Author: Kimberley Hoffman Reading time: 11 Minutes Contents: How I hid the (hi)stories in search-and-find How are historical search-and-find illustrations created? In this article, I show how I make city history visible—and how I created my search-and-find illustrations for »Historischer Wimmelspaß in Stuttgart« (»Historical Wimmel Fun in Stuttgart«). The Idea Behind this Historical Search-and-Find Book…

How »Cultivation Breeds Diversity« Sprouts Interest and Curiousity for Science and Museum Education

This blog discusses Kimberley Hoffman’s illustrated search-and-find artwork “Cutlivation Creates Diversity,” created for the German Plant Breeders’ Association (BDP). With six main scenes and ten charming vignettes, the illustration brings to life the journey of a new plant variety—from lab research to market approval—in a way that’s both engaging and educational.

Whether it’s Gregor Mendel with his peas in a greenhouse, the Corn Cob King wearing a crown and receiving a chocolate cake for his 15th “birthday,” or the bees attneding a flower wedding—this visual narrative makes complex topics like genetics, climate resilience, and plant breeding accessible to all ages.

Perfect for museums, exhibitions, and educational formats, this artwork supports creative museum education, visual storytelling, and family engagement—making it a powerful tool for visitor connection and lifelong learning.

Ein Wort, eine Zeitreise, eine Partyigel-Illustration
Kreative Gedanken sichtbar gemacht

Die Illustratorin Kimberley Hoffman erzählt in ihrem neuen Blog-Beitrag, wie sie eine Partyigel-Illustration entwickelt. Inspiriert von Kindheitserinnerungen und kreativen Assoziationen erzählt sie vom Prozess der Ideenfindung bis zur Entstehung ihrer Igel-Illustration. Kimberley Hoffman beleuchtet die Verkettung der Gedanken und Ideen, die während des kreativen Prozesses entstehen, und lädt die Zuschauer ein, ihr über die Schulter zu schauen und an ihren kreativen Flow teilzuhaben.

In her latest blog post, freelance illustrator Kimberley Hoffman talks about the art and challenges of designing Artist Trading Cards. She uses an excerpt from her search-and-find book “Die Kurpfalz wimmelt“about Germany’s Electoral Palatinate Region to demonstrate how she adapts an extremely busy, amusing and detailed scene for Hireillo’s Artist Trading Cards.

These Artist Trading Cards, about the size of business cards, are part of a quarterly series that Hireillo sends out to interested customers.

The illustrator describes the creative process behind the selection and adaptation of the motif and provides insights into the design decisions involved in reducing the size of a large-format hidden object picture.

With humorous anecdotes and a deep understanding of her art, she invites readers to discover the world of Hidden Objects in the smallest of spaces. The full description of the extracted scene and other exciting details can be discovered on her blog.

Contact Hireillo and the illustrator for more information about these delightful Artist Trading Cards.

hoffmanillustrates! celebrates 20 years: A journey of creativity and perseverance

Dive into the world of Wimmel books with illustrator Kimberley Hoffman, who celebrates her 20th anniversary in the industry this year. From her beginnings with self-doubt to current projects with the renowned Silberburg publishing house, this journey is full of highs and lows. Find out how a chance meeting at the Frankfurt Fair kick-started a remarkable career.

Accompany the illustrator on her tour through cities such as Heidelberg, Mannheim and Ludwigsburg and discover how she successfully realizes her projects with creativity and perseverance. From UNESCO World Heritage Sites to fascinating local dialects: Her stories are full of surprises and inspire you to explore the world of Wimmel books. Join the illustrator as she brings the Electoral Palatinate, the Hohenlohe district and other regions to life and prepares for her next adventure: a Wimmel book about the development of Stuttgart. Join us and immerse yourself in a world full of creativity and inspiration. Look forward to more exciting adventures in future Wimmel books and discover the creative magic behind the pictures!

Join me on my journey back through 20 years as a freelance illustrator, peppered with the highs and lows of imposter syndrome. From the early days as a young mother to the challenges of making it in the industry, I honestly share my experiences and doubts. Discover how small jobs opened up big opportunities and how I battle imposter syndrome. Immerse yourself in a world of creativity, perseverance and unexpected success. Be inspired by my unique path and the valuable lessons I’ve learned on my 20-year journey as an illustrator. Look forward to stories that encourage and touch hearts. Let’s go!

Carnival, the 5th season of the year, is certainly the most popular time of year and is always a favorite theme in my Wimmel books about Baden-Württemberg towns and regions. 
Anyone who knows Carnival knows how much fun it can be. It’s a colorful chaos that only rivals the hustle and bustle in my Wimmel books.  

Initially, there was little Carnival hustle and bustle in Baden-Württemberg up to the mid-20th century. In a conversation with my relatives from Heidelberg, I was surprised to hear that Carnival was not celebrated on such a grand scale in their childhood. 

My cousin’s wife grew up in a Swabian town not far from the university city of Tübingen. She told me that children got “at best one Fastnachtsküchele,” a sweet pastry, before the start of Lent. Today’s Carnival celebrations, as we know them, have only become more popular in the last twenty or thirty years through television. The »Jecken« or Carnival fools were hardly known before then.

In my research for my previous Wimmel books, which are all about regions in Baden-Württemberg, I came across many different traditions surrounding Carnival. The costumes have a special meaning, whether they portray witches, devils, or angels. I have illustrated these as authentically as possible in my hidden object books. Do you want to take a look? Then open my new blog post quickly with a cheerful shout of Carnival now! https://hoffman-illustrates.com/en/carnival2024_hustlebustle/

Press Release
KimberleyHoffman

»Der Hohenlohekreis wimmelt«
A Delightful Search-And-Find Book For All Ages

The most delightful collection of hidden object books illustrated by Kimberley Hoffman, hoffmanillustrates! is bursting from the seams! The lovingly designed pages of »Der Hohenlohekreis wimmelt«, which means »The Hohenlohe District is Teeming« take readers young and old through the beautiful landscapes of the Hohenlohe district.

There is something going on everywhere.

Discover the festivals and get to know the delightful Old World customs in the towns and villages.

Experience the region with its beautiful castles and rivers, the Kocher and the Jagst. Every page is teeming with humorous characters. Many children, historical figures and adults explore the most beautiful sites of the wonderful Hohenlohe district. Join us on a delightful reading expedition through the Hohenlohe district — the insider tip for families, vacationers, campers, cyclists and adventurers — in Baden-Württemberg.

»Der Hohenlohelkreis wimmelt« is published by Silberburg-Verlag, Tübingen, Germany
ISBN 978-3-8425-2390-6

Twice the joy. Twice the happiness! My 2023 spring new editions are here-»Die Kurpfalz wimmel« and »Heidelberg wimmelt, 3rd edition« are fresh on the market. The corn mice, who made their debut in »Heidelberg wimmelt,« take you on a tour of the Kurpfalz (Electoral Palatinate) region. Of course, they make a stop in Heidelberg, where anyone, including you, can lose their heart. Wimmel Fun for the whole family!

Designing a children’s book, especially a board picture book with little or no text, is a big task that comes with a lot of responsibility. You want to create a children’s book that children will want to read again and again. The presentation I gave at the Ludwigsburg Public Library on April 08, 2022, tells you how.

Do Wimmel pictures make your eyes cross? Anyone who opens a Wimmel book to read will quickly discover: A Wimmel book is a children’s book, but it’s very different.
The sheer number of little pictures can overwhelm some people. They don’t know what to read from the colorful double pages. But help is near: Become a Search-and-Find book reading pro with these 5 Wimmel book reading tips.

Everyone has a story to tell, but very few people get to tell it. This distinguishes my Wimmel books from many others.

If a child sees my Wimmel pictures and finds themselves in them, they might read another book. Maybe they will learn to love reading. When I draw the child or their family, the Wimmel book becomes something special, a Wimmel treasure that they pass on to their children.

It is really important to remind your friends that you are thinking of them. What better way than with a hand-made Valentine’s card? Follow my quick and easy steps and you’ll have your Valentine’s Day Pop-Up Card production up and going in minutes!

In this how-to you can try my template technique with gouache. All you need is some thin cardboard, 1-2 bristle brushes or a kitchen sponge, cut up, and some gouache or cheap acrylics, a sketchbook, a knife and an idea.

2020 was supposed to be a year of hope and vision. But even with 20/20 vision most couldn’t see this coming. But there were some good things this year, too. Join me to find them and why we have cause for hope in 2021.

Did you ever love drawing anything, ever, at all?
Don’t think, just answer. Why did you stop drawing? And if you’ve never sketched from life, what has stopped you from starting?
Get ready. This year is your year to embark on the Kreativtour.

Oh, Where does the Time go Time Management in the Hyper-Time Era Where does the time go when its gone? To a deep dark cave? Does it cease to exist? Or, more likely, do the lost minutes accumulate to something meaningful? I do hope so.  But how do you  know if your time is spent…

Are you the fifth Wheel? Have you ever felt like the fifth wheel? Out of place, out of sync with the world or just plain different from everyone else?  But being the fifth wheel has its advantages. You can stand out and celebrate your originality. You are free to do as you choose. You can…

Does this sound familiar? „I can’t even draw a straight line“ „I cannot draw“ „I loved to draw when I was young, but my parents wanted me to look for a real job“ Could these statements come from you? They are sad declarations, aren’t they? They are expressions of things I hear time and time…

What is Tap Forms 5 good for? Just about everything! Tap Forms is a databank program for Apple Systems which helps you organise your life and business. You can organise your family photos, keep track of your genealogy, figure out what spices you have in your cabinet and make labels for them, track your favourite…

An Easter Greeting to all my Readers with a Sweet (and Free) Easter Greeting Pop-up Card Activity Sheet Easter is around the Corner and maybe you want to send an Easter Greeting to someone special? I can help you with that. I illustrated a very cute Easter greeting pop-up card. On the back of the…

In my Blog, I want to report on books, apps, or hardware that are really interesting and helpful, that I have read or used myself. I do that with honesty and sincerity. I actually bought Free your Head for the Creative Flow before I even thought of blogging about it. One thing I would like…

Eine Familie wimmelt mit! Timo Timo has a charming, irresistible smile, doesn't he? He is sporty as well as an avid climber. In Wimmelt mit!! The Online Wimmelpicture Project, he will be appearing as a knight in shining armor in the children's knights' tournament. Monika I know Monika personally, she is a wonderful woman whose…