Artist Statement

Creating art and helping others are the two activities that bring me the most joy in life. Growing up, my mother and father were foster parents, which gave me the unique experience of being a big sister to many children less fortunate than myself. Thanks to this incredible upbringing, I have always had a special appreciation for diversity, togetherness, and helping others. Following the abrupt passing of my father when I was a teenager, I turned to both art and foster care volunteering to find solace. By doing this, I realized the power creativity has to heal both artist and viewer—and simultaneously realized the great depth of my passion for art. 

It’s my fundamental belief—both personally and artistically—that teaching marginalized, impressionable minds that they belong doesn’t just benefit individual lives, but also beautifies the entire world. For this reason, the most critical aspect of my character design process comes down to showing the humanity and diversity of my characters; whether I’m illustrating for children’s literature or conceptualizing for an animated film, my goal is to consistently develop characters that promote inclusivity of race, gender, ability, and sexuality. I want to make representation of diverse stories commonplace—because everyone deserves to see a bit of themselves reflected in the stories they hold dear.

Biography

Lana Shea is an illustrator and character designer from the sunny coast of California. Graduating summa cum laude, she earned her BA in Graphic Design + Illustration in the spring of 2022. Lana has been working in freelance for eight years, designing illustrations and character designs for various clients, including HarperCollins, Thomas Nelson, Cengage Learning, and Think Ink. She has also previously been published in the international anthology, Creating Art (2016, 2018), as well as had her work displayed in Keller Gallery’s 2020 showcase, Connections, and her 2022 solo senior gallery show, Nightlight.

Most recently, Lana was the Layout Designer and Lead Illustrator of Driftwood, as well as the illustrator of the children’s books A Message Across Time by Barbara Klett and Left Behind! by Sarah Fallon (2025 release).