Claire Pandaleon ’14 was a junior in Jane Carney’s Honors Studio Art class when author Catherine Conley visited with a unique offer to students: submit artwork for one or two pages of her children’s book for a chance to illustrate the entire work.

“I was honored to be chosen as her illustrator!” beams Pandaleon. “I feel so lucky to have been in Jane Carney’s class when Ms. Conley came to request artwork, and without my involvement in Loyola’s art community, I doubt I would have gotten a chance to work with Ms. Conley.”

Now a freshman at Colgate University, Pandaleon credits Loyola Academy’s art program as being formative in her craft. “The art program at Loyola Academy is incredibly strong and rigorous. These qualities strengthened not only my ability to create various forms of artwork, but also my confidence in my developing style.”

The challenge of one class in particular, AP Studio Art her senior year, helped prepare Pandaleon for her first illustrative project: “It required incredible discipline and constant productivity but taught me how to apply my artistic talent to a variety of mediums, themes and materials. The rigorous course requirements actually helped me illustrate the book, as it was an artistic challenge to conceive of and produce each page.”

Though still undeclared at Colgate, Pandaleon plans to double-major in psychology and art history. She would like to get involved with summer psychology research and is preparing to be a community leader (otherwise known as an RA) next year. When asked if there was more illustrating in her future, Pandaleon hinted that she would happily work with Conley again though she didn’t go into further detail.

Coming Home: The Journey from Heaven to Your Adopted Home (Balboa Press, 2015) is based on author Catherine Conley’s adopted daughter and describes the family’s adoption journey and the love the family shares together. Conley is also mother of Noah ’16.

The book is available on Amazon.com. It will be sold in various stores by June this year, including the Lake Forest Bookstore at 680 N. Western Avenue, where a book signing and launch party will be held on a date to be determined. Those interested in learning more or purchasing the book can visit the publisher’s website here.

Join Claire and Catherine for the launch of Coming Home on Thursday, July 16, at 5:30 p.m. at the Gorton Center, 400 E. Illinois Road in Lake Forest.