Natalia Morris Shares Her Creative Journey
PHOTO: Natalia Morris, author and illustrator of Quest for Cookies, beautifully photographed by Kyle Morris.
Exploring Whimsy, Heartfelt Storytelling, And Artistic Wonders
Natalia Morris discusses her inspirations, artistic techniques, and the heartfelt storytelling behind her debut children’s book, Quest for Cookies, while reflecting on family, creativity, and culinary influences.
Natalia Morris, celebrated author and illustrator of Quest for Cookies, has carved a unique space in children’s literature. Combining vibrant illustrations with playful rhymes, her debut exudes warmth and a touch of magic while inviting readers into a nostalgic and uplifting journey. Her creative world is anchored in personal experiences, family traditions, and heartfelt values, making her stories both intimate and universally resonant.
Quest for Cookies is a colorful tapestry of whimsy and wisdom, drawing inspiration from Natalia’s love for baking, her grandmother’s lavender cookies, and her appreciation for the beauty of multicultural connections. The book is a tribute to life’s small joys and special relationships, weaving themes of intergenerational bonds and childhood curiosity. From the contagious energy of a multicultural forest to the simple sweetness of a cookie recipe, Natalia’s storytelling brings readers closer to the relationships and memories that often shape us most.
Natalia Morris captivates readers with vivid illustrations and meaningful narratives, turning her passion into magical experiences for children.
Creating Quest for Cookies was an artistic endeavor that stretched across Natalia’s many talents. With illustrations crafted entirely on her iPad using Procreate, she employed a meticulous yet cohesive approach she adopted from her Fine Art training. Rather than rendering characters or elements in isolation, she built each page as a harmonious whole, ensuring the illustrations felt seamless and alive. The end result is a world filled with enchanting details, like the spooky mushroom forest—one of Natalia’s more challenging scenes to illustrate, requiring weeks of study and sketches to perfect.
The road to her success was as sweet as the lavender cookies that inspired Gnomey’s love for baking in the story. The book’s ascent to #1 on multicultural children’s charts further solidified Natalia’s pursuit of storytelling and illustration as a career. This milestone led to new opportunities, including illustrating You Are Not Your Meltdown by Desirea Binning, a project that tested her ability to adapt to a new artistic style. It also prompted a professional pivot, as Natalia expanded her portfolio, revamped her website, and doubled down on being a children’s book illustrator.
For Natalia, storytelling is deeply tied to rhythm and emotion. Breaking away from conventional processes, she illustrates her work before developing a narrative, allowing the visuals to guide the text. This method ensures a balance between visual rhythm and narrative pacing, creating stories that sound as heartfelt as they feel.
Baking also plays a pivotal role in Natalia’s creative process and work. Recipes featured in Quest for Cookies are sourced directly from her family’s kitchen, including her grandmother’s lavender cookies, her own raspberry muffins, and a beloved carrot cake from her household. These culinary elements add flavor—both literal and figurative—to her storytelling and reflect the shared experiences that ground her whimsical narratives.
But beyond the skill and imagination, Natalia credits her authenticity for her success. Her philosophy is simple: create only what speaks to your heart. “If you are producing something that does not come from your heart, it will show,” she says. Loving what you create, she believes, will inspire readers to love it too.
Her work, now finding a growing audience in libraries, has received further affirmation—she celebrated the book’s addition to library catalogs with eight holds already queued, a moment that felt like “a warm hug from the universe.” This acknowledgment has fueled her determination, giving her the confidence to keep pursuing stories that resonate widely yet remain deeply personal.
Natalia’s journey is a testament to persistence, passion, and the enduring power of authentic storytelling. Her advice to aspiring authors and illustrators is simple yet profound: believe in your vision and pour your heart into your work. As she continues to explore her creative path, Natalia Morris reminds us that stories crafted with love are the ones that truly connect and inspire.
Source: Reader’s House Magazine
