About the artist.
My name is J.C. Amberlyn and I am an artist, animator, book author, and photographer. My best-selling book, "Drawing Wildlife" came out in May 2005, published by the respected fine art book publishing company, Watson-Guptill. This book reflects my lifelong dedication to observing wildlife and mastering art techniques that illustrate the beauty of nature.
I have always loved to explore the Great Outdoors, seeking to further understand the natural world outside my doorstep. There, I find endless inspiration from the beauty and complexity of animals and nature. Several critters share my home with me, including a few dogs of various shapes and sizes, two geckos, a toad, a tarantula, and an amputee kangaroo rat named Popcorn (that's me holding him on the right).
I also love the world of the imagination. I love epic stories, engaging characters, inspiring art, and the various forms of media that allow people to share these stories- whether they be movies, graphic novels, TV shows or video games. I've been a fan of Japanese animation and comics (anime and manga) since I was a teenager and was very happy to present my second book on exactly that subject, "Drawing Manga Animals, Chibis, and Other Adorable Creatures" to the world in 2009 and 2010. This book was also published by Watson-Guptill, now a division of Random House.
I have also had a recent successful career as a photographer and journalist, winning multiple state and regional awards for photography and writing. I was especially honored to receive recognition from the Arizona Game and Fish Department for my work on wildlife in 2008 and a community award from Kingman, Arizona (also in 2008) for my contributions to the arts in my community. (Outdoor Writer of the Year and Women Making History (Arts), respectively.) I have enjoyed my job as photojournalist and feel privileged to be able to observe and document the ebb and flow of life in my local community.
My life's work is to translate my experiences through my art, photography, animation, storytelling, and characters.
The pursuit of the artistic path has been a rewarding one for me, and I have met many interesting people and seen many beautiful places. My work has received a number of awards and recognitions and has been published in both fine art magazines and comic books! My hope is to continue creating visual and written works of art that strike a chord with my audience and that express my love for the life that shares this planet with us.
Thank you for taking the time to look through my website!
