Imagination by Julia McGuigan
Some of my earliest memories are of making art alongside my mom in her home studio. She is an artist, and through her I learned that creativity wasn’t something reserved for museums or galleries—it was woven into everyday life. Together we quilted, scrapbooked, experimented, and imagined. Those quiet moments sparked a lifelong love of illustration and continue to shape the way I approach both my artwork and my role as an educator.
I grew up in Papillion, Nebraska, and graduated from Papillion-La Vista High School before earning a Bachelor of Science in Education from the University of Nebraska at Omaha. In 2014, I studied art and Spanish at Veritas Universidad in San José, Costa Rica, an experience that broadened my perspective and deepened my appreciation for architecture, color, and community. Ever since, I’ve been drawn to illustrating spaces that tell stories and help people feel connected to where they live.
It was after that study abroad experience that I began creating illustrated prints of Omaha neighborhoods and selling them at local markets. What started as a small creative endeavor soon became a way to celebrate the community that has shaped me. Through conversations at my market booth, I realized how deeply people value artwork that reflects the places they call home. Since then, my work has grown to include neighborhoods, local businesses, landmarks, and landscapes, all created with the hope of preserving the beauty found in everyday places.
While teaching art in public schools, I pursued a Master of Arts in Illustration at the Savannah College of Art and Design, graduating in 2023. Balancing graduate school, teaching, and raising a young family challenged me creatively and personally, but it also strengthened my artistic voice. Today, I live in Omaha with my husband and our three boys, where motherhood has become one of my greatest sources of inspiration.
My illustration, Imagination, was inspired by my four-year-old son, Shawn. He reminds me of the power of imagination every day. Whether he’s transforming blocks into a city, inventing stories for his toys, or drawing yellow submarines on every surface of our home, he approaches creativity with complete freedom and curiosity. Watching him create reminds me to loosen my own expectations, embrace play, and trust the creative process. As artists, we can become focused on technique, productivity, and outcomes, but children instinctively create for the simple joy of exploring ideas. Shawn has been a gentle reminder of what imagination looks like.
This illustration titled Imagination represents the way that we can see the world. I hope that it invites adults to reconnect with that same sense of wonder. A cardboard box can become a spaceship. A stick becomes a magic wand. A cloud becomes a shark or a butterfly. Children don’t see limitations; they see possibilities. Children remind us to look at the world with openness and curiosity.
As an educator, I witness this every day in my students. The most meaningful artwork often comes when they stop worrying about making something “perfect” and simply begin to explore. As a mother, my children encourage me to do the same. They have taught me that creativity flourishes when we give ourselves permission to play, experiment, and be surprised.
Whether I’m illustrating neighborhoods, teaching young artists, or creating artwork inspired by my own family, my goal remains the same: to make art that helps people feel connected—to their community, to one another, and to the childlike wonder we all carry within us. I feel incredibly grateful to live and create in Nebraska, a place that continues to inspire my work and remind me that the most meaningful stories are often found close to home.
