Iowa Nature Calendar

Claudia McGehee is an illustrator-author residing in a tallgrass prairie state. Her creative inspiration springs from the natural world, particularly the regional prairies and woodlands around her, as well as the Pacific Northwest, where she grew up. Claudia combines her primary illustration medium, scratchboard, with vibrant watercolor to craft earthy, woodcut-like images. Some days, she writes about pictures; other days, she draws about words. For her, it’s all about storytelling.

Claudia is the author and illustrator of numerous non-fiction picture books, including My Wilderness: An Alaskan Adventure (Sasquatch Books, 2015) and A Tallgrass Prairie Alphabet, A Woodland Counting Book, and Where Do Birds Live? (University of Iowa Press, 2004, 2006, 2010). She also illustrated Northwoods Girl (written by Aimée Bissonette, Minnesota Historical Society Press, 2015) and Creekfinding: A True Story (written by Jacqueline Briggs Martin, University of Minnesota Press, 2017).

“I like to think that people see little reminders of their own natural world in my illustrations,” Claudia reflects. “A bird in a tree or grass stems swaying in the wind are images we encounter regularly. Perhaps these moments connect us to the Big Picture. In a world where we’re often online, I believe nature serves as an essential source of comfort and escape. I hope my illustrations convey the value of our natural treasures and remind us that spending time in the wild can refresh our spirits.”

A native from Washington state, Claudia lives with her family in a house and studio on a hill in Iowa City, Iowa. She holds degrees in anthropology (archaeology) and graphic design.