My name is Ariel Messerer, and I am an illustrator based in Springfield, Missouri. The things that make me happy are folk music, the yellow smell of old books, exploring gardens, bread baking, and getting lost in the tall, tall trees.
As an artist, my focus is in taking the simple pleasures and giving them attention. Nature, fairy tales, afternoon tea, small animals in human apparel—the silly things that make people smile are my favorite visual subjects.  Portraits are one of my favorite things to paint, because each one (like the model) has a unique story to tell.
Someday, I would like to illustrate and write my own books, as well as teach at a university.    I love to learn, and I believe art has the ability to make peoples lives better.