How this Artist Turned Bedtime Battles into Children’s Books
This Tuesday, for our artist feature, we sat down with Jessica Woo, author, illustrator, and former DreamWorks artist, for a candid look at how a lifelong doodler became a storyteller across books and film. Jessica traces her start to a box of crayons and her mom’s encouragement, then connects the dots to animation credits on Kung Fu Panda, Shrek 4, The Croods, and more, and to her picture books, including What To Do About Your Monsters and the May 2025 release Tricky Trichotillomania.
In this interview, she shares the checkpoints she leans on when a piece is clicking: colour choices, composition, and character poses, why she often doesn’t know a piece is working until the end, and how she keeps family and deadlines moving with simple, steady to-do lists. She opens up about tools and techniques (digital, pencil, paper) and a fresh dive into collage. She also talks about the kind of difference she hopes her work can make: helping readers feel comfortable in their skin.
What we learned: craft comes first, then you can bend the rules; momentum is built one manageable day at a time; and a career can span studio lots, children’s shelves, and new projects still in the sketch phase (including a dream-themed picture book and a grammar-hero adventure). It’s a grounded, generous conversation: meet Jessica.
Jessica Woo is an author, illustrator, and former DreamWorks artist who spends her days wrangling stories, art, and two wonderfully wild little ones. Inspired by her oldest child, she wrote and illustrated What To Do About Your Monsters, proving bedtime negotiations can lead to great literature. In May 2025, she celebrated the release of her newest illustrated title, Tricky Trichotillomania. She’s currently displaying, I Dream Like You Do, and A Grammarian Superhero Book: Write with Power, helping young readers discover the magic of writing.
Beyond her work in children’s literature, Jessica has an impressive career in professional animation, art direction, and illustration. Her recent concept art project for Universal showcases her dynamic visual storytelling, while her art direction for Dinner Party earned recognition at the prestigious Sundance Film Festival. In animation, her work has brought beloved films to life, including Kung Fu Panda, Monsters vs. Aliens, Shrek 4, Kung Fu Panda Holiday Special, Kung Fu Panda 2, The Croods, and Turbo. Jessica lives in Studio City, California, with her family, a dog, a tortoise, and fish—her most trusted critique partners. When she’s not crafting compelling stories or stunning visuals, she’s dreaming up her next creative adventure.
1. How did you get started in your art career?
I got my start when I was just a kid—with nothing but a box of crayons, my mom by my side, and a quiet determination to colour inside the lines.
Get the foundations of art down first. Then go break the rules. Stay true to yourself and let your voice be heard.
Jessica Woo
2. When you’re creating something new, what makes you pause and say, This is working?
Often, I don’t know until I am finished. But three good indicators are that the colour scheme is working, composition, and character poses.
3. How do you balance your personal life with your art career?
That’s a good question. I make lots of to-do lists and try to make sure what I schedule for each day is manageable.
4. How do you envision the future of your art and its impact on the world?
I hope I have some impact! I really want my art to inspire people to be comfortable in their own skin and embrace who they are.
I got my start when I was just a kid—with nothing but a box of crayons, my mom by my side, and a quiet determination to color inside the lines.
Jessica Woo
5. What mediums and techniques do you primarily work with?
Digital, pencil, and paper. But recently I have been getting into collage.
6. Do you have any parting words of wisdom for our readers or aspiring artists?
Get the foundations of art down first. Then break the rules. Stay true to yourself and let your voice be heard.
Jessica Woo’s work is about storytelling that reaches across mediums, whether it’s picture books that help kids through everyday challenges, or animated films that fill theatres with adventure. From crayons at the kitchen table to DreamWorks storyboards to award-recognised art direction, her journey shows that growth comes from practice, curiosity, and steady commitment.
What we learn from her is that creativity doesn’t happen all at once; it’s built piece by piece, guided by both discipline and play. Her art continues to remind us that stories can help us laugh, learn, and feel a little more at ease with who we are.
To learn more about Jessica, visit the links below.
