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 author-illustrator and part-time secondary art teacher with a background in fine art. I create slightly surreal, child-centred picture books where everyday problems lead to playful thought explorations, inspired in part by conversations with my two boys.

I work with acrylic gouache, pencil and crayon on sealed surfaces, building up layers of paint to create rich textures. I use bold contrast and push light and perspective to heighten drama, while shape is central to how I construct compositions and convey character movement.

I’m fascinated by children’s accidental philosophy—their knack for asking surprisingly profound questions that challenge the assumptions we take for granted. Through their eyes, reality can feel a little wavy, always unfolding in ways we might not expect. My stories celebrate this curiosity and invite readers to see the familiar in new ways.

I am a member of the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators, and the Australian Society of Authors. 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’m currently seeking opportunities to collaborate with authors and publishers as an illustrator and author-illustrator. I’m available to illustrate picture books, early readers, junior fiction and board books. If you’d like to work with me or request access to my works in progress in the Picture Book Dummies section of this website, please get in touch.