Maris, Stella: - Stella Maris Mongodi is an award-winning Italian children' s book illustrator. She began her earthly journey in Italy, where she pursued a degree in Ancient theatre, while exploring a passion for art and illustration under the expert tutelage of such masters as Alessandra Cimatoribus, Anna Castagnoli, Carll Cneut and Stefano Moroni. She dabbled with oils, experimented with acrylics, and wondered at watercolors, before settling on digital illustrations, steeped in " traditional media flavor", and sporting a whimsically dreamy, feathery, playful feel, befitting her fairy spirit.