Student Work
Although I majored in Illustration at the Philadelphia College of Art (now University of the Arts) I enrolled in varied subjects that all helped me later on. With the help of a mentor/teacher I started my freelance illustration career during my senior year.
Early Illustration
Early illustration for me, (late 1970’s to the mid 80’s) could be very conceptual. Clients wanted to catch attention: they didn’t want to see someone in a suit working at a computer. It was more interesting to see a man in a suit climbing a ladder of success. I loved to conceptualize and design illustrations for magazines.
In the beginning of my freelance career I tried but couldn’t get any children’s book work. Fortunately, when the magazine work started fading I got my first children’s book assignment.
Children’s Book Illustration
I love illustrating children’s books. Children’s book publishers did not pay as well as some of the other publishers, but I liked the whimsical quality of children’s books and the publishers always gave me a year to complete the work. By the time my first picture book was published I had a family and a baby to take care of.
Sailor Moo, Illustrated by Ponder Goembel, Written by Lisa Wheeler. Click Here to purchase through Sailor Moo through IndieBound.com, a coalition of most of the nation’s independent booksellers.
Old Cricket, Illustrated by Ponder Goembel, Written by Lisa Wheeler. Click Here to buy Old Cricket through IndieBound.com
Castaway Cats, Illustrated by Ponder Goembel, Written by Lisa Wheeler. Click Here to buy Castaway Cats through Indiebound.com.
Swamp Song, Illustrated by Ponder Goembel and Written by Helen Ketteman. Click Here to purchase Swamp Song at Indiebound.com
Animal Fair, Written and Illustrated by Ponder Goembel (Adapted from the popular children’s folk song). Click here to purchase from an Independent bookseller on Indiebound.com
Hi, Pizza Man!, Illustrated by Ponder Goembel and Written by Virginia Walter is now back in print, as of August 1, 2017! Click here to buy it here directly through Purple House Press.
Out-of-Print Children’s Books
These books are currently out of print, but might become available again at any time! Or check IndieBound.com or other resellers of republished or pre-owned books.
Contact me to see if I might have an artist’s copy available to sell (and autograph), or if you would like a book you already own autographed.
New Illustration Work
