How to write and illustrate a children’s book

Catalina Museum for Art & History presents Tim Musso – Chasing the Sun: The Art, Process, and Design of Writing and Illustrating a Children’s Book, on view April 18 through October 18, 2026. The exhibition features 19 original linoleum prints created for Chasing the Sun, written and illustrated by artist and naturalist Tim Musso, tracing the extraordinary 50,000-mile annual migration of the Arctic Tern.

Blending scientific observation with artistic storytelling, Musso’s prints bring to life one of the longest migrations in the natural world. Through bold compositions and intricate detail, the exhibition captures both the vastness of the tern’s journey and the intimate moments within it, offering audiences a compelling intersection of art, ecology and narrative.

“Chasing the Sun reflects Catalina Museum’s commitment to presenting work that is both visually engaging and deeply meaningful,” said Sheila Bergman, Executive Director of the Catalina Museum for Art & History. “Tim Musso’s ability to translate a complex natural phenomenon into accessible, beautifully crafted imagery invites visitors of all ages to connect with the natural world in a thoughtful and lasting way.”

The exhibition also includes the published book, printing ephemera and behind-the-scenes materials, along with a two-minute video of the artist at work and a 12-minute award-winning documentary film, Passing Through, which offers further insight into Musso’s creative process. Together, these elements provide a comprehensive look at the intersection of observation, craft and imagination that defines his practice. The exhibition is curated by Timothy LeBlanc.

ABOUT THE ARTIST

Tim Musso grew up in the foothills of California’s Mother Lode, just 20 miles from where gold was first discovered in 1848. His early experiences exploring the forests, rivers and mountains of the Northern Sierra Nevada continue to inform his work today. Now based in Southern California, Musso balances urban life with extended time in the wilderness, where he hikes, sketches, photographs and creates rubbings of natural objects. Having hiked more than 5,000 miles, these immersive experiences serve as the foundation for his detailed prints and drawings.

Musso earned an MFA in Printmaking and Graphic Design from California State University, Long Beach, and has exhibited internationally in museums and private collections. His work is featured in the award-winning documentary Passing Through, which chronicles his creative process. His book Chasing the Sun has received the Riverby Award, Bull-Bransom Award and Eureka Silver Award. 

About Catalina Museum for Art & History 

The Catalina Museum for Art & History offers the best in art and history exhibitions, music and dance performances, lectures by guest speakers from all over the world and the finest in silent, documentary and international film. The museum is located in the heart of Avalon at 217 Metropole Avenue.

For more information, the museum may be reached by phone at 310-510-2414 or at its website: CatalinaMuseum.org.