Eliza Kinkz is a Tejana artist who never stopped viewing the world through the bright colors of her crayons, AND she even ate a few, too! She’s illustrated many hilarious picture books, including Papá’s Magical Water-Jug Clock by Jesús Trejo which won the Pura Belpré Illustration Honor, and she was the 2022 James Marshall Fellow. All her ridiculous scribbles burst straight from her heart, which is overflowing with joy…and probably a few crayon pieces.  ¡MISTACO! A Tale of Tragedy y Tortillas is her author-illustrator debut, and you can spill all the frijoles to her anytime.

Eliza attended Columbus College of Art Design, UCLA Animation Workshop, and went on to be  a student academy award nominated Animation filmmaker.  Eventually, she went to work in animation studios like Nickelodeon, but she found her heart pulled her back into wanting to create her OWN stories.  Then after she had her first child, she rediscovered her love of picture books, threw out her animation portfolio (much to the delight of her parents!), and happily began the journey towards Children’s Book Publishing. She lives with her family in Austin, TX. 

School Visit Presentations

Eliza Kinkz is here, and the school OVERFLOWS with Joy! (Assemblies for PK-3rd – 45min)

Eliza starts each session with a quick drawing activity of inviting kids to give her prompts to draw!  From there she launches into a discussion of how she was scared of the blank page as a kid, and tells students her secret weapon she uses to this very day!  Then she will read one of her recent picture books! Finally, she will close with a drawing demo where she encourages the students to become her authors, AND they create a story altogether.  If time allows, she will close with a Q&A!  

Eliza Kinkz speaks the SPANGLISH!  (Assemblies for K-12 – 45min)

Eliza talks about her journey learning Spanish as a 3rd generation Tejana!  When she was a child it was thought it would hurt a kid’s chance in life to speak Spanish, so she was never taught!  This led to her feeling disconnected from her Cultura, and so she made the decision to really work hard to learn the language she grew up hearing!  This really connects with kids learning English, and let’s them know it’s ok to not be perfecto when first learning!  

My story to becoming a STORYTELLER (Assemblies for Upper Elementary, Middle, High – 45min)

Eliza goes over how she found her way from drawing like a kid to drawing like an illustrator who also WRITES.  Discussing all the bumps along the journey there, and where she finds inspiration.  How when you become a storyteller, it’s so important to tell the stories you want to hear.  Especially the ones that are for the kid in YOU.  

Keynote Talk

Be Brave and Play (45-60 min)

Eliza talks about how she loosens up to truly connect with her inner-child to draw, AND WRITE.  How it’s never too late to create like you did as a kid if you can find the courage to stop looking over your shoulder.  Getting back to that playground where the only opinion that matters is the one coming from your heart.  That your art, story, or whatever creative act you choose to put in this world is the perfect way to express who YOU are!  What she hopes to achieve is that the audience will start to believe in themselves again like this quote from Maurice Sendak ‘I know my work is good. Not everybody likes it, that’s fine. I don’t do it for everybody. Or anybody. I do it because I can’t not do it.” This talk is intermingled with a continuing story of her journey, and drawing/writing prompts with the audience.

Website

Availability and Honorariums