My name is Molly Cranch and I am an illustrator, artist, picture book maker and educator based in Chicago, Illinois. I studied painting at Washington University in St. Louis, and am currently pursuing an MA in Illustration from Falmouth University in the UK. My teaching certification is from the School of the Art Institute of Chicago.

I have taught art at the elementary and high school level in public and private schools in Chicago and abroad in Spain. My area of interest as a teacher is social emotional learning, arts integration and STEAM.

My paintings have been exhibited in some of the following galleries: The Illinois State Museum, Five Crows Gallery, Westmoreland Museum of Art, The Autry Museum, Midwest Nice, New Morning Gallery, The Grand Hand Gallery, and The Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum.

My first picture book, Hide-and-Seek, was published by Clavis in 2024. The book incorporates science, math and literacy concepts, bringing together my interests as an illustrator and an educator. It was selected to participate in the Illinois Reads program, birth to age 4 category, sponsored by the Illinois Reading Council.

I am currently seeking representation as an author-illustrator. For inquiries related to illustration or painting, please email me at mollycranch@gmail.com or send a message below.