Getting to know a character
Exploring expression, silhouette, and personality through repeated sketches and character studies.
Illustration & Design
Oahu-based author & illustrator
Illustration
Illustration
& Design
Expressive characters. Everyday wonder. Stories with family at their heart.
A peek into Seoul's worldSeoul Finds Her Talent / Written & illustrated by Kimberly Ratliff
01 / Selected storytelling
Children's Book Illustration
Small moments, big feelings, and characters young readers can recognize themselves in.
Seoul Finds Her Talent
A Korean-American girl searches for her talent, with a little help from her friends, her family, and Halmony. A story of self-discovery woven with Korean words and culture.
Written & illustrated by Kimberly Ratliff / Self-published
A moment between friendsInterior illustration / Seoul Finds Her Talent
Movement & expressionInterior illustration
Seoul & Kim-ChiPersonality on the page
Character Sketches & Process
From a pencil exploration to a character with a world of their own.
Brave Like Halmony
A picture-book project in development. A look at the notes, thumbnails, and visual thinking behind Seoul's next story.
Character Illustration & Design
The same love of personality and storytelling, in playful characters and graphic concepts.
Aloha Kimchi Braddahs
Character-led apparel graphics with a playful mix of island spirit and Korean-American roots.
Playful character studies
Everyday objects become expressive characters through shape, color, and a little mischief.
Illustrated graphic concept
A cheerful character-driven composition combining lettering, objects, and visual storytelling.
Meet the Illustrator
Family, heritage, and the everyday moments that become meaningful stories.
I'm Kimberly Ratliff, a Korean-American artist and children's book author-illustrator based on Oahu.
My work brings together expressive characters, the warmth of family, and the mixed-heritage experiences that shape the stories I tell.
Seoul Finds Her TalentWritten & illustrated by Kimberly Ratliff / Self-published
Aloha Almighty, AlrightyCo-illustrated with Akiko White / Written by Dawn O'Brien
Brave Like HalmonyAuthor-illustrated picture book / In development