Welcome, I’m Derek Roberts
I’m a watercolor artist and illustrator, and I love painting creative worlds for families to enjoy together.
I struggled to read as a child, so I know firsthand the importance of good visual storytelling. Because of that, I dedicated my career to creating art that is calming for children, while actually inspiring them to imagine and learn.
I graduated from Laguna College of Art & Design with a Bachelors in Fine Arts and Animation. Throughout my career, I’ve done storyboarding, stop motion, set design, game cards, and background design.
But my greatest passion to date has been watercolor illustration. I created and self-published the Brudders® Books series which you can learn more about here on my site. I also love teaching art in my local Tampa Bay community as well as through classes online.
Thank you for being here, and I hope my art can make you smile. :)
2025 Safety Harbor Kiwanis Best In Show
2024 Purple Dragonfly First Place Award
2025 Morse Museum Award Winner
2026 Judge’s Choice Award Lake Wales, FL
Some Customer Favorites
The feeling you get when you’ve finally found the right book.
One of life’s most cherished moments is the simple act of snuggling up and reading together.
Celebrate new beginnings and take comfort knowing that God is always with you through the storms.
Featuring 268 books and adorable animals of all shapes and sizes, each uses their unique strengths to work together to achieve a common goal of reading.
My Process
I first draw using pen and ink to create all the linework and intricate details. I then paint in layers of watercolor to create the lighting and mood, bringing my scene’s characters to life. I paint on Arches cold-pressed textured watercolor paper.
Here’s a video of one of my new paintings, Zoo School, coming to life!
You can also follow me on Instagram (@derekrobertsart) to watch more of my process and techniques.
In The Community
