Inspired by the World Around Her Utah Artist and Author Sandra Dunbar Publishes Children's Book

Exploring the world around her was always a priority for Sandra Dunbar. This love and fascination for observing the world came from her parents, who encouraged Sandra to look around and to take in the beauty that is always present. Growing up in Utah and California, her observation skills became fine tuned as she took in the magnificent mountains and coastlines. Sandra also has felt a deep connection to animals and knew that they were sacred and important for this world. 

Sandra headed to college on an art scholarship, but eventually changed paths and studied special education and went on to teach children with disabilities in Southern Utah. Even though her final education was not in art, she took such a wide variety of art classes that she could have graduated with an art degree as well. 

While in the throes of her college studies, she would often find herself in the children’s literature section of the university’s bookstore, where she would become enthralled in the illustrations and stories that were told through pictures and words. This ignited a desire to one day write and illustrate her own children’s book. 

Sandra continued to be inspired by the world around her, while studying at Dixie State University, spending much of her time admiring and exploring the red rocks in the surrounding area. Her life eventually led her to California and it was there along the Pacific coast that she visited many aquariums. One in Monterey Bay specifically sticks out in her memory. This aquarium had an exceptional jellyfish exhibit and it inspired her to learn more about them, which eventually translated into her art. Sandra began painting jellyfish with watercolors at her kitchen table, surrounded by her children. The jellyfish painting was the first illustration for what would eventually become her children’s book, Sea Songs. 

From there the book started to come along, and she spent many hours researching facts about different sea creatures and their environment. While working on the book she often had words to the poems that are found in the book come to her at night while she was sleeping. Sandra would quickly get out of bed and attempt to write down the exact phrases that had come to her mind. Sometimes the inspiration for the illustrations came to her at night as well. Mostly she was inspired by the sites she was taking in and the many hours she spent scouring the internet and checking out books from her local library. 

Sandra’s hope for Sea Songs is that the children, no matter how old, will truly enjoy it. Her desire is that the book will ignite a spark in them to see their surroundings in a different and deeper way and to further develop a skill for observation and a connection to the world around them. While writing the poems Sandra was focused on creating an intellectual resource, but she also wanted to help children create their own connection with the animals. 

Sandra finished writing and illustrating Sea Songs many years prior to it being published by SeaCloud Publishing. She has been neighbors with SeaCloud Publishing founder Kurt Johnson and was encouraged by her husband to have the publishing startup bring Sea Songs to life. Sandra dug out the book and began brushing up a few of the illustrations and poems, and then Kurt moved forward to bring the project to life. Sea Songs is available to purchase here. You can also grab high-quality fine art prints of the book cover here. 

Sandra has several plans for future books that she would like to illustrate and write, both for children and older audiences. Currently, as an artist, she has transitioned into a stained glass-inspired approach to painting and she continues to be inspired by the world around her whether she is painting the scenic red rocks from Southern Utah, or working on makings that cross cultures. 

If you would like to keep up with Sandra you can follow her on Instagram. She anticipates in the future hosting a one-woman show with a collection of paintings focused on trees and their influence on different cultures. 

SeaCloud Publishing is grateful to have Sandra Dunbar as one of our published authors. Purchase her wonderful book Sea Songs in our shop here. 

SeaCloud Publishing was established in 2020, learn more about their publishing pursuits and the various books and products they have available by visiting www.seacloudpublishing.com. 

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