“I love creating work that is light and makes you happy.”
Events and News:
New year - New creativity, join #KidLitilloWeek Creativity challenge now!
March 5-8, Horse World Expo, Harrisburg PA.
Little Seasons: Spring Seeds was selected to the Kansas NEA Reading Circle Recommended Titles Primary List
I’ve deleted most of my illustrations and prints from Instagram because of their recent notice of using uploaded content to train their AI without having the option to opt out. You can find me more active on Bluesky and Pinterest.
Hi, my name is Mirka and I’m a neurodivergent Finnish-American author, illustrator, printmaker and educator. My art has been shown in galleries around the world and my illustrations have been featured on products from picture books to home goods.
My art focuses on the nature and animals that surrounds me. For children’s illustration I love creating character based, uplifting and funny stories.
New KidLit weekly illustration challenge
Derpy tiger drawing tutorial
Holiday fair season is underway! See events section above for upcoming locations.
I'm seeing photos all around the country from book stores displaying Little Seasons: Autumn Leaves. I'm excited for all the new families that get to enjoy the book this fall.
Story and craft time at the Dancing Bear Toy shop in Frederic, MD
2026 Wall Calendars available now! Here on my website and in my Etsy shop.
2026 Perky Ponies Wall Calendar - limited quantities available on my website and at Etsy.
Just uploaded new activity pages for Forest Feels!
New class launched! Click image to see more.
Preorders open. Launching September 2nd. Click here to see more
New book launching August 5th. Click here to see more
My newest puzzle was selected to be the USA National Jigsaw Association Speed Run Puzzle of the Year 2025.
New dragon drawing tutorials
Mother's Day Card now available for free download.
New frog craft ready to download!
New plant parts sensory activity added to free resources page.
New plant parts flip book activity added on free resources page
New Procreate class up on Skillshare
New Short Rabbit Drawing Class in Skillshare
New Class
February #kidlitartpostcard. Gnome Bakery in a mushroom.
Animal Characters for Picture Books is out! Learn more here.
This gouache painting series has been added to my portfolio.
Gouache painting inspired by quilting and folk art
Gouache painting of an owl with moon and moth
Folk art and patchwork quilt inspired rabbit with poppies. See the full set in my portfolio
New blog post up
Little illustration I made for #kidlitartpostcard
New Book Wyrm Totebags
Book Wyrm shirts available on Amazon Merch
Book Wyrm Premium Shirts on Amazon
New Class Available
Kitty and Cat: Bent Out Of Shape won the Mathical Book Prize
I've just created a resource vault, free for my newsletter subscribers. Click on the image to sign up.
New resources just added! A 6ft printable growth chart and a taste test chart.
Kitty and Cat: Opposites Attract was also included on the 2023 LA Public Library Best Children's Books of the Year list.
Kitty and Cat: Opposites Attract selected winner in Concept Category for the 2023 Northern Lights Book Awards.
Warm winter wishes
Grumpy cat
Seasons Greetings
New puzzle out! Buy at Puzzletwist.com
Free printable in resources section, under Books
Play-Doh Shape Play Mat. Free printable in resources section, under Books
Mossy and Tweed, free activity page samples. Find them in the resources page under books.
New book alert! Mossy and Tweed: Double Trouble out now!
Mossy and Tweed: Double Trouble, inside spread
Mossy and Tweed: Double Trouble, inside spread
New book alert: Kitty and Cat: Bent Out of Shape, out now in bookstores!
Inside spread from Kitty and Cat: Bent Out of Shape
Inside spread from Kitty and Cat: Bent Out of Shape
Cover, Kitty and Cat: Opposites Attract
Inside spread for Kitty and Cat: Opposites Attract
Inside spread "energetic-exhausted" for Kitty and Cat: Opposites Attract
Free short drawing tutorials. Draw a unicorn
Free short drawing tutorials. Draw a raccoon
Free drawinf tutorials: Draw an owl from a square
Spring Seeds, coming to bookstores Feb 2024, preorders open
Spring Seeds, spot illustration
Spring Seeds, sunflower playground
Succulent plants
Leaves give shade
Sleeping under the leaves