Abby Joy is an artist and illustrator based in Spokane, WA. She completed a BA in 2-D Art and Graphic Design from Whitworth University in 2025. After graduating, Abby has begun working as an illustrator on two children's picture books and continuing in her art practice. Abby’s mixed-media drawings have received awards from organizations like the Colored Pencil Society, Edmonds Art Festival, and Whitworth University.
Artist Statement:
"As a mixed media artist and children’s book illustrator, storytelling is at the core of what I do. My work features whimsical scenes inspired by surrealism, made with a contemporary combination of graphite, watercolor, and colored pencil on thick paper. In my artwork, I draw from stories and characters in folklore, mythology, and the Bible. I aim to invite viewers into playful adventures in these worlds, finding meaning and joy in the journey. The settings of my drawings are influenced by my experience growing up in Washington State and the familiar landscapes of autumnal maple trees, pine forests, and open, grassy fields. Depictions of light are important in my work, as symbols of hope and safety.
In my illustrations, I create traditionally illustrated pieces for each book that share that same warmth and magic, specializing in stories of animals and nature."
