Author / Illustrator /
Production Designer /
Director
I’ve spent 10 years in the Animation industry and am the author / illustrator of two kids books. If there is anything I love more than dreaming up a story, it’s doing it with the talented friends I make on animation projects!
Production Design
As the Production designer for Mickey and Friends Trick or Treats, I designed the sets and props for the stop motion special, creating artwork and occasionally physical mockups to help the talented Art Director, Director of photography, and fabrication team at Stoopid Buddy visualize the physical environments.
Wallpapers and Portraits
I loved creating graphics for the special. It was delightful dreaming up Witch Hazel’s long lineage of witch and mortal relatives to line the castle walls.
These are a couple of stills from my favorite set, The exterior of Witch Hazel’s Manor. The project turned out better than I could have hoped! The artists took everything that was working about my artwork, left out everything that was just a bit much, and added so much of their own consideration and flair. I’m so proud of what we put together. You can see the full special on Disney+ and Hulu.
Abbott Elementary Diorama Drama
I was Art Director for the Abbott Elementary “Diorama Drama” ad campaign, which meant I was tasked with the delightful challenge crafting diorama sets out of trash and found materials. My first day on the job, I asked all my coworkers to raid their junk drawers and recycling bins. Top points went to anyone who brought in items that looked like they’d been sitting at the bottom of a backpack for a month. With the help of my talented friend Mike Possert, and the input of seasoned director Kirk Kelly, I created numerous crafty replicas of the Abbott Elementary sets, packed full of as much handmade absurdity as we could dream up.
Personal Work:
I wrote a banned book.
And it’s a book about a particularly happy memory from my very own childhood! It’s not a great feeling, having your book banned, I must say. But what can you do, not every story is for every person. And I know that it is a story for plenty of people. It certainly would have been a story for little me.
A book from my childhood
One of my favorite traditions growing up was going to the San Francisco Pride Parade with my moms. I loved the outfits, the sounds, the atmosphere, the free plastic necklaces—and I loved the feeling that our queer little family wasn’t alone. What I did not love was my Mama’s annual tradition of jumping the fence and joining in the parade…at least, not at first…
PRAISE
Kirkus Best Book of 2022
An American Library Association 2023 Rainbow Book
ALA Notable Children’s Recording for the audiobook
“★ An exploration of community and belonging that’s highly recommended for all families and all bookshelves.”
“★ Joy, love, and sacred tradition are shared across generations in Neilson’s personal-feeling tribute to Pride…The excitement is palpable…The creator’s familiarity and fondness is clear in this title that represents the queer community’s exuberant spectrum and honors Pride as a place for families, for community, and above all for connection.”
“★ And what a spectacle it is! The cartoon illustrations capture the spirit of exhilaration and the details showing the creative styles of the entrants and spectators of this unique parade…This welcome addition to picture books for young children directly addresses the Pride parade and LGBTQ+ community and promotes the straightforward, positive message of recognition and acceptance.”
“★ Showcasing a broad range of racial diversity, gender identity, and sexual orientation, the book helps readers see and hear that Pride is for everyone. Thanks to simple language, purposeful layouts, and well-placed page turns, readers are whisked through the story with a vibrant energy…A must-have for all collections and a perfect peek into the Pride Parade for even the littlest readers.
”
“★ [A] subaqueous tale gently teaching consent…[and] offering young readers a visual lesson in empathy… Both fun and educational.”
Social Distancing for Preschoolers…
My first book, Can I Give You a Squish is about a little merboy who loves to give squishes (hugs), but soon realizes that not every fish wants to be squished. It’s entertaining, it’s lovable, it’s about merpeople, and it even helps start conversations about consent.
It’s always been important to teach little ones new ways to show love, but with covid still impacting our world, those conversations have become more urgent in recent years. I made a couple free teaching materials that can be used to teach little ones contact-free, germ-safe greetings. Feel free to share, download, print, and use!
