Karlee Lillywhite

Karlee Lillywhite is passionate about visual storytelling that inspires wonder. "I am a freelance illustrator living in Ithaca, NY with my grad student husband and our cat, Billie. I love to create illustrations inspired by literature and history, especially when the stories involve strong women. I also tell visual stories through the custom wedding invitations and logo designs that I create with clients. I first fell in love with making beautiful images when I was 13 years old and a serious...See more

Karlee Lillywhite is passionate about visual storytelling that inspires wonder. "I am a freelance illustrator living in Ithaca, NY with my grad student husband and our cat, Billie. I love to create illustrations inspired by literature and history, especially when the stories involve strong women. I also tell visual stories through the custom wedding invitations and logo designs that I create with clients. I first fell in love with making beautiful images when I was 13 years old and a serious injury kept me bedridden for long periods of time. Ever since then, the gift of creating art has been a source of healing and joy in my life. I enjoy many mediums and styles but am most drawn to pen and watercolor work. I love how spontaneous and playful watercolor can be but also appreciate the structure and clarity of the pen lines. I often incorporate gold leaf into my work. Hiraeth (pronounced HEER-eyeth) is a Welsh word with no direct English equivalent. It refers to the deep longing of the soul for a past that it never experienced but feels connected to. It is a homesickness for a world that no longer exists, and perhaps never did. This concept represents so well why I am compelled to make art and why I think everyone needs art. I believe the experience of longing is an essential component of being human. See less