Illustrator of the Week - Ellen Forney

Many will immediately recognize Ms. Forney's art from The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-time Indian. Ellen is an interesting choice for a young adult book since many of her illustrations are not so young adult-ish. Ellen has been working as a professional cartoonist and illustrator since 1992. Currently, she teaches comics at Seattle's Cornish College of the Arts, paints large-scale acrylic work for solo and group shows, and is an avid swimmer and yoga practicioner. In Sherman Alexie's own words, "Ellen is quite aware that all of us are weird. Because Ellen herself is a beautiful freak, she makes it OK for all of us to revel in our own freakiness."