Our Illustrator

Jeanne Rewa, illustrator of The Eye of the Sea, is first and foremost an equine artist.  She has been drawing and painting horses ever since she could pick up a crayon (see some of her childhood drawings here).  Almost as much as drawing, Jeanne also liked to write and illustrate her own books.  As a child she would happily tell you who her favorite children's book illustrator was (Sam Savitt!).  

Jeanne met Sienna's mother Dacia while they were both in an equine studies program in college.  They bonded over their deep love of horses, and throughout Jeanne's journey as an artist, Dacia and her family have been great supporters as well as clients of commissioned artwork by Jeanne.

When Jeanne was asked by Sienna to be the illustrator of her book, Jeanne didn't take the invitation lightly.  Since childhood she has deeply valued good book illustrations, so she had to make sure she felt up to the big challenge.  

Illustrating this book meant: 

- Working with Sienna to create a visual style that matched the feel she was looking for in her book (and that also worked with Jeanne's artistic style and abilities).
- Asking the right questions to help her understand Sienna’s vision.
- Not only draw things she had never drawn before, but things that NO ONE has ever drawn or photographed before, because they came straight out of Sienna’s imagination!

The illustrations in The Eye of the Sea were all created by Jeanne in a digital format using the Procreate app on an iPad with an Apple Pencil.  The style chosen for the book is a combination of rough pencil-style linework and ink-style washes, with a watercolor paper texture canvas.  Sienna wanted a dark feel for the illustrations, and you can see that in each illustration high contrast and white highlights are also used to draw the reader's attention and add to the feeling of drama and adventure. 

Looking at Jeanne's equine art, you may see the way her broader artistic style is reflected in the book's illustrations.  Though Jeanne's art practice has evolved over the decades, her current primary media include Chinese brush painting and ink. Other media include: linocut, watercolor, mixed media, digital art, collage, pencil, and scratchboard.  She loves to work in monochrome, especially black and white or brown and white. 

Learn more about her and her work at her website: Equine Art by Jeanne Rewa www.eajr.com  
Follow her and see more of her work on instagram: www.instagram.com/jeannerewa/

Meghan Cronan graduated from the University of Wisconsin Oshkosh with a dual major in Elementary and Special Education. Upon moving to San Diego in 2007, she attended San Diego State University and received her masters in Special Education with an emphasis in Autism.
Meghan has been teaching special education for the past 17 years. She began teaching in Poway, California in a moderate severe classroom for second and third grade students with Autism. In 2013 Meghan and her husband relocated to Chicago, where she then began teaching in a resource classroom in Highland Park, Illinois. This is where her passion for teaching children and adults with Dyslexia began.
While in Highland Park, she was introduced to the Wilson Reading System. She received her introductory three day training, then became fully certified as a Wilson Dyslexia Practitioner in 2020. In 2021, she joined the Dyslexia Certificate Program through the Dyslexia Training Institute in San Diego. She completed her coursework and practicum in July 2022, becoming certified in the Orton Gillingham method.
When Meghan is not teaching, you will find her enjoying quality time with her husband and two boys, Robbie (eight) and Liam (five). She loves traveling and enjoying the outdoors in beautiful Truckee, California!

Working with Sienna has been life-changing, both professionally and personally. This project has pushed me out of my comfort zone.  Sienna has taught me the importance of having a growth mindset and not letting a deficit area stand in the way of a goal.  Her passion for creativity and writing is inspiring.  I would not want to be on this journey with anyone else!  Her positivity shines through each time we collaborate, and I am so blessed to call her my friend and colleague.

Meghan offers private tutoring through video online in addition to all her other amazing qualities.  

Please contact Meghan at  

meghancronan20@gmail.com