Christmas cards/prints for 2024!

Yep I’m way ahead of the Christmas Q4 season. Or too late I guess whichever way you look at it. Only available in my shop for Christmas 2024 season! This idea for a Christmas card/print series popped in my head only a week ago. Not in the Christmas spirit as much as refining my drawing/inking skills. And boy was it refreshing! It took my mind away from depression and anxiety and sadness. My inspiration came from my sister’s pack of chihuahuas (currently painting her a portrait) , black and white minimalism, starry nights, nature, funny cats and, Charlie Brown and Linus Christmas tree shopping around the silly trees on the tree lot. My fave scene. 

I plan to offer these as prints. Nøt printables as I’m feeling more like digital downloads cheapen my art and also customers prefer a physical product!!! So do I. Nothing beats touching the cool and funny and unique item! 

My new 2024 word is P O L I S H. Slow down with your art. Choose your flow. Do not rush. And look at the silly results from drawing and inking.  Still don’t forget to be free and loose and a bit sloppy abstract. Imperfect design is fine. Go here to peek at funny dog and cat gifts-https://puppycatandmouse.etsy.com/

Thankful for family and health!

My funny black cat wearing a silly hat design!

Leia and Dougie today-scruffy salt and pepper face!

Leia and Dougie 2019 young and free no scruffy face!

Final cat design printed on a kitchen tea towel available now!

 This month I’ve created many products from existing designs and the black cat is my favorite currently. I love the pensive non challant cat look and the color palette is lovely! I plan to begin the new and improved design collection in my shop -  https://puppycatandmouse.etsy.com/   which includes POD prints and less printables (digital downloads) physical products sell well!!!

I’ve included the family photos because it’s is who I care most about and is a reminder of why I do what I do! Leia and my pets are my greatest inspiration and motivation moving forward with this art path I’m on. This thanksgiving I became sick with the flu for four days and was unable to do anything productive. Being miserable and depressed I was reminded once again of how to not take my health for granted. To be alive and productive is what I live for! Staying active and healthy is a great day any day. I don’t care what you are up to. Poor Doug suffered no long walks for days sorry Dougie but I’m back at it. I’m making stickers and calendars and mugs and candles and have a large painted portrait that I’m in the midst of and I can’t wait to reveal it (30x40”!)

Bring it on December “month that is the most depressing month ever I can deal with you and not feel fear or anxiety from you”🤺🥷🧘‍♀️

Back to the house of Norway for KOSELIG inspiration

Spooky ghost at house of Norway 

Viking house in Oslo 

IKEA inspo 

Moms house 

Munch museum and me to the right!

Høybråten 🇳🇴

Bløtkake!!!

Mummitrollet 

Local art gallery 

Cats

Meg

Momma❤️

Moody front of house of Norway 

Handmade funny dogs calendar!

Handmade funny cats calendar!

10 refreshing days at the house of Norway spent with sweet family, tons of delicious fooooood plus 2 super cooool desk calendars created and designed by yours truly. 2024 Dogs calendar available NOW in my shop! Cats available sooooon! This is a physical calendar that will be shipped to you! Made in America but technically designed in Norway! Please allow at least 5-10 for shipping unless you choose a preferred shipping. Delivery times will be crazy once again this year so when purchasing anything tangible or physical please allow for time! For funny cat and dog gifts go here-https://puppycatandmouse.etsy.com/

 

Doggy dog calendar for 2024 available in my Etsy shop!

14 dogs calendar illustrated by ME!

November Bernese mountain dog

January chihuahua 

Shitzu doggy dog printable month

Sloppy copy of the PHYSICAL CALENDAR AVAILABLE SOON!

I’m obsessed with designing calendars currently and plan to release a cat and dog (separately) physical printed, packed and shipped by me very soon for sale in my Etsy shop. I feel the need to offer a variety of digital downloads plus physical art for my animal lovers out there! The printed copy will have a level of handmade design about it. No fonts or grids just simply an imperfect looking calendar that has a ton of love and charm!!! Size will run tiny!!! 4x5”! Yes please. Desk calendar size. Printed on either glossy or matte. Not sure. Will need to order some samples to be sure!!!

So this tradition will happen every year. I did begin in July and listed in august and do have a bit of interest. Season for sales is brewing!!!!

Shop for funny dog gifts here-https://puppycatandmouse.etsy.com/

Halloween spooky black cat countdown is available now in my shop!

 How many revisions does it take to finally reach the AHA moment? That is the process of creating that I loooove!!!! Initially I had an idea in my brain about some sort of Halloween activity printable and so I played with canva multiple times until last night it occurred to me that the numbers could be scribbled out with a black marker every day to reveal the cute and scruffy black kitty cat on October 31. Way more interesting and fun and the idea that kids would enjoy this takes this design to a whole new game changing level!! It reminds me of advent calendars from back in the day minus the chocolate or toys. Lol. 

Silly title to a cute fall printable? Check. Mouse nibbling on a Candy corn? Check. Pink Halloween aesthetic? Check. Cute black cat lover gift? Check. Affordable activity during Halloween for the whole family? Check. Can be printed year after year? Check. I love my spooky black “cat-down” to Halloween! Click here ➡️😻 to buy this from my shop!

2024 hats on cats calendar is officially L I V E !

                          

Cover star!

       

July fancy cat

August tuxedo kitty

December cutie

My funny “2024 hats on cats calendar” is complete after just some time immersing my entire body and mind and soul into this art project. From concept in my brain last year to for sale in my shop today. This is what I love. The time to take to pay attention to tiny micro details-revisions! -has taught me so much patience and to slow down and focus on the task and nothing else except espresso and my doggo, but hey man chick and dude-it’s only art. 

This art pursuit I am on currently is constantly evolving into something worth feeling good and proud about. I am so thrilled to have learned so much from procreate, photoshop (YouTube videos) and all the complex details there are with etsy, it has truly elevated my creative abilities. My goal ultimately is that these wacky cat illustrations will bring a laugh to crazy cat people, cat moms and all cat lovers out there in the world. 

For cat and dog gifts click here-https://puppycatandmouse.etsy.com/

"An idea that is developed and put into action is more important than an idea that exists only as an idea."

Siddhartha Gautama

😻

Moving IS stressful-no matter what

New and improved unique neighborhood!

New and improved Dougie portrait 2023!

Old fancy and overpriced apartment!

First digital Dougie portrait 2021

Here is a tip for a future mover: when you believe all of your possessions will fit in a 10’ moving truck, it will not. 

I started depersonalizing and packing up my stuff in my old fancy and overpriced apartment a month before the big day. Saran Wrap is THE best tool for keeping your crap in order plus garbage bags. Expect a humongous physical and mental workout for 2-3 days strait. Still, this new and improved living space is the best and smartest decision I am making right now. Dougie is settling in and desensitizing himself to the traffic, people,scooters,bikers and dogs! He has been a reactive doggie for some time and I believe it will only take a couple of weeks for him to settle. 

I wanted to document my first portrait of Dougie back in 2021- and the improvement I have made in a matter of 2 years! I’m slowing down  I’m focusing more intently on my strokes and adding way more interesting details such as this tshirt and mouse addition to the funny dog wall art that is available as a print or a coffee mug!

This neighborhood is beautiful and I’m looking forward to better days in the future. 

“Leave it Doug” is the title of the funny dog art. Doug.🤪

 

Cool cat series (beatnik buddies prints) for sale in my Etsy shop!

Walgreens print (matted on left) photo paper and hp home printer plain paper (on right)

Cuuuuute floofy grey kitty cat with cooool heterochromia eyes (like my dog!)

I am shifting my mindset a weee bit to really focus in on variations of my cute designs. I love this scruffy grey kitty cat design from last year I painted a knitted hat with big mouse ears- like Minnie not thinking just thought it was a cute idea-listed on Etsy and then it occurred to me that ANYTHING that looks remotely like Disney MUST GO AWAY so I removed that design to protect me and my shop from being shut down or even sued for infringement. The wee mouse on the hat is simply a funny addition and I love that this can be achieved without getting into trouble. Many artists add a silly mouse to their designs- nothing new but still my own unique style! So I modified this cutie pie and now he/she is a beatnik cool cat with multiple variations. I love them ALL. But the floofy grey cat with heterochromia eyes is my current fave. These would look so cute in a 1-nursery 2-kids room 3-just for fun because you are a cat lover and or a cool beatnik nerd. These are definitely going to be added as POD mugs, candles and totes. 
Obsessed with cats now because I lost my black cat this year and this is my focus right now.  
Cat mom forever🥺🐈‍⬛😻

 

Animal art print sample comparison -Walgreens vs HP

Custom pet portrait wall art!!!!

8x10 print matted within a 11x14 modern frame

Close up glossy print from Walgreens $2 for an 8x10” (sale price) 

Walgreens prints-vivid
Hp prints-dull

Significant differences in print quality!

Darks print differently, chalky background not so happy with-
will need to change color code to create the proper look!

I have been meaning to print some sample comps and finally got around to this group of my art besties. 

I am pleasantly surprised at Walgreens print quality! The offer glossy prints online only and you can order matte for more money and time to pick up. That’s for another time. But this pink kitty cat vivid and bright print is very good and I suggest buyers to seek out Walgreens for all their art print (and photo) needs! 

Although the dark and moody raccoon is a good print, I am not happy with the chalky background-that will def need to be improved to fit the look I’m selling. Walgreens prints it a muddy color but the home printer actually printed good. It truly depends on your printer. And home printers are never color calibrated properly. You can count on local pro print shops and online shops to do the job right! 

The top photos are the custom pet portraits printed from Walgreens (@ $2 for an 8x10-that is a discounted price and they seem to offer that multiple times a year so always be on the look out for deals there!)

A full body pet portrait for less than $63 (right now bc of a sale that will end after April 30!)

is a super unique and special gift for a cat mom for mother’s day or a dog dad for Father’s Day coming soon! This one is an 8x10 glossy print for $2 from Walgreens so you end up with an affordable gift for mom or gift for dad for $65 that will probably melt their heart and will be something absolutely will treasure forever!