Art nurtures creativity, innovation and cultural diversity for people across the globe and plays an important role in sharing knowledge, encouraging curiosity and igniting dialogue. In celebration of World Art Day, we're excited to feature the collaborative artwork of two VI creative team members, Copywriter, Anna Kinder and Art Director, Jeff Bowman.
Anna and Jeff are currently working on publishing a children's book titled Combat Wombat. Written by Anna and illustrated by Jeff, these exceptional creatives collaborated out-of-office on this passion project that is engaging, kid-friendly and has a message that is relevant and necessary - especially in 2021.
What better day than World Art Day to brag on these two creative, artistic VI-ers, give you a sneak peek at Combat Wombat, and the unwavering passion and expertise behind the pages.
What inspired you to create Combat Wombat?
Writing has always been my main outlet for processing and conveying my emotions and experiences, mainly through poetry, music and personal essays. I was becoming a bit burned out, so I decided to try a fresh new medium. I’ve always been fascinated by and collected children’s books, even though I don’t have kids of my own. I wanted to write a series that could help parents open up a dialogue with their kids about mental health and other tough topics. Combat Wombat features a protagonist who struggles with debilitating anxiety but learns how to cope with it and manage it. I got the idea for the series back in 2014, but I didn’t bring it to life until 2020, when I discovered that Jeff was interested in illustrating children’s books. Collaborating with a coworker has been a fun way to get to know each other outside of work and play off each other’s strengths. I can’t wait to see the finished product! - Copywriter, Anna Kinder
What makes this project special?
Making a children's book has been my biggest goal since college and, as an illustrator, one of the best ways for me put a little good into the world. Combat Wombat felt like it was written for 10 year old me, so of course I couldn’t resist the opportunity to illustrate it. - Art Director, Jeff Bowman.
