Doug Fakkel is a child of God, an unapologetic optimist, and a traditional illustrator.

He creates images for picture books in a unique, realistic style rooted in the Brandywine tradition and executed with a contemporary, impressionistic technique in oil paint. He creates and illustrates stories about faith, courage, and adventure that (hopefully) inspire young people.

Born and raised in Massachusetts, Doug grew up learning about the Mayflower, the American Revolution, and knowing that one day the Red Sox would win the World Series. He also spent a lot of time playing with GI Joes, body surfing on the shores of Cape Cod, and drawing pictures all day. Later on, he received a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree from Brigham Young University in Visual Communications Design with an emphasis in Illustration.

The majority of his career has consisted of making pictures for young people. He's created traditional and digital art and animation for children's game and edutainment software for various publishers such as Mattel, Hasbro, Houghton Mifflin, and Atari. Doug was also the main artist creating traditional art in charcoal and watercolor for Houghton Mifflin's New Adventures of Curious George comprising twelve new books and a pop-up storybook. He has also had dozens of commissions to design and paint interior murals for children's hospitals and dentistries, child development centers, libraries, and high-end home builders. As a freelancer, Doug has illustrated stories in both watercolor and oil paint for such youth and children's magazines as Kiwanis, Friend, and Cricket; he's also illustrated package art in oil paint for GI Joe action figures and playsets.

He loves historical pioneers, stories set in "simpler times," oceanography, underwater diving, and space travel—creating pictures and stories that include these things.

doug@dougfakkel.com
214.578.1469