finding little secrets hidden in plain view

Dead birds, skulls, shells, pinecones—these were the treasures of my childhood, and they remain the artifacts of fascination in my studio today. Natural oddities and wonders continue to accumulate in my curio cabinets, and a few favorite specimens regularly find their way into my work. Drawing them is a way of seeing more deeply.

I'm a lifelong collector of these subtle, often overlooked forms. A self-proclaimed natural science nerd, I continue to hone my scholarship in botany and biology through observation, research, and attentive drawing. In the ceramic studio, this same curiosity takes the form of experimental glaze formulation. I find deep satisfaction in mixing raw materials to coax out complex, layered finishes—transforming dry chemistry into alchemy.

Professional Life In the Arts

Illustration, painting, ceramics, and storytelling…

The focus of my work has always been grounded in the natural world. For over 30 years, I’ve illustrated books, calendars, and packaging—offering accessible entry points into scientific beauty. My work flows easily between markets: from children’s nonfiction and editorial illustration to product design and fine art painting. Alongside the plants and creatures, you'll often find figurative and feminist themes woven into the work—because science, myth, and personal truth are all part of the same living fabric.

In recent years, my practice has expanded to include hand-built ceramics, especially ceremonial vessels and talismanic objects. These pieces let me explore storytelling in a more dimensional way, incorporating sigils, texture, and ritual form. For me, art is a meeting ground between beauty and meaning—a portal to both inner and outer worlds.

Magic and Meaning

Storytelling, wonder, and the living world

I believe that storytelling doesn’t negate reality—it helps us survive it. The magical, the symbolic, the fantastical: these are not escapism. They are ways of knowing. Sometimes hard truths go down easier when carried in stories made of sugar and spice. And sometimes, stories offer the only balm when justice isn’t available.

Art, like magic, is a wild seed. It connects us to the living world and to each other. It’s a human drive to make, to witness, to be changed. The artist’s task, as I see it, is to pry open the door to that realm of wonder and invite everyone in.

And Also: Music

Because art loves company

In addition to visual art, I’ve spent the past decade immersed in music. I play keyboards and bass in The Weathercocks, a band I formed with longtime friend and fellow artist-musician Mark Zug (he of the face-melting guitar solos), along with our drummer, Eric Winter. We write original songs with poetic lyrics and mood-rich soundscapes. (Come to the IlluXCon Artists Music Jam—we brought the weird in 2024, and plan to again in 2025.)

Credentials & Collaborations

Some highlights from the long and winding road

• MFA from the Maryland Institute College of Art (MICA)

• BA from York College of Pennsylvania, with emphasis on Botany

• Former professor of Illustration and Drawing for nearly a decade

• Illustrator of over 30 children’s nonfiction books

• Botanical artist for The Old Farmer’s Almanac Garden Calendar (Yankee Publishing) for 20+ years

• Collaborations with:
  – U.S. Department of State (Earth Day Poster, 2004)
  – National Parks Service (Russell Cave National Monument brochure)

• Represented by HK Portfolio / MB Artists for 20 years

• Exhibiting artist since 1996

A full Kest CV is available upon request!