I’ve been drawing and creating my entire life. My first book was drawn on the backs of paint can labels from my dad’s paint factory, and dictated to my mom, since I’d only mastered writing letters A through C.

Skipping the awkward years, I got a Bachelor of Fine Art from Bowling Green State University and upgraded my paint can labels to beige computers. I was a writer and artist on staff at American Greetings before launching into the pajama-friendly world of full-time freelancing. For the last (wow) 16 years I’ve been creating children’s books, humorous greeting cards, and various other art bits in my attic studio in Cleveland, Ohio.

You can follow me on Twitter @barrygott and Instagram @bazgott.

My clients include Lerner Books, Dutton Books, HarperCollins, Random House, Scholastic, Harcourt, Albert Whitman & Co., Time Warner, Penguin Putnam, Kane Press, Recycled Paper Greetings, American Greetings, and plenty more.

Thanks for reading. I think you're awesome.