Steven James Petruccio

I grew up reading comic books and copying the characters in them. With no art classes from elementary through high school, I read books about artists such as Norman Rockwell and N.C. Wyeth. I practiced drawing from anatomy books by Bridgeman, Loomis and Hogarth and finally put together a portfolio of my work. I was able to show my work to Burne Hogarth and with his recommendation, I attended the School of Visual Arts in NYC. I started getting illustration projects even before I graduated and eventually began illustrating books. As the illustrator of more than seventy books for young audiences I'm always trying to create interesting and informative pictures. I research, write and illustrate informative coloring books too such as Alexander Hamilton and Presidential Libraries. Many of my books are Parents Choice Award winners and I was awarded the Rip Van Winkle Award for my contribution to children's literature in the Hudson Valley. I spend time illustrating, painting, teaching, doing school programs and workshops and working on my own stories.