Monica Mikai is an Author & Illustrator of children’s books. As a creator she focuses on written and visual narratives that convey emotion, warmth, and the journey of personal growth. She believes being a storyteller is a gift to be used to enlighten and uplift one another and she takes great responsibility for having the role.
Monica holds an MFA in Painting and a BA in Elementary Education and Art. As an educator for over 10 years, she worked with students of all ages and learning abilities which created an incomparable empathy for the minds and hearts of children. She lives in Virginia Beach, VA with her husband and two sons.
Bio
As a little girl I would spend hours dreaming up mini stories so I could illustrate each page. When finished I would draw a cover, staple the edges and admire the little book I made.
I never knew what I wanted to be when I grew up, but I knew I loved reading books and drawing and I’m thankful the two stuck with me.
I went on to receive a full athletic scholarship to play basketball at Rider University where I studied Art and Elementary Education. I then continued my studies earning my MFA from The New York Studio School where I focused on Painting.
After grad school I left NYC bouncing from New Jersey, Pennsylvania, California, then to Georgia while I worked as a teacher spanning over 10 years. During those years I taught elementary school, worked with children with special needs, and taught drawing and painting as an adjunct professor at Borough of Manhattan Community College and Rider University.
Throughout all those busy years, I kept journals where I’d write short poems, ideas and reflections. One cold rainy day in the historical year of 2020, when the world was flipped upside down, I finally felt brave enough to share my personal writings with others. I decided I would empty my writing journals onto instagram and add a quick illustration to the “poems”. Soon my work was discovered by art directors, editors, and agents and my career took a beautiful turn into the world of Children’s Books.
My work has evolved in so many ways since then as I continue to explore how best to bring the stories in my heart to life. But what stays true is my hope to convey the beauty and tenderness of the human experience through the details in each piece of writing and in each illustration.
The Journey: My Path to Publishing
For many years before and after work, and at night when my son was sleeping, I would pull out my ipad and illustrate for fun. I also loved to write short poems to go along with my art. Then in 2020 when the world was shut down and tension was high, I was pregnant with my second son and felt a restlessness and desire to connect with others in some way. So I made a commitment to start posting meaningful poems and illustrations on instagram to reach others. Within a couple of months my work was discovered by an art director who asked me to illustrate my first traditionally published children’s book, The Proudest Color. Around this same time, I was contacted by an agent from a very small agency. She explained how she could help me but I turned her down since I was a bit naive about what it meant to have an agent. But it sparked my interest and once I looked into it further, I decided to look for an agency that I thought would represent my work well and see what happens. I came across The Cat Agency and loved how they represented their illustrators. So I sent an email to my now agent, Christy who helped me refine my portfolio and welcomed me with open arms.
The Inspiration: Who/What Inspired Me
I’m inspired a lot by my younger self. I was a dreamy kid who loved to read and draw. I also loved being outside and running around barefoot. I loved books that were about life changing adventures with scenes that pulled you into the characters emotions. I’m also inspired by my children and former students. But I’ve learned how capable children are to embrace complex stories and how art moves them and inspires them to think further about things.
The Process: How I Work
When I get a manuscript the first thing I do is read the whole thing through thinking of the “atmosphere” the author wants to set emotionally. I think of what the character will look like and find reference images of the setting, hairstyles, and gestures. I then sketch out the first compositions that come to mind using paper and pencil. I later translate these digitally, touching them up and thinking about how I will use color, shape, and lines to convey the emotions and intentions of the story. Once those sketches are approved I go into my favorite part, which is coloring. This is where I add lots of texture and magical touches here and there.
The State of the Industry: Facts, insights, and Opinions about publishing today
From the creator point of view we don’t know all the ways the publishing industry is changing, but you can definitely feel there is a shift happening. Especially with being around children, I’m aware of how many children are reading less and less. I do think we are hitting a breaking point as humanity where we see the potential of technology changing the way we think, act, and of course how our children learn. While it could seem detrimental, I do have faith that it’s actually the wake up call we all need, so that we can be more intentional to keep certain things alive, like reading and writing, traditional arts and cultural crafts. There is nothing like using your hands to make things and to hold a physical book, and I do think we will fight for that. I see my local libraries creating reading groups, and summer reading challenges and I know parents and teachers who are advocating for children to read more books. So I trust that the industry will always be there to provide books for those who love the feeling of sitting in a bookstore, and crisp pages of a new story.
More about Monica:
I really love your beautiful artistic style – and am so glad you took a chance on sharing yourself in 2020. Thanks for sharing your story here!