Former Gainesville resident illustrates children’s book about the Gateway Arch

Former Gainesville resident Ally Britt has turned her lifelong love of art into a published accomplishment, illustrating a new children’s book for Wildstork Publishing’s nationwide nature series.

The book, titled Can You Read Gateway Arch National Park? introduces young readers to the history and wonder of the Gateway Arch in St. Louis. It’s also part of Wildstork’s mission to partner with 200 artists from around the world to create a collection of books that encourage families and children to explore nature together.

“This project has been a challenge, but I have loved every second of it. It has pushed me in ways to create images and scenes that I never thought I would, and I have learned a lot about myself and my artistic ability in the process,” she recently told the Times. 

Ally, who now lives in Republic, discovered the project earlier this year while scrolling through Facebook. She saw a post calling for artists who enjoy painting or drawing nature scenes and decided to submit a few of her own works. Soon after, she heard back from Wildstork with the opportunity to illustrate a children’s book.

She began working with the publisher in March and spent several months creating watercolor illustrations for the project, which was released this fall. Ally said the experience has been both fun and challenging, and she feels grateful to add the title of published illustrator to her name.

A lifelong artist

Art has been a part of Ally’s life for as long as she can remember. One of her earliest memories is winning the grand prize in her school’s first-grade art show, sparking a lifelong passion for creativity. She says art has always been her outlet, helping her express herself and find calm and focus.

Her artistic style and favorite mediums have changed over time. In high school, she primarily used colored pencils and paint. In college, she began exploring acrylics and clay sculpture, and after graduation she discovered watercolor, which has become her main medium. She enjoys the self-taught nature of her watercolor journey and feels a strong personal connection to it.

From Gainesville to the classroom

A 2013 graduate of Gainesville High School, Ally earned her Bachelor of Fine Arts degree with an emphasis in painting and a minor in psychology from College of the Ozarks. After college, she worked in Springfield before beginning her teaching career.

In 2021, she was hired at Fordland High School to teach art, where she stayed for four years. She now teaches art to pre-kindergarten through second grade students at Pate Early Childhood Center in Aurora. Ally is also on track to graduate next spring with a master’s degree in art history from Lindenwood University, where she was recently inducted into the Alpha Chi National College Honor Society.

Creating the art

Ally’s illustration process always begins with small thumbnail sketches to plan out her compositions before she moves on to painting. She works traditionally with watercolor and prefers the look and feel of hand-created art. She says she appreciates the imperfections that come with traditional art because they show the human touch behind the work.

She says she has visited Gateway Arch National Park several times and was already somewhat familiar with it before starting the project. 

“I kind of assumed it was a rite of passage for every Missouri born-child to have, at least once in their lives, made the trek to see the Arch,” she said. Drawing off her own experiences, she also spent time researching the park to gather references and ensure her depictions were accurate while still fun and engaging for children.

Sharing art with others

Outside of teaching and illustration, Ally continues to pursue her own art projects. She has completed numerous commissions ranging from portraits and pet paintings to nature scenes. She has also participated as a vendor at Hootin an Hollarin in Gainesville, selling her artwork. Although she wasn’t able to make it to this year’s festival as a vendor due to her dedication and time spent on illustrating the book, she hopes to return to the festival next year with her artwork. 

Ally said the Wildstork project has been an incredible learning experience that pushed her creatively and helped her grow as an artist. She believes deeply in Wildstork’s mission of helping children and families connect with nature and is thankful for the opportunity to be part of it.

Get your copy

Can You Read Gateway Arch National Park? is available in both eBook and print editions, along with prints and shirts featuring her artwork. To learn more, visit www.wildstorkpublishing.com.