Navigating Life's Complexities with Religion and Creativity
Marissa Sasscer, an illustration student at a renowned institution, is taking a semester off to promote her latest project - an illustrated children's book titled "Our Lady Undoer of Knots." Published in May 2022, this Catholic book introduces the devotion of the same name to young children, around age 7.
The book, written in rhyme, tells the story of a little boy who learns to approach Mary in the devotion, symbolising his problems as knots that Mary unties by presenting them to Jesus. Marissa illustrated the book by referencing the original image of 'Our Lady Undoer of Knots,' a painting by Johann Georg Schmidtner in Augsburg, Germany.
This collaboration between Marissa and author Sylvia Dorham marks their fourth project together. Marissa originally completed the concept art for "Our Lady Undoer of Knots" in 2019, but stepped down from the project before its publication. The author, however, is still scheduling book signings and acquiring booths at Catholic Homeschooling Conferences.
Marissa's illustration studies have provided her with skills in Color Theory, Design and Composition, Digital Illustration, and Commercial Illustration. Collaborating with Sylvia for the book was similar to working on art/design projects at Sessions. Marissa has also worked with Sylvia on another book, "A First Responder's Guide to Human Trafficking."
Marissa's primary goal as an illustrator is to illustrate children's books. Her first project was a workbook titled "Avoiding the Octopus: A Family Guide to Standing Strong Against Human Trafficking." Marissa is currently working towards an Associate's Degree in Illustration and has been having book signings at various events and venues, including Artfest.
Marissa's future plans include expanding her work to middle-grade and young adult audiences. For updates on her book tour, follow her on Instagram. More information about Marissa Sasscer's projects, "Our Lady Undoer of Knots," TANBooks, and illustration majors at the institution can be found on their respective websites.
Marissa Sasscer, after completing an illustrated children's book titled "Our Lady Undoer of Knots," is exploring other literary avenues, such as home-and-garden, education-and-self-development, and entertainment books to broaden her lifestyle portfolio. As her passion for illustrating children's books continues, she intends to transition to middle-grade and young adult genres in the future.
