Jared Lee

Jared D. Lee (born August 19, 1943), an artist, cartoonist and illustrator, was born and raised in Van Buren, Indiana. He received a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in 1966 from The John Herron Art Institute in Indianapolis. In 1970, after serving two years in the military and working one year at Gibson Greetings as a greeting card designer, he started his freelance career as an artist and cartoonist.

Lee's work has been associated with entities such as the US Postal Service, New York Telephone, L.L. Bean, Procter and Gamble, Ralston Purina, Lands' End, Bell South, Hasbro, Scholastic Publishing, Simon & Schuster, and Dutton Children's Books. He was one of the six illustrators chosen to create the first group of Happy Meal boxes for McDonalds.

Lee has illustrated over eighty books for young readers, and is best known for his collaboration with author Mike Thaler on the best-selling "Black Lagoon" series, including "The Teacher from the Black Lagoon". Mr. Lee also creates and produces a humorous line of T-shirts and gift items featuring horses, sold throughout the United States and abroad. His lifelong interest and involvement with horses and ponies alike led to the collaboration with actor/model/author Carson Kressley on the book You're Different and That's Super.

He has received awards from the Society of Illustrators, The Martha Kinney Cooper Ohioana Library Association, The National Cartoonist Society, and numerous advertising clubs.

Memberships include the Society of Illustrators, and Illustrators' Partnership.

Personal life

Lee's home and studio are in Southwest Ohio where he lives with his wife, P.J.. He has two grown daughters, Jana and Jennifer, who are each married and live in the same area. He lists his late father Gerald as his hero, saying "he didn't know much about art but he always encouraged me to draw." His favorite athletes are Michael Jordan and Lance Armstrong.Jared is an avid college basketball fan and is a long-time season ticket holder to the University of Cincinnati Men's basketball games. He continues to be involved in the horse and pony world, owning one American Saddlebred and three ponies of the Hackney Pony breed. They are shown by his daughter Jana.