Kelly Nigro is writing, illustrating a series of children's books

Kelly Nigro is a big "Game of Thrones" fan. She's also a longtime admirer of J.R.R. Tolkien's "Lord of the Rings" books.

But that's only part of the reason she decided to write and illustrate an anthology of children's books that feature dragons and shamans and other fantastic creatures.

Nigro, an artist "forever," she said, is incorporating each of her 12 grandchildren as characters in the book she hopes to publish one day soon, possibly through Amazon or another self-publishing mechanism.

"If J.K. Rowling can do it, I can, too," she said of the British author of the hit Harry Potter franchise.

Since January, Nigro has been working on the second book in her series about a remote mountain village where the inhabitants live among a tribe of dragons -- until the great reptiles are turned into trees after refusing to follow ground rules.

Nigro works on her painting Wednesday at the Gallery of Inspiration.Laura Simon

Right now, several of Nigro's paintings for the book are hanging in the Gallery of Inspiration on Main Street in Cape Girardeau.

Each one has been photographed so it can be used to illustrate her series of children's stories and possibly get sold in the meantime.

"I like the (books) that are compilations of lots of stories, so I'm learning as I go," she said.

Each acrylic painting that corresponds to the book is filled with intricate designs and bright, bold swatches of red, yellow, orange, green, blue and purple.

Not only is that because of the children's-book ethos, but because Nigro is color blind.

Kelly Nigro adds details to a snail in her painting Wednesday at the Gallery of Inspiration inside Bilderbach's Art Plaza in downtown Cape Girardeau.Laura Simon

"I try to make the colors clash so I remember what they are (on my palette)," she said.

Nigro, who suffers from Marfan syndrome, has undergone several heart surgeries because of her illness. She said she sustained damage to her optic nerves from the anesthesia.

A genetic disease of the connective tissue, Marfan can cause heart problems as well affecting the eyes, bones, blood vessels and joints.

Because of that, Nigro is on permanent disability and is well aware her surgery days are not over.

With three open-heart procedures behind her, she expects no less than three more in the future -- if she can continue to bounce back from them.

Kelly Nigro adds details to a snail in her painting Wednesday at the Gallery of Inspiration inside Bilderbach's Art Plaza in downtown Cape Girardeau.Laura Simon

"It sucks to be sick all the time, but it's nice to be able to do what I want," she said.

And what she wants to do is paint. And, of course, finish her children's series.

It's something she never would have imagined, except a social worker who visited her after one particular surgery encouraged her to sell her work. That's how she became acquainted with the Gallery of Inspiration, which is operated by the Community Counseling Center.

"I've been a member here for a little over three years, in this gallery," Nigro said, adding, "This is considered therapy because all the artists in here are clients (of the counseling center)."

Nigro also sells some of her work through the GlassRoots store in Cape Girardeau.

Kelly Nigro adds details to a snail in her painting Wednesday at the Gallery of Inspiration inside Bilderbach's Art Plaza in downtown Cape Girardeau.Laura Simon

Once her book is finished, Nigro said she anticipates it will contain 10 fully illustrated stories.

ljones@semissourian.com

(573) 388-3652

Pertinent address:

5 Main St., Cape Girardeau, Mo.