J'Aaron Merchant

Happy Mother's Day to all of the amazing Mommas! ☺️ . . . #mothersday #kidlitart #illustration #picturebook #characterdesign #childrensbookillustration #blacklove #girlsinanimation https://www.instagram.com/p/COqEB9Sjbl8/?igshid=753qkouwthqa

When "morning tea" becomes a double entendre. . . . . #Mermay #mermay2021 #kidlitart #characterdesign #caribbeangirls #illustration #girlsinanimation https://www.instagram.com/p/COoaLgPDSmG/?igshid=1i735cnuoh6gb

May the 4th be with you!☺️ . . . #starwars #disney #kidlitart #maythe4thbewithyou #maythe4th #illustration #maytheforcebewithyou https://www.instagram.com/p/COdhGPWD9n0/?igshid=1e3cvx5o1vc4l

Mermay Day 1. Plan to color later. . . . #mermay #mermay2021 #girlsinanimation #kidlitart https://www.instagram.com/p/COav2p2D1pt/?igshid=1g6mfahoktxbx

Today is my birthday, so I thought I'd share a little bit about myself! . . . #meettheartist #meettheartist2021 #kidlitartist #drawingwhileblack #girlsinanimation https://www.instagram.com/p/COVKCRTjy4S/?igshid=mrhcx5larpha

If someone asked me a few years ago where I thought my creative gift would take me. I wouldn't have guessed that my illustrations would be on holiday gift wrap and ornaments bringing smiles to kids and families all over. So remember to take time and celebrate your self and celebrate the people who support your wild and crazy dreams! Huge thanks to @missjazz2u & @biribelle for dreaming with me and seeing the vision! Oh yea don't forget to visit blackpaperparty.com and get you some of this BLACK JOY! If you've already shown us love THANK YOU SO MUCH!☺️ 📸: @jennterrellphotography #creative #happyholidays #blacksanta #illustration #drawingwhileblack #christmas2020 #kidlitart #blackpaperparty #blackjoy (at Holidaze) https://www.instagram.com/p/CItVhpDj9kS/?igshid=1htd5xhllki8o

What are you up to on this lovely Sunday? I'm juggling a couple of things today. I'm watching the dope #Lightbox2020 sessions, wrapping up deadlines and planning out another illustration idea. . . . #drawingwhileblack #kidlitart #characterdesigns #illustration #conceptart #mochakids #visdev #sketch #digitalart (at Home) https://www.instagram.com/p/CFFan4PDWXa/?igshid=b1ghsa947zee

Whew Chile! When I tell y'all these past couple of months have been ROUGH! I've been having major tech issues that held up a lot of work 😩 but like @blkwmnanimator has been telling me, I'm learning to celebrate the small wins. 😉 So I'm celebrating this new @wacom I received from @lupencita! Huge thank you to @lupencita again for helping this likkle island girl chase her dreams! Make sure you stay tuned in to me getting back out in these art streets! #wacom #blkwxmnanimate #kidlitartist #girlsinanimation #kidlitart (at Jersey City, New Jersey) https://www.instagram.com/p/CD4ROvKD4o9/?igshid=c2bj2s5gowse

Did you know that Hazel's Happy Home was written by the students of the Charles Evan Hughes Elementary School in collaboration with @jbblankenstory? I think it's so cool that these amazing students had an opportunity to tell their own story! We need more of this! #kidlitart #characterdesign #scbwi #drawingwhileblack #childrensbooks #blackjoy #hbcugrad #blacklivesmatter https://www.instagram.com/p/CDhjg79jPdb/?igshid=353hachu55s1

@Sitstayread is a 501(c)3 literacy org in Chicago that brings 🙋 and 🐶 into under-resourced CPS schools to increase students' literacy skills! #kidlitart #characterdesign #scbwi #drawingwhileblack #childrensbooks #blackjoy #hbcugrad #blacklivesmatter https://www.instagram.com/p/CDhhSeQDMo1/?igshid=do7dxvgw6rue

@Sitstayread is a 501(c)3 literacy org in Chicago that brings 🙋 and 🐶 into under-resourced CPS schools to increase students' literacy skills! #kidlitart #characterdesign #scbwi #drawingwhileblack #childrensbooks #blackjoy #hbcugrad #blacklivesmatter https://www.instagram.com/p/CDhgqpuj_YK/?igshid=o55lsj0zafol

Happy to formerly announce Hazel's Happy Home! . Adopted dog, Hazel, recounts the activities of a typical day with her family. Created as part of the SitStayRead curriculum, this book was inspired by real stories written by second grade students in a Chicago Public Elementary School.  This was such a fun project and done in collaboration with @JBblakenship and @SitStayRead. Link my bio for more info.☺️ . . #kidlitart #characterdesign #scbwi #drawingwhileblack #childrensbooks #blackjoy #hbcugrad #blacklivesmatter https://www.instagram.com/p/CDhfJQojrpK/?igshid=1azi0jnt3cuk0

So nice I had to do it twice! 😎 . . . . #faceyourart #faceyourartchallenge #kidlitart #characterdesign https://www.instagram.com/p/CDe8Ko7D1Iw/?igshid=29nmmsfrdsf9

Look at all that melanin! #faceyourart #faceyourartchallenge https://www.instagram.com/p/CDb4w7xjPBI/?igshid=kndwc64schbe

"Blurry Brown Eyes" written by Tiffany Gratton-McDuffie and illustrated by me, J'Aaron Merchant! . . Aiden dreams of playing in the game and scoring the winning shot, but there are those who feel that he won't be able to. Can Aiden achieve his dream in spite of the naysayers? Blurry Brown Eyes is an inspirational story about a young boy who learns to believe in himself and continues to fight until he gets it. . . Please visit jaaronmerchant.comnto grab your copy today. . . #kidlitart #childrensbookillustration #drawingwhileblack #jaaronmerchant #hbcugrad #illustration https://www.instagram.com/p/CDCMhsHjKr9/?igshid=onbs72bqqm5p

Shout-out to @simplyrobotix for having me on her amazing podcast! In this episode we talk Spirited Away, The Thief and the Cobbler, Rugrats and more! . . You can listen on Anchor, Spotify, Apple podcasts and everywhere else podcasts are streamed! . . . #animationpodcast #simplyrobotixpod #jaaronmerchant #podsincolor #dopeblackpodcasts #wocpodcasts #womeninanimation #girlsinanimation #blkwomenanimate #animation #characterdesign #diversestorytelling #visiblewomen #drawingwhileblack #proudfamily (at New York, New York) https://www.instagram.com/p/CCZQ10aD5_j/?igshid=4q8nljqvdrc9