America, the fall equinox begins around 1:19pm CT! Hopeful wishes for a good harvest in all your endeavors. I love this quote from Robin Wall Kimmerer’s recent book “The Serviceberry: An economy of Abundance”. Having been the recipient of generous friend’s gardens all summer, this quote ran especially true. I paired it visually with a new waxwing and chokecherry piece. Go forth into the new season with open hearts and baskets. And give “The Serviceberry” a read, perfect for this equinox season.

My personally declared totem animal 🦊They randomly show up in the woods, on the trail to cheer me on. I cameo them into ...
09/17/2025

My personally declared totem animal 🦊They randomly show up in the woods, on the trail to cheer me on. I cameo them into picture books as much as I can, and embrace the adaptability, playful, intuitive, transformative symbolism. This little spot in scratchboard, with a watchful eye left open to the world.

Late afternoon studio time
09/16/2025

Late afternoon studio time

Weekend. Recharge. Spending time in nature and reading are two of my go-to’s! If you have children’s book readers in you...
09/12/2025

Weekend. Recharge. Spending time in nature and reading are two of my go-to’s! If you have children’s book readers in your life, the Anderson Art Center in Red Wing, MN will be hosting the annual Minnesota Children’s Book Festival this coming Saturday, September 13th, with presentations by many wonderful authors and illustrators, and fun activities throughout the day! Children’s book writer will be presenting our poetry picture book “Rings of Heartwood”, along with Molly’s other new titles. Check it out if you’re in that neck of the woods 🌲 🌳 🌲 for more information. Illustration from “Rings of Heartwood”

It dawns a beautiful September day, as it often does, as it did 24 years ago. Sometimes sunshine is a sad conduit of mem...
09/11/2025

It dawns a beautiful September day, as it often does, as it did 24 years ago. Sometimes sunshine is a sad conduit of memory. I think of this ordinary day, when the leaves are just turning, a reminder of the passage of time. One of the most powerful aspects of the 9/11 Memorial plaza is the grove of swamp white oak, planted to symbolize strength, durability, renewal, hope, most likely turning colors as I type. This oak species, *Quercus bicolor*, is poignantly also native to all three states directly affected by the attacks (New York, Virginia and Pennsylvania). Today, I’ll take some time under a tree, stare up at the changing canopy, and remember those lost during this event. Violence against others, large scale or small, has no place in human society.

Hiking couple here symbolizing our wedding anniversary today; Dan and I have been walking life together for 37 years (an...
09/10/2025

Hiking couple here symbolizing our wedding anniversary today; Dan and I have been walking life together for 37 years (and that’s a lot of clicks!). Here’s to many more trails ahead, Dan 💚 (and picnics at the end of them!).

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Iowa City, IA

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