Birthday Cupcake

For: Riley

Occasion: her birthday 

Riley loves Oreo cupcakes and requests them on her birthday every year! To help celebrate the big day, I did a watercolor of the tasty treat with some sparkly purple accents. This looks good enough to eat and I hope Riley enjoyed a helping or two of the real deal!

Cappy Birthday

For: Claire

Occasion: her birthday

To ring in Claire's birthday, I did a drawing of a internet-famous-ly chill capybara with lots of party parephenalia. I have enjoyed seeing videos of these goobers out in the world and hope this one brought Claire some peace on her big day! 

Birthday Creature

For: Uncle Jer

Occasion: his birthday

For Uncle Jer's birthday card, I created a weird little long-legged lizard to help ring in the birthday festivities! He's got a birthday hat and a fine set of choppers to shout "Happy Birthday" in bubble letters. I adore Uncle Jer and hope this next year will be the best yet.

Slopes Christmas

 For: Michael
Occasion: Christmas

For Mike's Christmas card, I used brown paper and white pen to create this delightful gondola scene. I can't wait to start up our ski season together -- here's hoping we get plenty of snow in the mountains this year! Looking forward to an epic 2024 of whatever adventures await us!

Pikachu Christmas

 For: Owen
Occasion: Christmas

To help Owie have the happiest Christmas, I drew him a picture of Pikachu in a Santa hat with a present and candy cane! I wish I could see him playing Christmas-themed Pokemon with Adam, but am sure it will be tons of fun! I miss Owen so and hope to see him so much in 2024!

Pokeball Christmas

 For: Adam
Occasion: Christmas

Adam has taught me so much about Pokemon! For his Christmas card this year, I created a pokeball ornament and used a broken earring to make it look real! The tree branch is made out of strips of green paper that I glued on to emulate a tree. I miss my Adam so and hope he has the best Christmas!

Sloth Wreath Christmas

 For: Christy-Twin
Occasion: Christmas

To send The Twin the snuggliest Christmas vibes I could imagine, I drew her a Christmas wreath with a sloth hanging on! I drew a background door and am so pleased with how it turned out. I miss The Twin so and hope her Christmas is as fun as can be!

Santa Hoop Christmas

 For: Nathan
Occasion: Christmas

For Nathan's Christmas card this year, I did a silly illustration of Santa going up for a dunk! His peace sign doubles for the two points he is about to score. I love Santa's belly and knee brace -- I think Nathan could definitely take him. I hope he has a wonderful Christmastime! 

Cat Tree Christmas

 For: Amy
Occasion: Christmas

Amy and Alex have the goofiest cat! They decided not to have a Christmas tree because of his antics, but I had fun imagining what it could have gone like. There's some silly fish ornaments and I love Catsby's surprised little eyes and mouth. I am bummed to not see Ames this Christmas, but hope she has a great time!

Coffee Christmas

 For: Alex
Occasion: Christmas

For Alex's Christmas card, I played on his penchant for coffee and made a snowman out of a mug stain (it's really watercolor)! This card concept just tickles me pink -- I hope Alex has enjoyed many caffeinated beverages this holiday season!

Skating Christmas

 For: Dad
Occasion: Christmas

I have many fond memories of skating with my Dad; to honor those happy times, I did this sweet illustration of he and I skating and making a heart with our blades. I feel like I really got the colors of our early '90s winter outfits in this one! I miss my dad so and hope he has the happiest Christmas!

Cel-e-brate Christmas

 For: Mom
Occasion: Christmas

My mom is a big Dr. Who fan! To help her celebrate the holidays, I created the most festive Dalek we've ever seen! Covered in tinsel and wearing a Santa hat, this guy has had a change of heart and wouldn't dream of exterminating us. I hope Mama has the very best Christmas!

Curly Christmas Tree

 For: Mollie
Occasion: Christmas

For Mollie's Christmas card, I played on her beautiful curly hair and made her into a Christmas tree! I love the greens of the hair and sweater and decorations (particularly the candy canes). I have missed my Mollie so and am excited to see her in 2024!

Snow Angel Christmas

 For: Sarah
Occasion: Christmas

To help Sarah celebrate Christmas, I did an illustration of her as a little snow angel among falling snowflakes. I love how peaceful and happy she looks here! I miss my Sarah and have loved chatting with her about all things holiday and all things!

Colorful Christmas Wreath

 For: Marie
Occasion: Christmas

Marie loves bright rainbow colors! To help her and the fam celebrate Christmas, I did an illustration of the brightest wreath I could imagine, with lots of colorful ornaments with some pine interspersed. I hope they have the very best first Christmas as a complete family!

Print Christmas Tree

 For: Jackie
Occasion: Christmas

I love the look of a wood-block print! Since I don't actually have any, I did a pen line illustration of a Christmas tree and red star to emulate the look. I hope Jackie has a very Merry Christmas!

Heart Tree Christmas

 For: Leia
Occasion: Christmas

To share love and light with Leia this year, I did a simple illustration of a Christmas tree made up of a strand of hearts. I adore my Leia, and she has the biggest heart I've ever encountered. I hope she has a great holiday season and that we get to hang out a bunch in 2024!

Snow Family Christmas

 For: Lexi
Occasion: Christmas

To help Lex and family celebrate Christmas, I created a simple illustration of them all as snowpeople on white! Matt and Lex snowpeople are holding hands, and G and G are dancing in the snow! I love and miss Lex so much and can't wait to see her in February!

Abstract Christmas Card

 For: Jennifer
Occasion: Christmas

To help Jen celebrate Christmas, I made an ornament that features the abstract shapes similar to Clyfford Still's style! We had a great time going to the museum together this past year, and I wanted to send a little bit of Denver out to her this season. Can't wait to see her again in the new year!

Colorful Christmas Tree

 For: The Mungers
Occasion: Christmas

To help my Mungers celebrate the holiday, I used every bright pen I own to create this shape of a Christmas tree! I really love pointillism in all its forms, particularly a holiday variety. I hope the Mungers have the best Christmas ever!

Spirits Christmas Card

 For: The Currys
Occasion: Christmas

This year, it occurred to me that spirits are part of drinks! Armed with this knowledge and to wish my Curry twin-laws a Merry Christmas, I made a picture of a green drink with a candy cane in it! The text reads "making spirits bright." I miss my Currys and hope they have the very best Christmas and are looking forward to fun on the farm!

Nutcracker Christmas

 For: The Families
Occasion: Christmas

To celebrate with all family near and far, Mike and I's annual Christmas card of us in goofy Christmas-themes are features us as Nutcrackers! We saw the play this year and I got a kick out of making us into the regal soldier-types. I added some small smile lines at the mouths to help us look less shocked/horrified.

I miss all my Chicago family and hope they have a merry time celebrating! Most of the candy Keanes are getting together this year and I hope we have a holly jolly holiday together. 

Mexican Flags Birthday

 For: Aunt Katy
Occasion: her birthday

Aunt Katy loves to visit Mexico for its relaxing beaches! To help her celebrate her birthday, I created an illustration of a tissue flag with Feliz Cumpleaños! I love Aunt Katy so and hope she has the very best birthday ever and enjoys her vacation.

Cupcake Birthday

 For: Grandpa Jerry
Occasion: his birthday

To celebrate Grandpa's birthday, I created a simple collage of a cupcake with a candle in it. I hope Gramps has a happy birthday and enjoys some cake!

Squatchy Birthday

For: Aunt Glor
Occasion: her birthday

Aunt Glor is such a wonderful human with a penchant for the goofy and delightful in life! For her birthday card this year, in honor of a Sasquatch-themed donut shop she and Uncle Vince had seen when out in Colorado this fall, I made a birthday-themed Sasquatch! The text reads "Squatchy Birthday!" I love this card and I love Aunt Glor and I hope this year is the very best yet!

Sparkly Retirement

For: Aunt Glor
Occasion: her birthday

Aunt Glor retired! To help mark this feat in her epic career, I created a simple card with some dictionary definitions - "career," "librarian," and "retirement." I particularly love the definition of retirement: "the period at the end of a career when a person stops working to relax and enjoy their savings." I hope Aunt Glor enjoys this next chapter!

Sparkly Dreidel Hanukkah

 For: The Biegens
Occasion: Hanukkah

To help my Biegens celebrate the season of love and light, I used all my sparkly blue papers to create a dreidel in a heart that is emanating light. There's never been a better time to wish light and love on all the world--may we all settle in to the spirit of the holiday season.

Bears Birthday

 For: Mark
Occasion: his birthday

Mark is a big Bears fan! To celebrate his birthday, I created the Bears logo in blue on orange and wearing a party hat. The Bears logo is super complicated, y'all--but worth it to help my Father-twin-law celebrate his big day!

Tea Birthday

For: Aunt Kat
Occasion: her birthday

For Aunt Kat's birthday card, I drew a sweet little teacup on a brightly colored saucer. The cup is filled with a tea bag (ginger peach turmeric!). Aunt Kat is among my favorite humans on the planet and an inspiration for health. I hope she enjoys this tea and has a great day!

 

S'more Birthday

 For: Paul
Occasion: his birthday

To help Paul celebrate his birthday, I created an illustration of a marshmallow roasting on a stick. The marshmallow has caught fire! The text reads "Make a wish." I hope Paul has a fantastic birthday and is looking forward to a great year. 

Birthday Portrait

 For: Uncle Jim
Occasion: his birthday

For Uncle Jim's birthday card, I did a stylized version of him wearing a party hat! Uncle Jim has such a calm presence -- it was fun to try to capture it in an illustration. It was so fun to see him in October, and I hope he has an amazing year!