My name is Lynn Lonardo and am a wife, mother of four, grandmother to two, watercolor artist and first-time author/illustrator.

My love for art began as a teenager — I spent hours sketching and exploring different mediums. In high school, I painted my first watercolor and acrylic pieces. My father was artsy (he taught Industrial Arts) and my grandmother was an artist, so I had some lucky genetics.  But for many years, art took a back seat as I focused on my  Dietetics career and raising a busy family. Then, in 2015, at the age of 50, I picked up my paintbrush again and haven’t looked back. I was hooked! Watercolor became my passion, and I especially love painting pet portraits—creating keepsakes of beloved furry companions is a true joy for me. 

The idea for my first book, Graysbee Grouper’s Good Deeds, came from a watercolor I painted of a graysby grouper (check out my gallery!). I started imagining a story built around kindness and doing good deeds—values that have always meant a lot to me. As a former Brownie and Girl Scout, I loved checking off badges and helping others. The idea of a fish with a good deeds list merged with my painting, and soon Graysbee Grouper’s Good Deeds came to life. After over four years of learning, creating, and refining, I finally turned that dream into a reality.

Since 1998, I’ve called Salt Lake City home, though I grew up in Bloomington, Illinois. When I’m not painting or writing, you can find me curled up with a crossword puzzle, hiking the beautiful Utah mountains, or adventuring in our VW Eurovan. I love spending time with my husband, family, and three furry “children”: dogs Luigi and Tito (yes—they made it into the book!), and our cat Luna (sorry Luna—maybe next time!).

I’m always looking for new ways to use my creativity to bring joy to those around me. This journey has been long and educational, but incredibly rewarding—and it’s just the beginning.