My name is Samantha Bell, and I’m an artist, art and writing teacher, children’s book writer and illustrator, homeschooling parent, and mom of four great kids. I love finding new ways to improve my work, and I want to share them with you! Here you’ll find ideas, tips, techniques, books, videos, and websites to help you along your creative journey.

If you don’t have formal art training, don’t worry! I don’t either! In fact, my degree is in history. But I do love to draw!

My Art Background

Ever since I was little, I always enjoyed art and writing. When I was about 7, my mother found a private art teacher for me, and I worked with her for several years. Then in middle school, I joined the band class, and my extracurricular focus became music until I graduated from high school.

During college, I continued with music but majored in history, earning my teaching certification in social studies. But two years after graduation, I was still working temporary office jobs. Then my sister suggested I teach art to my nieces and nephews.  Me? Teach art? The idea sounded a bit crazy, but I could show them what I knew.

And it went really well! So I kept teaching the kids, as well as teaching myself with books from the library (these were the pre-internet days). You can see examples of my art on this page and on Instagram.

And then…

I kept teaching! Over the past twenty-five years, I taught numerous art classes to children and adults. I’ve taught creative writing at our homeschooling co-op, and I present lessons and workshops at schools, libraries, conferences, and writer’s groups. I also create commissioned works for individuals, including custom portraits.

Publications

About the same time I began teaching art, I took a class in children’s literature. That class was the rather slow start to my journey as a children’s author and illustrator. Today, I’ve written and/or illustrated more than 200 books for children, including nonfiction and picture books.  I’ve also published work online and in magazines. You can see my resume here. And I did it with a degree in history!

Is there something you’d like to create? I’m proof that you can do it! Just grab your favorite supplies and get started!

Interviews

You can also find me online in the following interviews:

With Suzanne Lieurance – BookBites for Kids Podcast

With Joan Edwards – “An Interview with Samantha Bell”

With Arbordale Publishing – “A Conversation with Samantha Bell”

With Sally Matheny and Write2Ignite! – “Writers are Flexible” 

With Nancy Stewart – “Artist for All Seasons”

With Sandy Carlson – Part of the Random Acts of Publicity 2011