One of my favorite women in art is Beatrix Potter. I've always loved her illustrations of the wonderful characters in the Peter Rabbit series...Hunka Munka, Jemima Puddle Duck, Mrs. Tiggy-Winkle and many others. I know I've spent hours reading these stories and admiring her illustrations with my three daughters and I still pull her books off the shelf now and then just to enjoy that gentle world again myself!
