If you peruse her social media and website, you will find an array of custom character watercolor portraits, the kind eyes of an ink and charcoal bear, hand-sketched cards from her online store, and even sneak peeks into the process of the book she is illustrating. You will also see some of her favorite pieces, her own version of characters from her favorite childhood stories. Depictions of gentle-eyed Aslan, spunky Rapunzel, cheeky Han Solo and cozy Dobby and so many more meld together in a story of creativity as seen through the eyes of local Lewisville artist, Margie Averill Earley.
“One of the things I get really excited about is stories that I grew up with and illustrating [them] how I envisioned them as a kid.” Her habit of capturing the magical and light-filled is a haven in a dark world. “I feel like a lot of art nowadays is very heavy, and there's no problem with that because we need that kind of art,” Margie shares. “But right now, I love sharing art that is more whimsical with an underlying [sense] of joy.”
From the beginning, art has been about joy for Margie. As a kid with a learning disability, school was hard, but art made it possible. “I've always done art. I've never considered anything else,” Margie’s voice bright with a smile. “God gave me a gift for creating stories in my mind and putting them on paper. I am very grateful and blessed to utilize that for God's glory.”
And doing something you were made to do, a dream you've always dreamt, makes the work all that much more fulfilling. For example, Margie’s grandmother passed away when Margie’s mother was young. For her mother’s 40th birthday, Margie created a work of art depicting her mom and her grandmother both at age 40, the only adult picture of mother and daughter together. “Sometimes photography can't capture things that art can,” Margie says. Like depicting the story of a family whose stillborn baby still lives on as part of the family or personalized portraits of a child as his favorite superhero.
Though Margie still substitute teaches at the local Studio Art House, she has recently moved from full-time art teacher to full-time illustrator. Recently, she has delved into abstract work and dreams of experimenting with plein-air landscapes. With a repertoire of 6 published books, this year she will celebrate the release of another, one with 60 pages of illustrations, all hand-drawn by herself. But the next few months hold two of Margie’s most exciting projects of all.
This year, Margie will be illustrating a children’s book co-written by herself and her husband. Born from an idea Margie had a few years ago, the story is set in the Scottish Highlands where a Shetland pony stumbles upon a Clydesdale colt. As she adopts him as her own, the pony grows increasingly bewildered regarding what to do with him as he grows larger and larger. And late 2025 will bring the ultimate critic of Margie and her husband's book, their first baby.
The future of Margie’s portfolio looks as light-filled and full of joy as it has in the past.
Contact Margie: margieaverill.com // @margieaverill_illustration // margieaverillcrosby@gmail.com