Those who don't believe in magic will never find it by Denise Gallagher

Denise Gallagher was recently invited to contribute to "Letter It Out," the third book in a series curated by lettering artist, muralist, and designer Jenn Lee Hester. Seventeen artists were given a single prompt: consider your insecurities as an artist and create a piece that would inspire you on one of your worst days. Here, Denise shares the story behind her contribution.

"When Jenn gave us our prompt, I knew immediately where my mind would go. There are times when I worry that I will one day simply run out of ideas. It is one of those fears that sits quietly in the background until a difficult day brings it right to the surface.

I chose a quote by Roald Dahl, author of Matilda and Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. His words ask me to believe in magic in order to find it. That sounds simple enough until you try to actually do it. It is not easy to let go and become the child I once was, a child who believed in magic without question. But when I finally do, I begin to play and experiment, and the magic returns.

The resulting illustration is a whimsical depiction of an artist riding a snail through a fanciful carnival world. Why a snail? Because sometimes you need a little patience as well. Magic can often take its own sweet time. But it is there if you believe."

If you're working on a project that calls for that kind of wonder and needs an illustrator who can bring genuine warmth and whimsy to the page, we would love to introduce you to Denise.