I started drawing as a kid. Both my parents were artists and both taught art. So, I grew up as a classically trained artist. I went to art school and graduate school. I had many exhibitions and made documentaries on the arts. I worked as a TV cameraman and later as an editor. As an editor, I had to teach young camera people and reporters how to compose images and tell stories visually. So, I started drawing storyboards, which I enjoyed. It brought me back to the essential joy of drawing. I found myself laughing and giggling as I drew these little images and wanted to share that joy with others. This led me to the drawings that I do today. Currently, I am looking for a publisher for my Ulli stories.

I first developed Ulli’s character in September of 2004. Like all characters she is a composite of several people, but Ulli is mostly based on my niece Vie. Blue Cat is based on Vie’s cat Shadow. Usually, artists start by drawing an adult then giving the figure the proportions of a child. I started with drawing from pictures of Vie as a baby then gave it the proportions of an adult.

Ulli’s nose comes from a trip to Maine, where I got terribly lost and had to ask directions from a girl. She had this wonderful ski jump nose. I had never seen one like it before. She must have caught me looking at her nose because she turned and gave me a pose like in John Singer Sargent’s painting Madame X. That night Ulli’s nose was born.

Ulli was originally called Alice, but there were so many characters with the name Alice that I decided to rename her Ulli after a friend of mine Ulrika from Germany. Ulrika’s nick name is Ulli. Ulrika means tamer of wolves. I thought that it would make a good name for such a spunky character.

I truly enjoy drawing Ulli. I hope that you like her as well.