Mira Reisberg: Biography

I loved books with a passion (as did everyone in my family.) We had a local library in an old building that looked to me like a cathedral, the librarians were like angels and goddesses. They would help me find books that I was interested in and suggest others that I might like. In 1976 I had my first exhibition of paintings and drawings called "A Different Kettle of Fish" (this is an Australian expression for anyone or anything that's a bit unusual or different). It was very successful and very encouraging for me. Not long after this I returned to school to become an animator. This lasted until I made my first animation film. It was magical making my drawings come alive on film but so much work. A months worth of drawings made less than 2 minutes worth of film.
During my twenties I lived in the bush and in the cities, painted and drew, did street theater and movies, played guitar and sang and lived an adventurous life traveling around the East Coast of Australia. In 1981 I came to the US to find my destiny (though I didn't know it at the time). I lived in New Mexico for 6 months before settling in San Francisco. Over the years I've been lucky enough to travel to New York, Washington DC, Oregon, New Orleans, Seattle, Los Angeles, San Diego, Mexico and Vancouver as well as trips to Bali and Europe. Meeting different people, eating different foods, seeing different customs, cultures, animals and landscapes have widened my world and my respect and appreciation for life and for the different ways that people live and make art.
After 21 years in San Francisco (primarily in the Mission district) I was came to Washington State University in Pullman, where I am currently doing a Ph. D. in children's literacy. My gorgeous husband Guy drove the 20' truck with our cats Guido & Possum frequently expressing their unhappiness in a background ambient soundtrack. Outside the temperature was 117 degrees. In Pullman we have found a lovely community in an absolutely breathtaking landscape. It is very exciting stretching my left brain and learning to think in new ways. The Teaching and Learning program I'm in is very rigorous but deeply satisfying.Click here to find out a little about "Life on the Palouse".
Guy is also an artist and has helped me with several of my books. Guido and Possum love to appear in my books and paintings and have been settling in nicely, tho they miss watching the fog roll in and the sounds of Mariachi music at 4 in the morning.They alternate between thinking they're dogs, cats and sometimes human beings and wonder why can't they sit at the table.

		Growing up in Australia I was filled with a love of eccentric animals and light drenched landscapes. Aboriginal art with its bold colors and patterns influenced me as a young artist and still inspires me as an older artist today. I drew constantly, sometimes using my drawings to make sense of things that were difficult and other times to just make my own beautiful world that I could escape into. I could be a mermaid or a kangaroo if I wanted to.
I loved books with a passion (as did everyone in my family.) We had a local library in an old building that looked to me like a cathedral, the librarians were like angels and goddesses. They would help me find books that I was interested in and suggest others that I might like. In 1976 I had my first exhibition of paintings and drawings called "A Different Kettle of Fish" (this is an Australian expression for anyone or anything that's a bit unusual or different). It was very successful and very encouraging for me. Not long after this I returned to school to become an animator. This lasted until I made my first animation film. It was magical making my drawings come alive on film but so much work. A months worth of drawings made less than 2 minutes worth of film. During my twenties I lived in the bush and in the cities, painted and drew, did street theater and movies, played guitar and sang and lived an adventurous life traveling around the East Coast of Australia. In 1981 I came to the US to find my destiny (though I didn't know it at the time). I lived in New Mexico for 6 months before settling in San Francisco. Over the years I've been lucky enough to travel to New York, Washington DC, Oregon, New Orleans, Seattle, Los Angeles, San Diego, Mexico and Vancouver as well as trips to Bali and Europe. Meeting different people, eating different foods, seeing different customs, cultures, animals and landscapes have widened my world and my respect and appreciation for life and for the different ways that people live and make art. After 21 years in San Francisco (primarily in the Mission district) I was came to Washington State University in Pullman, where I am currently doing a Ph. D. in children's literacy. My gorgeous husband Guy drove the 20' truck with our cats Guido & Possum frequently expressing their unhappiness in a background ambient soundtrack. Outside the temperature was 117 degrees. In Pullman we have found a lovely community in an absolutely breathtaking landscape. It is very exciting stretching my left brain and learning to think in new ways. The Teaching and Learning program I'm in is very rigorous but deeply satisfying.Click here to find out a little about "Life on the Palouse". Guy is also an artist and has helped me with several of my books. Guido and Possum love to appear in my books and paintings and have been settling in nicely, tho they miss watching the fog roll in and the sounds of Mariachi music at 4 in the morning.They alternate between thinking they're dogs, cats and sometimes human beings and wonder why can't they sit at the table.

ABOUT MIRA: BIOGRAPHY