Women Who Inspire: Meet the Creators Behind Compendium

Bailey Vega – Editor

• Who is a woman that inspires you? There are so many women I could mention, but I’m going to have to say my mom. She has always shown me the importance of making room for joy and adventure, and she never takes life (or herself) too seriously. 

• What is one lesson the creative process has offered you? The creative process has taught me that collaboration is so valuable. It’s amazing to work with other creatives and to see what happens when different perspectives, talents, and ideas come together! 

• What's your favorite project with Compendium and why? My favorite project (technically multiple projects!) has been the Much More Than a Little series by M.H. Clark and Cécile Metzger. This author-illustrator team is so talented, and I love that these books are filled with the sweetest rhymes, the most whimsical characters, and incredibly charming scenes.   

Miriam Hathaway – Author and Editor

• Who is a woman that inspires you? This is a hard question! I really admire Toni Morrison, who not only was a legendary writer, but she was also a fearless editor, encouraging her authors to create the best possible work that only they could make. 
• What is one lesson the creative process has offered you? To create something, you are flirting with the unknown. As humans, we’re programmed to be afraid of that mystery. But creating draws you closer to it––closer and closer, until you realize that wonderful things can come from that place of not knowing and stepping forward anyway. 
• What's your favorite project with Compendium and why? With My Dog was such a fun title to work on! It has such good heart, incredible art by Tisha Lee, and such an important message, that when you’re with a friend, you are home; you are safe; you are seen.

Marisol Ortega – Illustrator

• Who is a woman that inspires you? My mother. She's been through a lot and still kept going despite the bumps along the way. She's been my number one fan and someone who believed me since the beginning. And now seeing her as an abuelita to my two girls has been amazing. I had a special relationship with my abuela growing up so it makes me so happy my girls get to experience that as well. 

• What is one lesson the creative process has offered you? That there is beauty in the imperfect process. Sometimes I feel like I’m not progressing when I’m in a creative rut but I’m learning to appreciate the rut, give it space, and continue to show up for my muse however chaotic it might feel. The process is never perfect and every time is different. I think that’s beautiful.

• What's your favorite project with Compendium and why? Mmm, good question! So many! But I think my favorite has to be the Love Muchly cards I illustrated. I loved painting the butterfly card with gouache and the colors turned out beautifully. My second would be the project I'm working on right now. It's in its second year right now and it's been so so so much fun painting and lettering but the icing on the cake has been getting to work with Caytlyn Tolliver, the art director.

Justine Edge – Illustrator and Art Director

• Who is a woman that inspires you? My first inspiration as an artist was my Aunt Wendy, a working artist herself, who encouraged me to take my creative passions further. She bought me my first art supplies, let me make messes in her art studio, and modeled what working as a creative could look like.

• What is one lesson the creative process has offered you? Sometimes the most interesting results arrive by letting go of control and perfection. The mistaken ink blob might end up useful once scanned in, and often my most original ideas surface once I've stepped away from my desk.

• What's your favorite project with Compendium and why? After 10 years of creating for Compendium, it's not easy to pick just one! But I really put my heart into She's Everything. I found this book’s celebration of women very inspiring, exploring a variety of artistic techniques and mediums to achieve my creative vision.

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We’ll be featuring each of these women on our Instagram account, so make sure you’re following us @compendiumliveinspired to see more!