 Illustrating a children’s book is one of my favorite things to do but it’s not just about making cute pictures. It’s about leaving something behind for the next generation. We connect with the author, and make illustrations that little readers will love and remember. Here’s a peek at how I approach the process:  I start with my why. Being a children’s book illustrator isn’t always easy, and some days don’t go as planned. Having clear intentions helps me be grounded and reminds me of the bigger picture. They reach children, families, and classrooms. ….its a big deal.  I Get to Know the Author + Story Before I draw a single sketch, I spend time with the author and their story. Mariam Poppins is family owned and operated so me and Abdullaah talk to the author. Every writer brings a piece of themselves into their book, and we want to understand a bit about who they are and why this is important to them.  I Start with Scribbles Messy lines, rough shapes, quick doodles or sometimes I just go right into it. This depends on the story. I Prepare My Papers Sometimes I paint papers and textures before I begin illustrating. These painted papers become a part of the art. They add texture, color, and something unique to each page. It’s one of my favorite parts of the process because it is relaxing and fun. I will talk more about this in the future. I Build the Characters + Focus on Consistency Characters are very important. Sometimes I close my eyes and imagine how I want things to look. And at times I gotta just draw it out. I love to imagine it all….how I feel, what I see…. lastly I Share Progress with the Author Illustration is collaborative…..we have to communicate with each other. We schedule times with the author to share sketches or completed spreads so they can see how the book is coming together. This back and forth helps the process. While there are more things to talk about, this is a peek into our process. if you have any questions drop them below ⬇️….and look at our new character for the blog! This is Starla and she’s going to be our tour guide !  Wanna learn how to make your own characters or make them do poses? Take a class with us. Poppin Dynamic Poses
$20.00
Howdy and salutations! This class is for anyone who wants to have fun and learn how to make poppin dynamic poses! We will teach you how to do three different poses using the same technique to make your character not appear stiff. This class is prerecorded 24-7 access you don’t need an app or iPad to do this class Character Development: Working with faceless characters
$20.00
Learn how to draw charming, unique characters without ever drawing facial expression In this bite-sized class, I’ll teach you how to give your faceless characters personality, mood…using some simple tips I’ve learned. Whether you’re an illustrator, journaler, or someone looking for a hobby….this class is for you. No fancy tools needed Beginner & kid-friendly Taught in easy-to-follow slides What’s Included: ✔️ Slide-based visual lesson (PDF or video with voiceover) ✔️ Step-by-step breakdowns ✔️ Real examples from my own faceless character 24/7 access and prerecorded Making Simple Characters In The App Procreate
$50.00
What if I told you that it was super easy to learn how to make your own characters in one of the most popular apps out there right now? I'm going to share with you the fastest and simplest ways to create professional and sellable characters using the app Procreate. I've been using Procreate for over four years and I use it often to make stationery, illustrate books and social media graphics. By the end of this class, you'll be able to do just that! This is a comprehensive Procreate course for those who want to learn how Mariam Poppins uses the app. What this course will cover:
What this course includes:
Extra Info: Session 1 we will have an introduction to the app and a walk through of some of the basic features. This is to get you started and comfortable with the app and plus there will be homework assignments. Session 2 We are going to go over character development and some of the things that I do to go about making my own characters for kid lit art Session 3 We are going to apply what we learned and I'm going to show you how I make my characters using all the things that we learned. The workshop will be available as a prerecorded workshop, giving everyone the opportunity to learn at their own speed. However, it is not available for 24/7 access. It will be available for a month and then it is closed off
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Author/illustratorAmeenah Samuel of Mariam Poppins is a wife, mother, home educator and digital artist. She has illustrated several children’s books and has a love for teaching, sharing and being creative. Archives
November 2025
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