Hello! My name is Saraiya and I am an artist and writer living in the Sonoran Desert. I illustrate mainly in watercolor but enjoy making art with a variety of materials, from ink to scratchboard to fabric art. I've been a practicing artist for 25 years.
As a writer and illustrator, I'm most drawn to stories that feature a relationship to nature and, most especially, children who are drawn to the outdoors. Animals have always been a part of my life, both domestic and wild, and they make appearances in just about every story and image I create.
I'm a member of the Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators. My current project of focus is a story about a girl and her mysterious black cat. Together, they go on a nighttime adventure that will test the strength of their bond.
I hold an MFA in creative writing from the University of Arizona and run my own business, Raebird Creations, dedicated to silk painting and other ecologically-inspired art. You can check out that aspect of my work at RaebirdCreations.com. I am also a teaching artist in creative writing through The University of Arizona Poetry Center's Writing the Community k-12 program.
Check out my blog post on teaching creative writing to kindergarteners, featured on the website of the University of Arizona Poetry Center!
As a writer and illustrator, I'm most drawn to stories that feature a relationship to nature and, most especially, children who are drawn to the outdoors. Animals have always been a part of my life, both domestic and wild, and they make appearances in just about every story and image I create.
I'm a member of the Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators. My current project of focus is a story about a girl and her mysterious black cat. Together, they go on a nighttime adventure that will test the strength of their bond.
I hold an MFA in creative writing from the University of Arizona and run my own business, Raebird Creations, dedicated to silk painting and other ecologically-inspired art. You can check out that aspect of my work at RaebirdCreations.com. I am also a teaching artist in creative writing through The University of Arizona Poetry Center's Writing the Community k-12 program.
Check out my blog post on teaching creative writing to kindergarteners, featured on the website of the University of Arizona Poetry Center!