Maria loves pencil and typography. After working over thirty years in the graphic design industry, she now makes illustrations and stories inspired heavily by the magical world outdoors, her students, friends and family. Maria balances this work by designing and teaching elementary-school-level art classes at the Bluemont Community Center and directing The Hill School’s youth-enrichment program, Team Saturday. She lives about an hour west of Washington, DC with her husband, dogs, cat and numerous marionettes. MEMBERSHIPS: The Puppeteers of America, UNIMA-USA and the Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators