ZOE RANUCCI
Zoe Ranucci is a freelance illustrator based in Belmont, North Carolina, who specializes in illustrating children’s books and creating artwork for kids.
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CREATIVE STATEMENT
Hi! I’m Zoe Ranucci. I am a children’s book illustrator and character designer from North Carolina, USA. Over the past 20 years I have illustrated over 27 picture and chapter books. My interest in illustration began in childhood, I never even contemplated any other profession. In the beginning of my career I was doing a lot of character and mascot design. It was after working on editorial art for a local educational magazine that I turned my attention to children’s book illustration. Over the years, my expertise has developed to where I specialize in, and am sought out mostly for, my depiction of children and ability to include a lot of emotion, expression and diversity in my work. I am also a graphic designer with several years of prepress as well as art direction experience prior to going out on my own to pursue illustration work. Due to this I have the unique ability to take a book project from concept art, storyboard, full illustration, graphic design with text, and prepping for print. Essentially making me a one-stop-shop for my clients whether it be working directly with an author or through an agency. Although I am sought out mostly for drawing children, I do very much enjoy drawing animals, especially dogs, whenever I get a chance too! For my personal creative outlet I have my own line of stationery and stickers based on my basset hound character, Dharma.
RECENT CLIENTS
- The Martin Luther King, Jr. Center
- Simply Creative Works
- Circle Originals LLC
- Orc Bard Press LLC
Q&A
What was your favorite storybook as a child?
My favorite storybooks as a child were the series of Serendipity Books (way back in the early 80s) written by Stephen Cosgrove and illustrated by Robin James. I loved the stories, but I would pour over the illustrations in those books and draw all the whimsical characters from them.
Which authors do you admire most?
I look at books for the art! So I can say I admire 'illustrators' like Kayla Harren, Bea Jackson, Vanessa Brantley Newton and Anoosha Syed.
What characteristic really brings a children’s book to life?
As an illustrator, books come to life when the art takes me somewhere magical or makes me laugh. Either way books come to life when they stir emotion and feelings when reading or looking at them.