MARY JANE BEGIN

I WILL DIVE FOR PIRATE TREASURE
1995, acrylic and watercolor
9" x 16 1/8", signed lower right, initialed in pen
A Mouse Told His Mother, by: Bethany Roberts, Little Brown and Company, 1997, pg. 12-13

SING A SONG OF SIXPENCE
1993, acrylic and watercolor
10 7/8" x 10 7/8", signed lower right, initialed in pen
Sample piece for plate, The Bradford Exchange

TEATIME
2007, watercolor, pastel, & colored pencil
7 1/2" x 8 1/2", signed lower right, initial (pencil)
Willow Buds: The Tale of Toad and Badger, by: Mary Jane Begin, Little Brown and Company, p 34

I'LL CROSS BURNING DESERT SAND
1995, acrylic and watercolor
9 1/4" x 16 5/16", signed lower right, initialed
A Mouse Told His Mother,
by: Bethany Roberts, Little Brown and Company, 1997, pg. 20-21

Mary Jane Begin is an award-winning illustrator known for her acclaimed and much-beloved children’s picture books, including: The Wind in the Willows, A Mouse Told His Mother, Little Mouse’s Painting, R is for Rhode Island Red, and My Little Pony: Under the Sparkling Sea.

She is known for her intensely detailed, whimsical and vibrant children’s illustrations. Mary Jane uses her unique mixed media techniques to infuse her work with light and lush colors, bringing her art to life.

Ms. Begin received a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Illustration with Honors from the Rhode Island School of design in 1985. Her first authored series, Willow Buds, published by Little Brown and Co. has recently been optioned for children’s television animation.

Her freelance clients include Hasbro, Milton Bradley, Celestial Seasonings and Disney. Begin has exhibited nationally at Storyopolis, The Society of Illustrators, Books of Wonder Galleries in New York and Beverly Hills, Fleet Library at RISD and the National Museum of American Illustration.

She is the recipient of many awards, including the Steven Dohanos Award from the Society of Illustrators, multiple Awards of Excellence from Communications Arts, the Irma Simonton Black Award and the Critici Erba Prize at the Bologna Book Fair, Italy.

Mary Jane’s interest in the promotion of literacy include numerous conferences and workshops with Rhode Island Festival of Children's Books and Authors, the National Family Literacy Conference, the Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators Conference, and the NEA Teacher's Conference. She has lectured at elementary schools throughout the United States, and has also provided pro bono and charity work for the American Library Association, the Rhode Island Library Association, Save the Bay, Horizons Initiative, Gateway Healthcare, Hasbro Children’s Hospital, All Children’s Theatre, The Providence Community Health Center, and Reach Out and Read Rhode Island and Providence Community Library.