Zina Saunders has been a writer-illustrator for more than 15 years. In addition to contributions in a variety of periodicals (including The Wall Street Journal, The Progressive, ESPN magazine, Hemispheres, and The Utne Reader), her client list includes Chronicle Books, Simon & Schuster, Random House, Scholastic, Oxford University Press, and Nickelodeon.

In June 2005, her focus shifted from general illustration to reportage illustration, when she wrote a story for Time Out New York magazine about the Puerto Rico Schwinn Club, an outgrowth of the Overlooked New York website, her series of interviews and portraits of impassioned New Yorkers. She wrote and illustrated another feature in the August 4th issue of Time Out New York magazine, profiling Central Park portrait artists. Her Overlooked New York series was selected for the 3x3 ProShow Illustration Annual No. 4.

Excerpts from Art Talks, her series of portraits and interviews with illustrators and art directors, is featured in every issue of Illo magazine, and was selected for the American Illustration 26 Annual. Word just came that another of her portraits from that series will be in the American Illustration 27 Annual, and five of her portraits have been selected for inclusion in the Communication Arts Illustration Annual 2008. She is also on the Board of Directors of the Society of Illustrators.

In the Fall of 2007, she began teaching a senior thesis class in illustration at the University of the Arts, and in the Spring 2008 semester she is also teaching a class called Personal Viewpoint. To see the work of the students, visit the Personal Viewpoint website.

Zina is the daughter of pulp magazine artist Norman Saunders, who painted some of the most popular bubblegum cards from the 60's and 70's, including Mars Attacks, Batman, and Wacky Packages. As a child, she got her first taste of being a professional illustrator when she would "correct" her father's paintings, when he was away from his drawing board. Many an eyelash on Norm Saunders' damsels in distress was painted by a nine-year-old Zina.

Zina lives and works in New York City, where she grew up and attended Music and Art High School and The Cooper Union. She left Manhattan in her 20’s to be a levitating lady with a traveling circus in upstate New York, but eventually returned to her senses and her beloved city.

If you're interested in knowing more, she maintains a blog on the illustrator blogsite, Drawger, that features her works-in-progress and outside projects. You can also read more in the Wikipedia article about Zina and she maintains a portfolio on illoz.com as well as on her rep's site, Morgan Gaynin Inc.

Telephone: 212-777-1201
email: zina (AT) zinasaunders (DOT) com

For illustration assignments please contact Morgan Gaynin Inc.
Tel: (212) 475-0440
Email: info@morgangaynin.com