Shelley Hanmo is an Indianapolis-based freelance illustrator specialized in creating collage art for children’s books, editorial designs and more. She works primarily with hand-cut paper art, watercolor, colored pencils, and digital touch-ups.

Before becoming an illustrator, Shelley worked as a professional pianist and music teacher. She received a doctorate degree in music and a master’s degree in arts administration from Indiana University (Bloomington). In parallel with her musical journey, paper art has been her creative outlet for many years. In 2020, Shelley decided to pursue her passion in illustration and launched her art studio Junonia Arts. As a paper collage artist, Shelley loves exploring different possibilities of colors, shapes, layers, and textures in pieces of paper. Besides using paper collage techniques, she also incorporates watercolor, colored pencils, and digital mediums into the final illustrations. Shelley’s artistic inspirations often come from her life experience as a woman of color, immigrant, professional musician, as well as her love for nature and conservation. Therefore, you will find lots of fun characters and quirky stories in her illustrations. Previously, Shelley worked with clients to create children’s book illustrations, editorial designs, promotional illustrations, greeting cards, puzzles, seed packets, and more! In addition, Shelley teaches paper cut art courses and workshops across the US, including Brooklyn Art Library, Indianapolis Zoo, Lotus World Music & Arts Festival, Garfield Park Arts Center, etc, sharing the beauty and quirkiness in hand-cut paper art.

Shelley is a member of SCBWI and Illustrators For Hire (IFH). Shelley is proudly represented by Gallt & Zacker Literary Agency for children’s book projects. To inquire, please reach out to her agent Marietta B Zacker.