Alexandra Finkeldey

My name is Alexandra Finkeldey and I’m a self-taught, full-time illustrator based in Kingston, Canada. I’ve had a passion for drawing and sketching since she was a child. I’ve always had a special interest in nature, especially animals and plant life. I enjoy creating lush and whimsical illustrations inspired by my daily experiences with nature. I favour warm colour palettes and enjoy creating rich textures with a combination of traditional and digital techniques.

As a young adult, I stopped creating art for many years. In 2017, I created my Instagram account as a way to find community and to reconnect with my love of visual art. After sharing some of my sketches and being inspired by other illustrators, I took a leap and started working part-time as freelance illustrator. At that time, I created many personal and commercial illustrations inspired by the people, plants, animals, and landscapes in my daily life.

In 2019, I transitioned into full time illustration. It was around this time that I started working with larger clients, such as Shopify, Collective Arts Brewing, and Passion Planner. From 2020 to 2021, I illustrated my first picture book for The Quarto Group titled True Stories of Animal Heroes: Talala (2021) by Vita Murrow.

Since then, I’ve illustrated When the Storks Came Home (2022) by Isabella Tree; Saving the Spotted Owl (2023) by Nicola Jones; A Horse Called Now (2024) by Ruth Doyle; and On a Mushroom Day (2024) by Chris Baker. I'm represented by Emily Van Beek of Folio Jr., based in the United States. I continue to work on picture books, and I have several titles due to publish over the next few years. I'm grateful that my work continues to centre nature and our relationship to the natural world.