Mischa Pearson
Illustrator, Artist, Author & Publisher
Welcome to My Bio & Backstory!
Bio
Mischa Pearson is an artist, illustrator, and published author of Count Dyscalculia; a children’s book raising awareness for those with learning differences through the story of a Count who ironically can’t quite count. Her extended client work offers a variety of services including illustration, coaching, professionally produced and edited read-along soundtracks, and even bespoke typography for a more fun reading experience.
With an impressive multi-award winning background in social impact running The Teapot Project for 8 years, fighting food waste and hunger in Suffolk where Mischa grew up, she has now stepped into her 3rd generation illustrator and author boots, focusing on tackling social issues and topics that help children worldwide, through her non-for-profit, Valley Rd Press.
Mischa still offers commemorative work as a popular portrait artist, and award-winning landscape painter. Her most recent painting of The Dunmow Flitch Trials now exhibits at The Dunmow Museum in Essex before it goes on auction. Mischa is also a member of the prestigious industry group, The Association of Illustrators; known for illustrators that stand out in the market.
Exhibition Details:
Dunmow Maltings & Museum
Historical Restoration & Preservation
Address: Mill Lane, Dunmow, CM6 1BG
Phone: (01371) 878979
If you'd like to buy this painting, please register your interest using the contact page.
Backstory
My entire backstory is more than a few books worth, so for the purpose of you remaining awake, I'll just share my experience of having what I call ‘an allergy to numbers’, which goes back as far as I can remember and became the inspiration behind Count Dyscalculia. My brain has never quite grasped the numerical language. I think of my brain as a sort of Teflon to them. Conversely, it’s been Velcro to words, where I’ve found refuge from the pesky blighters. I’ve been a writer for as long as I could write. Living with dyscalculia has meant I’ve shown up for planes that have long since gone; a result of my hopeless calculations for departure times. I’ve missed countless buses and trains and important appointments. I’ve short-changed or paid too much, and only really known when someone points it out — the glaringly obvious to everyone else. Usually my son. Who was correcting my mathematics around the age of 6. Thankfully, I can remember his birthday, which is not something I’m known for.
School wasn’t easy for many reasons. I suspect I’m more neurologically spicy than has ever been diagnosed. But I’m ok with that. And that’s really what my book is about; accepting our own differences. My message for young minds navigating their own early life is told through the story of a Count who can’t quite count. He’s dyscalculic; irony abounds. And it serves as a creative opportunity for me to raise awareness for those with dyscalculia, as in public spaces I’ve found very few have even heard of it, and so support is severely lacking. But really, Cal, my main character and dearest ally, has arrived with a message to a much wider audience, made up of many brains, all wired differently and with the potential to excel when met with the right environment and tasks for their particular brain.
The purpose of that message is to acknowledge that we all excel in something and to inspire young people to venture into the world in search of their passion without the crippling fear so many of us carry within. Because that exploration of a life in action, should be an exciting one. A brave and beautiful adventure for us all.
