Love Letter to the Rain Clouds is a 32 page picture book dummy that translates my memories growing up in the Pacific Northwest through the adventures of an independent and inquisitive young girl. The main character encounters charismatic and amiable creatures endemic to the Willamette valley in her interactions with the environment around her. Some of the creatures are whimsical manifestations of the spirit of the PNW, symbolic of a nonhuman world that is at once an innate part of us and whose mysterious inner workings pique our curiosity. Throughout her adventures, the main character shares her memories and in-depth knowledge of certain places with the reader, inviting a young audience to explore the Pacific Northwest along with her. I’ve been inspired by both scientific illustration and educational work, as well as character design and art for entertainment. It’s been a long process finding middle ground with these two artistic interests, but last year I had a breakthrough when Chuck Lucaks said my work reminded him of J.A.W. Cooper.