Hello, my name is Gemma Pullar. Thank you for visiting my website. Let me tell you a little about myself. I’m a Melbourne-based picture book author and illustrator with a background in art and education. As a child, I spent hours watching Monkey Magic, dreaming about hidden, mystical worlds and reflecting on philosophical ideas. That sense of curiosity grew into a long-standing interest in ancient Eastern knowledge traditions and how they align with modern science — themes that continue to shape the stories and images I create today.

One of the greatest joys of becoming a parent has been exploring these ideas with my sons — leaning into curiosity, wonder, and the mysteries of life together. This is why I love making books that spark creative thinking, celebrate nature, and encourage children to ask big questions.

I work in acrylic gouache, aiming for texture, humour, and quirkiness. My influences include Carson Ellis, Fumi Koike, Shinsuke Yoshitake, and Júlia Sardà. I build up layers and textures by hand and use a dip pen for finer details. I love the textures that come from working by hand, along with the happy accidents that paint allows.

I am a member of the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators, the Australian Society of Authors, and Nina Rycroft’s Treehouse Community. In 2024, I received a Commended Entry in the New England Writers’ Centre Illustration Prize, and I have work displayed on the ASA Style File.

I live in the leafy town of Cockatoo, Australia, with my husband, our two young boys, and our very old, deaf dog, Jerry. When I’m not writing or illustrating, I’m usually wrangling my kids, painting, drinking far too much herbal tea, or listening to the trees whisper their secrets in the wind — if I can hear them over the cockatoos.