Meneka Repka was a child who spent a lot of time doodling on her classroom desk. Initially, she thought drawing was just a fun hobby. Creating art as a full-time job seemed unrealistic. Now a published children’s illustrator and author, Meneka has proved that you can turn your passion into a career. 

Meneka is thrilled to be back in her hometown of Calgary as the Library’s Children’s Illustrator in Residence. She is sharing her creations with the community while also helping children and families create art of their own. 

An accessible form of art 

Meneka didn’t grow up visiting art galleries or museums, but she still managed to find a passion for art. This passion started with simply flipping through the pages of picture books. 

“Picture books and illustrations offer a way to encounter art in an accessible way. I think I'm drawn to the magical nostalgic quality of picture books and children's art in general,” says Meneka. 

Over the years, Meneka has found her own distinct style. She describes her illustrations as having a classic, vintage feel to them. She loves drawing cute animals and incorporating nature into her work. 

Wait... is that a seagull? 

Picture this — a seagull falls into a pot of curry and stirs up a lot of trouble. His new turmeric-stained feathers confuse everyone he meets. While the adults assume he’s an exotic bird, one little girl can see him for what he really is. That’s the plot of Meneka’s next book which she is thrilled to work on at Central Library.  

"I wanted time and space to really think about what I wanted to do for this book and not have a lot of distractions. I knew that my residency would be a good time to work on the book. This new Library building is very beautiful and inspiring.” 

It takes a while for picture books to publish — you may have to wait a couple of years until you can read this one! 

Art through the eyes of a child 

Meneka appreciates the way children create art and sees their lack of experience as a strength. 

“The work they create is just so free and unrestrained. They don’t worry about trying to think of the right word. They don’t have a desire to be perfect or worry about conveying something completely accurately.” 

As the Library’s Children’s Artist in Residence, Meneka will inspire kids to create different works of art. She hopes everyone has fun and can discover the value of creative thinking.  

Meneka’s programs include a character design workshop and a storytime with a monster craft. She is also happy to meet with people during her office hours where she can go over drawing techniques or help young artists get started.  

To book office hours with Meneka or attend one of her programs, visit our website. 

Residencies at the Library 

There are six residencies at the Library throughout the year. Our three seasonal Artists in Residence support artists, collectives, and arts organizations working in Indigenous art and placemaking, children's art and illustration, or the Newcomer experience.