Resident Artist
Alma & Mike Loveland
Alma and Mike Loveland are Your Very Favorite. They are also your very favorite. And while this might feel like two phrases without much distinction, if you’re on their nationwide waitlist or you are their neighbor and friend, you know there’s a definite difference.
The Lovelands’ story starts in Springville. Mike grew up dreaming of illustrating children’s books one day. He chose “Utah’s Art City” as the perfect place to buy a home and plant his artistic roots. Alma, a graphic designer and writer, made her way from Canada to Utah for school. It was there she met Mike, and together they became partners — in life, in business and in art.
For years the two worked in various endeavors — Mike dialed in his distinct style of whimsical yet grounded illustration while Alma took on writing, editing and graphic design work. When the pandemic hit and the couple found themselves at home with their three kids, they took a moment to pause and ask themselves, “What if we tried something new? What could we do better than anyone else if we combined our skill sets?”
The answer? Their fascination with science trivia, historical lore, quirky facts about literally anything and a clever sense of humor (plus the urgent need to entertain kids who were suddenly home) was the perfect recipe for educational activity books. This is how they launched their business “Your Very Favorite” — a company that creates illustration packed activity books for public outreach, education and community engagement that are made for kids and grownups alike!
Alma and Mike have achieved the dream of most artists — to make a valuable difference in the world through their art. Their educational materials gained traction here in Utah where they’ve had the privilege of working with the American Fork Library, the City of Orem and the Springville Museum of Art. If you drop off your trash at the Transfer Station in Spanish Fork, you can even ask for a free copy of their “TRASH TALK” activity book to learn how trash and recycling work in our community!
Thanks to the support they’ve received here at home, their books are in demand by organizations all across the country. They cover topics like public health, disability, air quality, recycling, literacy and more!
So yes — Alma and Mike Loveland are Your Very Favorite. And if you take a moment to enjoy their work, they just might become your very favorite, too.