About Katia Wish
Bio. Shorter version:
Katia Wish is an illustrator, author, educator and creativity coach. She has spent the past decade teaching college level art, writing and illustrating children’s books and comics, and engaging in numerous projects as a mother of two young kids. Katia is the winner of the 2011 Tomie DePaola Award from SCBWI. She lives in Boston, MA where she teaches Illustration at Massachusetts College of Art and Design.
Bio. Longer version:
My name is Katia Wish. I am an illustrator, author and educator. I have over a decade of writing/illustrating children’s books and teaching Illustration at a college level.
After my marriage abruptly ended in 2020 when my sons were 5 years and 5 months respectively, it was my creativity, and specifically the solace I found in creating comics about my daily life as a single/co-parenting mom that helped me to move forward.
I hadn’t anticipated being a divorced mother. Nobody does. My then husband and I had been together for 20 years, 15 of them married. And though from the very beginning, we shared custody of our kids, I still felt overwhelming loss, loneliness and confusion. I had defined myself as a wife and a mother. To say that I went through profound and prolonged grief would be an understatement.
Along the way, many amazing family members, friends, a life coach, colleagues, my sons’ school communities, neighbors and even strangers provided support. Motivational and self-improvement books and podcasts also helped. And over time, my vision of my future began to shift.
I started noticing and being grateful for what I had, not what I had lost. I recorded little moments with my kids - hilarious, heartwarming, challenging and sweet. That led to a whole new direction in my work - comics about single/co-parenting and overcoming divorce.
This new body of work has gained momentum quickly. So far I have been published in The Boston Globe, Cup of Jo, The Belladonna Comedy/Medium, Mutha Magazine and Literary Mama.
I have emerged not only with a newfound sense of creative purpose, but I have also become a better teacher. Today, I not only teach various art techniques and concepts, but I go much deeper. I encourage my students to overcome fear, to challenge assumptions, and get their work to a whole new artistic and emotional level.
Besides teaching at Massachusetts College of Art, I have begun to develop new workshops. My first workshop in 2021, Urban Sketchbook, generated amazing interest and responses.
Since then, I have developed and taught the following workshops: Urban Sketchbook, Character Design for Children’s Books, Drawing Comics About Everyday Life and Making Creativity a Habit.
After my divorce experience, I have more empathy and understanding. I appreciate the little moments and kindness in my life. I have become an undeniable, relentless and fearless optimist. Something I had strived for all my life but had never achieved.
New habits now motivate and inspire me: meditation, exercise, gratitude, being accountable to a life coach, connecting with people around me in meaningful ways and the most important one - letting myself dream!
If you have an illustration project, book, teaching/speaking opportunity or any other creative project that deals with parenting, creativity, overcoming divorce, grief or being mentally strong, please reach out. I love taking on new challenges and figuring out how to reach people in the most emotional and compassionate way. Let’s work together!
Have a beautiful day!
Partial Client List - Children’s Books, Magazines
Sleeping Bear Press
Sky Pony Press
Boys Town Press
Ladybug Magazine
Spider Magazine
Cengage/National Geographic
Heinemann
McGraw Hill
Partial Client List - Editorial, Comics
The Boston Globe
Cup of Jo
The Belladonna Comedy · Medium
Mutha Magazine
Literary Mama Magazine
Children’s Books
RACCOON’S PERFECT SNOWMAN, written and illustrated by Katia Wish, Sleeping Bear Press, 2020
SOPHIE’S ANIMAL PARADE, written by Amy Dixon, illustrated by Katia Wish, Sky Pony Press, 2015
Awards
Society of Illustrators of Los Angeles • Certificate of Merit • 2019
Picture This! Exhibit • Danforth Museum of Art • 1st Prize • 2015
3x3 Magazine Annual No.12 Picture Book Show • Honorable Mention • 2015
Creative Quarterly Magazine's Competition • Runner up • 2012
2011 NJ SCBWI Annual Conference Juried Art Show • Runner Up • 2011
2011 Tomie dePaola Award • Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators • Winner • 2011
Creative Quarterly Magazine's Competition • Runner up • 2010
Don Freeman Grant • Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators • Honorable Mention • 2010
Society of Illustrators of Los Angeles • Certificate of Merit • 2010
Interviews Mothers Who Make • July 2023
Carol Baldwin’s Blog • November 2020
Kathy Temean’s Blog • September 2020
KidLit 411 • August 2020
Boston Voyager Magazine • December 2018
Illustrator Saturday • February 2011
Brookline Tab • May 2011
Exhibits
November 2023 • Boston Art Book Fair • Boston, MA
May 2023 • LadiesCon • Somerville, MA
October 2022 • MICE (The Massachusetts Independent Comics Expo) • Boston, MA
October 2022 • 6th Biennial Juried Alumni Exhibition: (RE)CONNECT • Massachusetts College of Art and Design, Boston, MA
May 2018 • Picture a Story: SCBWI New England Illustrators • Wedeman Gallery, Newton, MA
June 2015 - September 2015 • Picture This! • Danforth Museum of Art, Framingham, MA
March 2015 – April 2015 • Draw Me a Story: Tomie dePaola and Friends, Wenham Museum, Wenham, MA
December 2013 • Whimsy • Whitney Center for the Arts, Pittsfield, MA
October 2012 – December 2012 • Alice: 30 Years of the Pennyroyal Alice • R. Michelson Galleries, Northampton, MA
October 2012 • MassArt Illustration Faculty Exhibit • Gutman Library, Cambridge, MA
September 2012 – November 2012 • Picture This! • Danforth Museum of Art, Framingham, MA
June 2012 – August 2012 • Katia Wish: Artwork and Creative Process • Brookline Public Library, Brookline, MA
May 2012 • Tell Me a Story • Warwick Museum of Art, Warwick, RI
November 2011 – January 2012 • The 22nd Annual Children's Book Illustration Exhibition • R. Michelson Galleries, Northampton, MA
June 2011 – August 2011 • Picture This! • Danforth Museum of Art, Framingham, MA
May 2011 – July 2011 • Town Hall Walls Exhibit • Town Hall, Brookline, MA
December 2010 • The Objects Show • Galatea Fine Art Gallery, Boston, MA
October 2010 – January 2011 • The Architecture Show • The Access Gallery at Brookline Access Television, Brookline, MA
July – September 2010 • Emerging Artists in Massachusetts • Massachusetts State Transportation Building, Boston, MA
May – June 2010 • Malden Sketch Group Annual Commerce Place Exhibit • Malden, MA
May 2009 • NEAFA (New England Arts for Animals) 2010 Calendar Art Exhibit • New England Wildlife Center’s Catbird Café, South Weymouth, MA
Teaching
Massachusetts College of Art and Design • Illustration Department • Media Techniques, Sophomore Illustration, Junior Illustration • Fall 2011 - present
Concord Center for the Visual Arts • Drawing Comics About Everyday Life Workshop • Winter 2024
Massachusetts College of Art and Design • Continuing Education • Character Design for Children’s Books Workshop • Winter 2024
Massachusetts College of Art and Design • Continuing Education • Making Creativity a Habit Workshop • Winter 2024
Harvard Square and Beyond • Urban Sketchbook Workshop • Summer 2023
Boston Seaport and Beyond • Urban Sketchbook Workshop • Summer 2023
Concord Center for the Visual Arts • Character Design for Children’s Books Workshop • Summer 2023
Massachusetts College of Art and Design • Continuing Education • Drawing Comics About Everyday Life Workshop • Summer 2023
Massachusetts College of Art and Design • Continuing Education • Urban Sketchbook Workshop • Summer 2023
Boston Common and Beyond • Urban Sketchbook Workshop • Summer 2022
Massachusetts College of Art and Design • Continuing Education • Urban Sketchbook Workshop • Summer 2022
Massachusetts College of Art and Design • Continuing Education • Children's Book Illustration • Summer 2017, Fall 2017, Summer 2021
Massachusetts College of Art and Design • Summer Intensives and Summer Studios • Teach Illustration class to high school students • Summer 2013, Summer 2014, Summer 2017
Massachusetts College of Art and Design • Continuing Education • Character Design • Summer 2014
Massachusetts College of Art and Design • Xtreme!Week • Teach Illustration class to high school students • April 2014
New Art Center, Newton, MA • Teach Character Design, Mask-making and Studio Art classes to third through ninth graders • February 2013 - June 2013
Enrichment Program, Pierce School, Brookline, MA • Teach Cartooning, Pop up Books and 3D Drawing classes to first to fifth graders • January 2012 - June 2012
Enrichment Program, High Plain Elementary School, Andover, MA • Teach Story Illustration class to fifth graders • October 2011 - December 2011
Danforth Museum and School of Art, Framingham, MA • Teach Story Illustration class to fourth and fifth graders • October 2011 - December 2011
Danforth Museum and School of Art, Framingham, MA • Teach Illustration Survey class to high school students • August 2011
Enrichment Program, High Plain Elementary School, Andover, MA • Teach Story Illustration class to fifth graders • April 2011 - June 2011
School Visits/Presentations/Webinars
June 2023 • Author Visit, Hemenway Elementary School, Framingham, MA
March 2023 • Author Visit: Illustrate with Author Katia Wish, Framingham Public Library, Framingham, MA
October 2022 • Artist Demo: Children’s Books – From Inspiration to Publication, Concord Center for the Visual Arts, Concord, MA
June 2022 • Webinar: Professional Series: From Inspiration to Publication with Katia Wish, SCBWI New York Metro
March 2022 • Participated in Elementary Author Panel • NH School Librarian Conference, Concord, NH
March 2022 • Guest Speaker, Massachusetts College of Art and Design, Boston, MA
February 2022 • Virtual Author Visit, Amigos School, Cambridge, MA
January 2022 • Webinar: From Inspiration to Publication: Writing and Illustrating a Children’s Book, Graphic Artists Guild
December 2021 • Virtual Author Visit, Lawrence School, Brookline, MA
April 2021 • Participated in The Harvard Radcliffe Institute's Virtual Seminar: “Graphic Healthcare: Art, Science & Technology”
March 2021 • Virtual Author Visit, John D. Runkle School, Brookline, MA
March 2021 • Virtual Author Visit in Russian, Russian Book Club "Читай-компания"
February 2021 • Webinar: From Inspiration to Publication, The Writers’ Loft
February 2021 • Virtual Author Visit, Trust Center for Early Education, Brookline, MA
February 2021 • Creating a Picture Book + Storytime, Emerald Necklace Conservancy, Boston, MA
January 2021 • Virtual Author Visit, Lawrence School, Brookline, MA
October 2016 • Guest Speaker, Massachusetts College of Art and Design, Boston, MA
March 2012 • Guest Speaker, Continuing Education, Massachusetts College of Art and Design, Boston, MA
February 2012 • Guest Speaker, Massachusetts College of Art and Design, Boston, MA
April 2011 • Artist in Residence/School Visit, High Plain Elementary School, Andover, MA
April 2011 • Guest Speaker, Massachusetts College of Art and Design, Boston, MA
May 2011 • Portfolio Reviewer, Massachusetts College of Art and Design, Boston, MA
June 2010 • Artist in Residence, Members Spring Garden Party, Harvard Art Museum, Cambridge, MA
March 2010 • Guest Speaker, Massachusetts College of Art and Design, Boston, MA
December 2009 • Artist in Residence/School Visit, High Plain Elementary School, Andover, MA