children's book illustration
Below is some of Ronnie's personal illustrative work.
A Cedarwaxwing is helping its acorn friends collect some hawthorn berries. Created digitally on the iPad, with procreate.
The illustration features an acorn, a Yellow Spotted Salamander,an Eastern Shrew, a Green Frog, a Candy-Stripped Leafhopper, a Bumblebee, and a Ladybug.
An illustration of a Silvery Blue Butterfly flying umong Yukon Lupines in the mountains.
A father an son are skating at Nathan Phillips Square in Toronto. This art was created with the intention of showing a father and son in a heartwarming moment, which is often not shown in media.
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Lucky the Maple key
In 2025, Ronnie illustrated the story "Lucky the Maple Key" written by Sue Kelly for Bracebridge's Story Book Trail, celebrating 150 years. Ronnie illustrated 8 full spread panels, sized 30" x 18" each, including a hand-lettered title page.When illustrating the story, Ronnie wanted to celebrate Bracebridge's local biodiversity - so each Panel features various plants and animals that can be found in Bracebridge.
Birds eye view of Bracebridge, Ontario
Mayor of Bracebridge, Rick Maloney with writer, Sue Kelly and illustrator, Ronnie Szostak
First panel of the Bracebridge Story Book Trail, featuring the three main characters going on a walk.
Fourth panel of the Story Book Trail, featuring Chickadee's, a White Throated Sparrow, Bluejay, Squirel, Deer and Chipmunk.
Sofia's weird feeling
For their capstone project for school, Ronnie wrote and illustrated "Sofia's Weird Feeling," a story about a little girl who learns how to manage her big feelings. Sofia learns how to manage her anxiety by learning a breathing technique. This story is still in the works, but Ronnie hopes to finish it one day!
Character exploration of Sofia
Sofia hugging her Moms
A Full Page spread from Ronnie's unpublished book "Sofia's Weird Feeling." Words and Illustration by Ronnie. Created as a capstone project for school.
EDITORIAL ILLUSTRATIONS
Drawing on their environmental and teaching background, Ronnie has illustrated for Chickadee for their Animal of the Month series. You can find Ronnie's editorial work in Chickadee Magazine, from September 2025 to June 2026, and onto September 2026.
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Editorial Illustration drawn for Chickadee Magazine, found in the November 2025 Issue on page 7.
Sketch of common kingfisher drawn for Chickadee Magazine, found in the November 2025 Issue on page 7.
Editorial Illustration drawn for Chickadee Magazine, found in the November 2025 Issue on page 6.
Sketch of common kingfisher drawn for Chickadee Magazine, found in the November 2025 Issue on page 6.
Editorial Illustration of Muskox drawn for Chickadee Magazine, found in the December 2025 Issue on page 6.
Editorial Illustration of Muskox drawn for Chickadee Magazine, found in the December 2025 Issue on page 7.
Spot Illustration of a Snow Leopard drawn for Chickadee Magazine, found in the January/ February 2026 Issue .
Spot Illustration of a Snow Leopard drawn for Chickadee Magazine, found in the January/ February 2026 Issue .
Editorial Illustration of Blue Coral Snake for Chickadee Magazine, found in the March/April 2026.
Editorial Illustration of Blue Coral Snake for Chickadee Magazine, found in the March/April 2026.
Box Fish for Chickadee Magazine, found in the May 2026 issue.
Sketch of Box Fish for Chickadee Magazine, found in the May 2026 issue.
STATIONERY
One of Ronnie's passions is sharing their love of nature through creating stationery, often featuring their adorable and silly acorn characters.They have exhibited in many shows, including the One of a Kind Show in Toronto, Kampenfest, and Toronto Stationery Show.
A greeting card design by Ronnie, featuring a worm with a top hat and the words "You're Worm-derful" above. Illustrated digitally using a paper-cut style.
A greeting card design, featuring three kids in a play wearing different space related costumes.
Sticker sheet design
sticker showing various wetland species with the words "embrace nature, not ai" on it!
Greeting card design featuring critters local to Ontario
Greeting card design showing a little acorn family
Growing up in Kitchener, Ontario, Ronnie (they/she) spent countless hours at their local library reading, learning about animals, and exploring nearby parks in search of adventure and magical creatures. After reciving their Bachelors of Environment Studies and Illustration Degree, they now get to professionally geek out about animals as an Environmental Educator and Children's Book Illustrator, and hope to spread their love of nature and silly things through their artwork and stationery.Find their work on the Bracebridge Storybook Trail and in Chickadee Magazine, the Animal of the Month series!
about their art
Ronnie loves experimenting with their art and loves using watercolour, gouache and pencil crayon with a dash of digital finesse (aka, their iPad and Procreate). They love brushy textures, crunchy linework, paint splatter, and warm colour palettes, often describing their work like dew in the warm sun after a stormy day.
what they bring to the table
- drive to celebrate diversity (and biodiversity) of all kinds
- attention to playful detail in storytelling
- works well under pressure and understands the quick paced nature of editorial work
- holds a degree in Environment Studies from the University of Waterloo and Illustration diploma from Seneca College, specializing in Children's Illustration
- Outdoor nature educator, teaching children from pre-school to teens
- willingness to put their best work forward in order to spark child-like wonder in children and adults alike
- random nature facts
Children's Illustration work
Ronnie is currently looking for Children's Editorial and Picture Book Illustration work. They bring with them their background in Environment Science and Education, as well as a love of highlighting local biodiversity in a humorous way.They are currently unagented, but are looking for an agent for their Illustrative work.For publishing inquiries, please contact Ronnie at [email protected] or click on the "contact" button to be taken to a contact form.