One of Jonathan’s favorite creative pursuits is writing and illustrating children’s stories. From developing the narrative and characters, to illustrating each page and thoughtfully pairing the story with Scripture, Petal and the Kingdom was a carefully crafted labor of love. It is a slow, intentional process rooted in faith and storytelling. Explore the pages of Petal and the Kingdom below to see how the story and artwork came together. 
Petal and the Kingdom is a faith-centered story rooted in imagination and truth. From the outset, the goal was to create a children’s book that gently addresses some of life’s biggest questions while pointing readers toward God’s providence, His sovereignty, and the saving grace found in Jesus Christ. During this stage, the narrative, characters, and themes were thoughtfully developed to ensure the message remained hopeful, clear, and accessible for children and families.
A FAITH BASED FAIRY TALE
MAGICAL ILLUSTRATIONS
Each illustration in Petal and the Kingdom was digitally hand-drawn with care and intention. Characters and environments were developed alongside the story, allowing the artwork to evolve naturally with the narrative. Working digitally allowed for refinement of details, expressions, and composition, ensuring visual consistency and emotional continuity throughout the book. From concept to final artwork, each illustration took on average 7 hours to complete.
TIMELESS STORY
In the final stage, the story, illustrations, and layout were unified into a cohesive reading experience. Each page was designed to support readability and maintain a warm, timeless tone, resulting in a storybook meant to be read aloud, revisited often, and shared across generations. Every page was thoughtfully paired with a Bible verse, allowing Scripture to echo the narrative and provide a meaningful foundation that readers can return to long after the story is finished.