Meet Illustrator Violeta Encarnación

Today, I’m thrilled to talk to illustrator and artist Violeta Encarnación.

She is the illustrator for Barbed Wire Between Us, which is the story of my heart. Our picture book is scheduled for release on March 24, 2026.

Q1: What was your journey to becoming a children’s book illustrator?

I’ve always loved drawing, but it wasn’t until I came to New York City on a scholarship for a summer pre-college program that I truly discovered illustration as a career path. I fell in love with the city’s energy and with illustration’s unique mix of creativity and problem-solving. That balance of being artistic while also solving visual challenges for clients was something I found exciting and fulfilling.

I moved to Manhattan to study Illustration at the School of Visual Arts and graduated in 2022. Unlike some of my classmates, I didn’t leave school with a portfolio geared toward picture books. Many of them signed with agents right away, while I focused on editorial work for magazines. But to my surprise, my current agent came across one of my personal illustrations that got into the Society of Illustrators annual show and reached out.

I’ve always been a believer in saying yes to unexpected opportunities if they interest you. If someone sees potential in your work, why not give it a try? Some of my first publishing art directors asked me for samples since my portfolio wasn’t filled with the “standard” children’s book work. But thankfully, they saw enough in my work to trust I could meet the challenge. Now I’m lucky to be illustrating several projects — and I couldn’t be happier with where this journey has led. I’m beyond excited to see what’s next. One day, I’d love to write and illustrate my own book.

Q2: How did you come to illustrate Barbed Wire Between Us?

My agent sent me the manuscript along with Red Comet Press’s ideas for the tone and atmosphere. I was immediately moved by the story and its format — so much so that I told him right away I really wanted to do the book.

As an immigrant, I felt deeply connected to the girls’ experiences. Their resilience and voices resonated with me, and I hoped I could honor their story through the images.

Q3: What was the biggest challenge in illustrating Barbed Wire Between Us?

Because I felt so close to the story, some spreads were difficult to conceptualize. I didn’t want the images to feel too graphic, but I also needed the weight and severity of the text to come through. Balancing those two impulses was a delicate dance. Especially in spreads where we saw the main characters being separated from their parents.

The art director’s guidance was invaluable, especially as I navigated the emotions that came up during the research phase. It was a challenging but very meaningful process.

Barbed Wire Between Us We created beauty

Q4: What mediums do you enjoy creating art in?

I’ve always loved large-scale drawing and collage, but in New York apartments it’s hard to manage the mess — and scanning big pieces was always a hassle. For a while, I worked out of my bedroom, and with multiple projects going on at once, keeping things organized felt impossible. I got tired of stepping on pencils.

Now I work in smaller sections, scan textures, and assemble everything digitally on my iPad. I use Procreate and Photoshop to combine traditional media — pencils, gouache, acrylic paint, paper collage — into hybrid digital illustrations. This workflow lets me experiment, make adjustments without damaging the original, and integrate client feedback more quickly. Plus, since the final files are already digital, it makes submitting artwork much smoother.

Q5: What’s next for you?

I have a few books scheduled for publication in 2026 (some not yet announced!) and a set of editorial illustrations that will be out soon. That should keep me busy for a while, but I’ll always keep saying yes to new opportunities, whether that means new mediums or new industries.

At the heart of everything, my passion is solving visual problems through drawing and great collaboration. As long as I get to do that, I’m happy. In the near future, I’d love to branch out into illustrating for branding and campaigns. I’m planning to create some personal work in that direction and start submitting it to potential clients to see where it leads.

p.s. Related posts:

33 Children’s Books about Undocumented Immigrants

35 Immigration & Refugee Experience Books for Kids

FREE Classroom Empathy Kit: Immigration & Refugees

10 True Kidlit Immigration Stories

9 Outstanding Immigration Picture Books & Kid Lit Blog Hop

9 Chapter Books to Support 4th Grade or 5th Grade Immigration Unit

12 Children’s Books about Asian Immigrant Families

10 Middle Grade Books about Immigrant Families

To examine any book more closely at Amazon, please click on image of book.

As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.

Follow PragmaticMom’s board Multicultural Books for Kids on Pinterest.

Follow PragmaticMom’s board Children’s Book Activities on Pinterest.

My books:

Amazon / Signed or Inscribed by Me

The Traveling Taco: The Amazing and Surprising Journey of Many of Your Favorite Foods

Reading Rockets’ Summer Reading Guide 2025

Amazon / Signed or Inscribed by Me

Fortune Cookies for Everyone! (Smithsonian): The Surprising Story of the Tasty Treat We Love to Eat

Junior Library Guild Gold Selection

Amazon / Signed or Inscribed by Me

We Sing from the Heart: How the Slants® Took Their Fight for Free Speech to the Supreme Court

ALSC Notable Children’s Book
2025 Carter G. Woodson Book Award Middle Level Honoree
Orbis Pictus Recommended Book for Outstanding Nonfiction for Children
2024 Julia Ward Howe Prize for Children’s Literature Winner
California Eureka Non-Fiction Award Honor Book
Notable Social Studies Trade Books for Young People Winner (from National Council for the Social Studies and Children’s Book Council)
Bank Street Best Children’s Books of the Year 2025
Junior Library Guild Gold Selection