Ellen, the Illustrator
Ever since I was a little kid reading children’s picture books, I wanted to be an author and illustrator, too. I’ve always had a vivid imagination and loved exploring ideas on paper. Somewhere in the archives, I still have a couple of the books I made when I was in grade school. I loved, loved, LOVED creating characters and worlds—and as it turns out, I never grew out of that.
In 2017, I was fortunate enough to have a friend who needed illustrations for children’s books he had written for his kids. Between 2017 and 2023, I illustrated four books for Quint Lindblad, a pastor and author based in Virginia. In 2022, I also illustrated a children’s book for another talented author, Tiffany Rich.
Now, I’m working on a children’s book of my own, as both the author and illustrator, and I am SO excited about it! I’ve developed a template that will allow each book to be customized with the child’s name, skin color, hair color, boy/girl character, and glasses or no glasses. (Preview below) When a parent or grandparent orders one, the child they love gets to become part of the story. It’s a lot of work, but I’ve never been afraid of a lot of work, and I believe it will be worth it.
For years, I struggled with the idea that I needed to identify my artistic “voice” or settle into one recognizable style. But I love realism AND illustration. I love serious black-and-white portraits AND goofy cartoons. I love drawing characters, painting windows and murals, and turning little wooden peg people into something a child can hold and play with. Eventually, I realized I don’t need to choose. If I created it, it’s part of my voice.
Illustration scratches an itch that portraiture doesn’t. Painting little wooden peg people scratches an itch that illustration can’t. I can’t explain it any better than that. I love many forms of art, unapologetically.
Random Characters I Created -
Random Characters I Created -
Books I've Illustrated -
Books I've Illustrated -
This was the fourth book Ellen and Quint had collaborated on.
Behind Those Flowers is a children’s book written by Quintin C. Lindblad and illustrated by Ellen Marie Boen
About the Book: It is a fun children's story that champions a little girl's voice as she finds her place in the world.
A Puppy Named Paws is a children’s book written by Tiffany Rich and illustrated by Ellen Marie Boen
About the Book: Paws is the smallest puppy on the farm and is teased by the other animals. He meets Boon, who struggles with being too tall, and together they start a game that wins over the other surly dogs on the farm.
I’m Done! is a children’s book written by Quintin C. Lindblad and illustrated by Ellen Marie Boen
About the Book: Here is the third children's book from Quint & Ellen (Three Little Words Publishing). It is a potty training book called "I'm Done!" This story came from the real-life potty training scenario in Quint's house. You can still hear cries of "I'm Done" coming from his family's bathrooms as his small kids continue to learn the process of using the big kid toilet!
Yo Bro Chill is a children’s book written by Quintin C. Lindblad and illustrated by Ellen Marie Boen (Formerly Feldt). The second children's book in the series, designed to share a fun and meaningful lesson for big brothers and sisters
About the Book: It is a fun children's story that champions a little girl's voice as she finds her place in the world.
Abooga Atooga Awooga is the first children’s book written by Quintin C. Lindblad and illustrated by Ellen Marie Boen (Formerly Feldt) in 2017
About the Book: Here is a silly and fun book for parents and kids alike. Quint and his wife, Erin have a tendency to make up funny names for their children and sometimes they also make up funny words. That is where this book came from - just goofing around with their oldest son Anderson when he was a baby. Enjoy!