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A LITTLE BIT ABOUT ME:
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Lea Marie Ravotti was born in the Czech Republic where she earned a Master’s degree in Art Education and Art History.
She taught art and art history for K–12 students before falling in love with children’s books and becoming a full-time book illustrator. She works to make sure that her illustrations don’t simply reproduce the text but evoke a relevant emotional response.
She lives with her husband and their three girls outside of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
Lea is represented by Eve Adler at Red Fox Literary Agency.​
Or contact Lea at leamarieravotti@yahoo.com
"I have just made stories to please myself, because I never grew up." - Beatrix Potter
INTERVIEW
What artists have influenced you?
I admire Beatrix Potter for her storytelling ability, her independent spirit and unconventional lifestyle; Henri Matisse for his color palette and shape language, ŠtÄ›pán ZavÅ™el for his poetic, painterly, lyrical style. I'm constantly in awe of what the creative mind comes up with.
What is your typical workday like?
Being both an early bird and a night owl, when the light and contrast is the best, I'm wired to work during these hours. The hours in between are for everything else.
What are you afraid of?
My biggest fear is that I run out of my favorite D 706 Rose Holbein paint and finding out that it had been discontinued.
What does failure mean to you?
Last week I managed to place my new car on the top of a huge boulder. That was an expensive failure. Professionally? Not replacing a lid on my D 706 Rose Holbein paint tube and letting it dry out.
What made you decide to become an illustrator?
I had no choice, no plan B. I'm a bad driver, a terrible cook and I'm not productive during day hours.
Where do you turn to ideas and inspiration?
There are 17,932 photos on my phone of various color combinations I have found in nature. But now, I'm afraid of running out of phone storage.
Any dreams you want to accomplish?
I have two. To live in a lighthouse in the Adriatic Sea with a reliable art supply delivery service and a boat instead of a car. Secondly, I'm planning on purchasing a big piece of my neighborhood to protect it from developers. Easy, peasy.
Would you like to share any fun facts about you?
I already have:)


"Creativity takes courage." - Henri Matisse
"The illustrator who truly dedicates themselves to this profession finds themselves outside of the great interests, both political and economic...
One thing is fundamental for the designer: to be a person full of life." - ŠtÄšpÁN ZavŘel
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