Laura Diehl

Laura Diehl - Designer

Broadlands, VA, USA

A digital illustrator of fantasy, known for: glowing light, vibrant color, and lush settings. Book covers, MG chapter books, children's etc.

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Overview

Hello! My name is Laura and I have been a professional illustrator for 15+ years. My artwork has appeared on numerous book covers, in magazines, and even an iPad game. Clients include: Routledge, Carolrhoda Books, Pearson Education, David Fulton, and Mattel. Additionally, my artwork has been juried into Spectrum, Infected By Art, New Master of Fantasy, won the Illustrators of the Future Grand Prize, and was nominated for a Chesley. All of my images are hand-painted digitally using a XL Wacom Intuos and Photoshop. My work is known for its magical color, glowing light sources, and a touch (or perhaps a fat dollop) of the fantastical. I hold a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in Painting from James Madison University. My style and specialties are especially well suited to MG chapter book interiors and covers.
Languages
English
Fiction
Action & Adventure
Fantasy
Gaming & LitRPG
Middle Grade
Picture Books
Young Adult

Certifications

  • Bachelor of Fine Arts, James Madison University

Awards

  • Juried into Spectrum
  • Juried into Infected By Art
  • Nominated for Chesley
  • Juried into New Masters of Fantasy
  • Gold Award, Illustrators of the Future

Work experience

Owner

Self-employed
January, 2003 – Present (about 20 years)

Illustrator of book covers, chapter book interiors, card games, video games, children's books, advertising images, etc.

Portfolio (9 selected works)

The Magic of Melwick Orchard

Rebecca Caprara

After more moves than they can count, Isa's family finally puts down roots. People in town are afraid of the abandoned orchard behind their home, but Isa and her sister Junie are happy to have acres of land to explore.But when Junie gets sick, Isa's mom falls into a depression, and medical bills force Isa's dad to work more. No one notices that Isa's clothes are falling apart and her stomach i... read more

After more moves than they can count, Isa's family finally puts down roots. People in town are afraid of the abandoned orchard behind their home, but Isa and her sister Junie are happy to have acres of land to explore.But when Junie gets sick, Isa's mom falls into a depression, and medical bills force Isa's dad to work more. No one notices that Isa's clothes are falling apart and her stomach i... read more

Pumpkin Spirits

Mark Milbrath

Welcome to the Pumpkin Room...Here you'll find the Seed Reader, curator of the largest collection of spooky Halloween stories known to man or spirit. He has picked 13 of his most frightening to share...with you...Be prepared to enter a world where scarecrows are spiteful and some pumpkins are vengeful. Hear about the boy with the trick-or-treating addiction but beware of the spooky stranger lu... read more

Welcome to the Pumpkin Room...Here you'll find the Seed Reader, curator of the largest collection of spooky Halloween stories known to man or spirit. He has picked 13 of his most frightening to share...with you...Be prepared to enter a world where scarecrows are spiteful and some pumpkins are vengeful. Hear about the boy with the trick-or-treating addiction but beware of the spooky stranger lu... read more

The Adventures of Pixie Piper: A Fairy's Breath

Maricel Jiménez Peña

Pixie Piper loved adventures. She craved them with every pore in her skin. Sadly, the day Pixie was born her parents fell quite heavily under the spell of parental “concern” and poor little Pixie was left with little to do that wouldn’t worry or upset them. A bit of a difficult situation in which to have an adventure; so she consoled herself in books, stories and movies. Then one day she gets ... read more

Pixie Piper loved adventures. She craved them with every pore in her skin. Sadly, the day Pixie was born her parents fell quite heavily under the spell of parental “concern” and poor little Pixie was left with little to do that wouldn’t worry or upset them. A bit of a difficult situation in which to have an adventure; so she consoled herself in books, stories and movies. Then one day she gets ... read more

The Adventures of Pixie Piper: The Trove of the Water Dragon

Maricel Jiménez Peña

Pixie Piper discovered she was a fairy only recently. She’s hardly had time to learn about her magic or what she can do with it, so you can imagine her surprise when she suddenly grants a wish without knowing. Unfortunately, granting wishes without permission is a big no-no in the fairy world. Now in order to set things right, Pixie must find a legendary flute with magical powers, but how is s... read more

Pixie Piper discovered she was a fairy only recently. She’s hardly had time to learn about her magic or what she can do with it, so you can imagine her surprise when she suddenly grants a wish without knowing. Unfortunately, granting wishes without permission is a big no-no in the fairy world. Now in order to set things right, Pixie must find a legendary flute with magical powers, but how is s... read more

The Adventures of Pixie Piper: Dark Wish

Maricel Jiménez Peña

Not every wish should be granted. In fact, some wishes shouldn’t even be wished. The darkest ones can turn your heart dark. So when Pixie Piper’s best friend Misa starts making those kinds of ugly dark wishes, Pixie must find a way to stop her friend from turning dark. Unfortunately, something or someone is influencing Misa, causing her unfortunate wishing to escalate. Will Pixie stop her best... read more

Not every wish should be granted. In fact, some wishes shouldn’t even be wished. The darkest ones can turn your heart dark. So when Pixie Piper’s best friend Misa starts making those kinds of ugly dark wishes, Pixie must find a way to stop her friend from turning dark. Unfortunately, something or someone is influencing Misa, causing her unfortunate wishing to escalate. Will Pixie stop her best... read more

The Legend of Shi-lin

Sharon Lee Beatty

Shi-lin was a curious dragon. Unlike her fellow dragons who played amongst the clouds, Shi-lin preferred to observe the men and women of China. Often, she would walk amongst the people of the Pianshan marketplace. She found herself especially drawn to a man named Tuan, a craftsman of great talent. She loved his simple life and one day followed him to a small house near the monastery on the Mou... read more

Shi-lin was a curious dragon. Unlike her fellow dragons who played amongst the clouds, Shi-lin preferred to observe the men and women of China. Often, she would walk amongst the people of the Pianshan marketplace. She found herself especially drawn to a man named Tuan, a craftsman of great talent. She loved his simple life and one day followed him to a small house near the monastery on the Mou... read more

Morning Song

Sharon Beatty

Kimi grew up in Kaisun, a small, peaceful village in Northeastern China. Kimi wasn’t like the other girls in Kaisun. Girls her age were focused on marriage, having children, and fulfilling the role of a traditional Chinese wife. Kimi was focused on opening a school where girls could learn history, debate the classics, and explore exotic new European ideas. Kimi, a foundling, never knew her mot... read more

Kimi grew up in Kaisun, a small, peaceful village in Northeastern China. Kimi wasn’t like the other girls in Kaisun. Girls her age were focused on marriage, having children, and fulfilling the role of a traditional Chinese wife. Kimi was focused on opening a school where girls could learn history, debate the classics, and explore exotic new European ideas. Kimi, a foundling, never knew her mot... read more

The Kingdom of Winter (The Kingdoms of the Seasons Book 1)

Dorothy Papadakos

THE KINGDOM OF WINTER is book #1 in Sir Windham the North Wind's nature adventure series THE KINGDOMS OF THE SEASONS. Sir Windham, Earth's bravest and strongest Knight, rallies his Wind family members, nature's elements, Orion & the Constellations and savvy children around the world to restore Winter, Spring, Summer and Autumn. "Oh roar, Aurora Borealis! Shine your lights on Winter's palace! E... read more

THE KINGDOM OF WINTER is book #1 in Sir Windham the North Wind's nature adventure series THE KINGDOMS OF THE SEASONS. Sir Windham, Earth's bravest and strongest Knight, rallies his Wind family members, nature's elements, Orion & the Constellations and savvy children around the world to restore Winter, Spring, Summer and Autumn. "Oh roar, Aurora Borealis! Shine your lights on Winter's palace! E... read more

The Deeper Darkness (The Prism Series Book 2)

K.E. Stapylton

Rabbit was so angry she could spit. She hated being stuck underwater when she couldn’t swim. She resented being the least attractive girl she saw every single place she went. She was appalled that half the land of Prism thought she was a traitor, while the other half thought she was some kind of heroine. And most of all she hated having to face every problem wearing the briefest bikini she had... read more

Rabbit was so angry she could spit. She hated being stuck underwater when she couldn’t swim. She resented being the least attractive girl she saw every single place she went. She was appalled that half the land of Prism thought she was a traitor, while the other half thought she was some kind of heroine. And most of all she hated having to face every problem wearing the briefest bikini she had... read more

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