TERRI WILHELM
Terri Wilhelm is a freelance illustrator based in Madison, Wisconsin, who specializes in animal and wildlife illustrations.
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CREATIVE STATEMENT
Inspired by woodland walks, changing seasons, and years of filling sketchbooks with observations from nature, Terri Wilhelm creates hand-drawn character-driven animal and wildlife art illustrations with whimsical, storybook charm that celebrate curiosity and quiet moments outdoors.
Her storybook-inspired artwork features woodland animals, birds, botanicals, and nature-inspired patterns with a handcrafted warmth that feels both nostalgic and timeless. Terri enjoys creating illustrations for children's books, stationery, fabric, greeting cards, puzzles, gifts, and licensing projects that encourage people to reconnect with the natural world.
RECENT CLIENTS
- Graphic designer and illustrator for Nancy’s Notions
- Graphic designer and illustration intern at Madison Children’s Museum
- Self-published children’s picture book with an author friend
Q&A
What animal do you most relate to?
I’ve always felt a connection to the deer — gentle, observant, and quietly curious. Deer move through the world with awareness, relying on intuition and their keen senses to notice what others might miss. I think that same sense of wonder and attention to small details is what guides my artwork.
What animal is the most fun to draw?
I love drawing all kinds of animals, especially the little characters I encounter in the natural world around me. Squirrels, rabbits, foxes, raccoons, crows, deer, and owls often find their way into my sketchbooks. My lifelong goal is to keep discovering new creatures to draw and imagining the tiny stories they might tell.
Which do you prefer: cats or dogs?
This is a very difficult question! I love both. My dream would be a dog who happily joins me on woodland walks and a cat who decides that adventures are worth leaving the windowsill for.
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