instagram... /  by Danamarie Hosler

lil long nose boi wants you to know you’re doin’ a great job today & he’s hecka proud of you. Also he’s makin’ himself a fancy pompom trimmed shrug because he’s got a lot of fancy pachyderm parties this holiday season & elephant lewks are of utmost importance. . Also, hi, this is stress insomnia writing 👋🏼 . Annnnnnyway, finishing up commissions this week & getting gift certificates ready for you for next week. And, holding a little clearance sale of all my (not-that-much-left) remaining ready-to-ship stuff in my IG stories rn, so if you’re still looking for a few last minute gifts, go check that out (I’ve got pillows, posters, plush... and later tonight I’ll add some more holiday cards, prints & plush to the mix). The shop officially closes for the year (no more shipping!) on December 18th, so if there’s something you had your eye on please email me if you don’t see it anymore! . Big hugs, friends. . . . . . (Image description: digital illustration of a little aqua colored elephant wearing a golden colored collar with pompoms. He’s smiling while he unspools a roll of pompoms on a string. Above him are aqua and golden/green retro stars against a white background. The second post is the video of it being drawn) . . . . . . #illustration#drawing#illustration_daily#illo#digitalart#character#visualdevelopment#childrensbookart#childrensbookillustration#mightypigeonart#elephant#dumbo#cute#kawaii#sosweet#nurserydecor#procreateart#procreateapp#kidlitart#womenwhodraw
I wrote a whole long thing about this #mpafamilyportraits and how much I’ve enjoyed working on these and info about how ordering them next year will work & about a pop up sale I’ll be having in my IG stories sometime next week or the week after and about gift certificates and how people should email me to get on the waitlist for custom work for next year and then about what I should make for dinner because there’s fish in the freezer that I bought during an ill-advised shopping trip where I was pretending I could be someone who wants to eat fish but also how ordering pizza would be way easier and probably involve less cursing and give me more time for drawing the cats that need drawing tonight... and then I forgot to copy the caption jusssssssst in case and ofc that’s the post I get an error message on 😑 if it ever goes through ill screenshot it for my stories but for now I’ll just say I love this drawing so much and I love collecting everyone’s wish list of things they’d like included in their pieces and then making these happen because they’re all so different and that pleases me and also y’all are so dang cute and that makes my inbox cuter which is helpful because email is generally not that cute. . . . . (Image description: digital illustration of a couple and their dogs in autumnal colors) . . . . . #illustration#mightypigeonart#baltimoremd#localart#localartist#supportlivingartists#womenwhodraw#visiblewomen#illo#procreateart#familyportrait#portraits#commissionsopen#bmoreart#micamade#drawing#customart#instaart#cute#digital#portraits
If Friday gives you any guff, just do a Henry and side eye it until it backs down. . Happy Friday from Henry & Doug, the goodest of bois. . . . . . (Image description: photo set with two posts— both are marker drawings of dogs’ portraits, with corresponding color copic markers next to them on a white desktop. First drawing is a short muzzled brown and white dog with yellow flowers and blue babe banner reading “HENRY”; second is a black dog with yellow flowers & an orangey banner reading “DOUG”.) . . . . . . #mightypigeonart#dogs#portraits#mpapetportraits#thempapetportrait#drawing#copicmarker#doggo#dogmom#doglover#pibble#pitties#pitbullsofinstagram#dogrescue#adoptdontshop#crazydogmom#ilovemydogs#pets
sharing this older piece again today... mostly for me but probably for you too. ✨ . . . . . . (Image description: digital illustration of the phrase “you will be alright” written in golden orange & light teal. Behind the words is a bright sun with sun rays & below them are reddish flowers in a field.) . . #mightypigeonart#inspiration#illustration#handlettering#letteering#positivethinking#positivity#positivityquotes#illo#womenwhodraw#visiblewomen#sun#bright#quote#drawing#digital#digitalart#baltimore#baltimoreartist#mica
Today I am 40. And that makes me so damned happy. . (TW: eating disorders, body dysmorphia, mental illness, miscarriage, assault, parental loss) . I feel like my whole life, the only version of 40 I knew was bad: “over the hill”; halfway through your life; closer to death... And as a woman, the narrative was even more grim: officially invisible; entering oblivion; too old to try anything new; ugly & fat; frumpy; “just a mom”... I mean, obviously I can’t control how anyone else feels about aging, but to me, *especially* after losing my dad, I’m GRATEFUL to see 40. . ✨That I’m 40 today means my mental illness never convinced me I didn’t deserve to get to this point. ✨That I’m 40 today means the time & energy spent understanding & fighting my depression wasn’t wasted. ✨That I’m 40 today means that my Anxiety hasn’t won & despite the times it’s lied to me, ultimately I know my own truth. ✨ That I’m 40 today means that the anorexia that controlled me for years, when my self esteem was garbage & my self worth was negotiable, is long gone & left behind a body that is much bigger, but also so much healthier and happier. ✨ That I’m 40 today means I’ve lived through some of the worst things a person could live through... and I’m still here. And I’m still ONLY 40. . I’ve got 2 bright, beautiful, kind children & a partner who loves me (omg I have to share my presents from him in my stories soon!) I’ve got a body that made people & stayed strong after it lost some of them. I’ve got a mind that I know is just as strong & I will never apologize for being smart or capable. I love my curves and cushion. I love my unicorn hair. I love my legs which ran races my old brain said they couldn’t. I love my heart, which pumps blood and keeps me here another day. I love my hands & the skills I’ve cultivated in them. I love my talents & the career they’ve afforded me. I love my parents & the bits of them I get to carry with me in this body every day. I love my courage & my vulnerability— 2 things I never embraced before this year. I love my honesty and no nonsense, cut the crap & don’t lie to me approach to life (I will never apologize for that). /// cont’d in comments ⬇️
✨GIANT✨. . I made this piece in response to @beatrice.blue’s #childhoodweek2018 illustration project. Each piece is meant to evoke narratives from childhood— I really wanted to participate last year but couldn’t make the time... this year I planned ahead a bit so I could fit some of them in. I wanted to use the project to tap into some stories from my actual childhood but more so to tell stories that could be any childhood. The theme for today is #giant and this piece tells the story of little itty bitty me finding something of comfort in an otherwise sorta scary unknown place. That type of comfort sticks with me and finds it’s way into a lot of my work and in particular the idea of making dolls that could appeal to adult collectors as well— I mean, that’s how my dolls came to be to begin with. And it also makes me think of what it means to be a “gentle giant” or a “friendly monster”— and that makes me think of parenting; how tender and comforting we are for our kids despite our size differences and “stature”; the courage it takes to be a small human and look up to a larger human but also know you’re safe there. That comfort and safety can be found in unexpected places & people. . Thank you @beatrice.blue for giving us this outlet! . . . . . (Image description: digital illustration of a greenish yellow giant but non-threatening looking creature with a cute bearlike face, standing behind a little Caucasian girl with an orange dress. The feeling evoked is one of comfort and safety, despite the dark sky and large deep orange trees in the background.) . . . . . . #illustration#digitalart#childhoodweek#procreateart#kidlitart#childrensbookart#womenwhodraw#visiblewomen#artist#mightypigeonart#nightysky#kids#comfort#parenthood#parenting#stayoutoftheforest#digitalartist#procreateapp#monster#kidsart#illo#instaart#artistsoninstagram
A little throwback to this sweet sausagepup, in honor of all our long bois (who knew I had so many doxie-owned people following me? 🤣). . . . /// the next couple weeks are gonna be insaaaaane for me, because basically everything I’ve been working on or towards this year is finally going to be due, all at once. I’m working on your orders still & getting out at least a few commissions each day (phew!), plus two big shows & some personal obligations... you know, like my now annual mammogram (important! 🥞) and my 40th birthday, Sunday (lol the radiologist wants me to get my mammo ON my birthday... no thank you?)... but! There’s a bunch of super cute Instagram illustration challenges starting on the 1st and I made some pieces for a few of them, that I’ve been hoarding for months so that’ll be fun to start sharing soon! And! If you’re not yet a Patreon patron, tonight’s the night ☺️ I send an illustrated postcard to all my patrons each month so you can have a happy mailbox for as little as $3 a month, and know that you’re helping keep the lights on in my studio & fund my ongoing projects I wouldn’t ordinarily have start up funds for (like the second series of my Under Appreciated Animals alphabet coming next year!). There’s a link in my profile if you’d like to join the flock 🕊 . . Have a great night, friends! I’m going back to drawing 💛 (these pups don’t draw themselves...) . . . . . (Image description: ink drawing of a Black and Tan smooth coat dachshund with a floral wreath and crown; a golden yellow banner reads: CHARLIE. Next to the drawing, on the white desktop, are copic markers in shades of yellow and orange). . . . . . . #illustration#dachshund#doxie#doxiesofinstagram#ilovemydog#dogmom#pets#mpapetportraits#mpapetportrait#doggo#memorialart#petmemorial#commission#mightypigeonart
I wanted to thank you all for your support on my last post. One thing I that always takes me out is the power of support— the incredible buoying feeling of someone telling you you’re far less broken than you feel; that you’re stronger than you thought; that they only see good things when they look at you. I’m so trained to assume feedback is going to be bad; that people are going to be angry; that I’m letting everyone down. I don’t have any recollection of never *not* feeling this way. And it’s not like I grew up unsupported either. It’s just one of the ways my anxiety manifests itself. It’s rough. . I made this piece a while ago and it was meant to be a reminder for anyone who needed it— it’s ok. . whatever is pulling you down; whatever is feeling too heavy; whatever is dogging you— it’s ok. It’s going to be ok. . I promise. . 💛 . . And it *is* ok. Our pup is on the mend 🙌🏼 looks like he just had his first episode of IVDD (a fairly common back issue for dachshunds). We were lucky— his was the lowest key grade episode and manageable with meds & crate rest. Thanks to everyone who checked in on him (& me), especially @earscometrue & @clareyfrey (our pups are in a club now!) 🧡 And now that my nerves are less jangled, I can focus again. Over the past couple days I sent out 14 pet portraits (😳)... let’s just say I harnessed the energy and focus my insomnia affords me and used it for good finally 😂. So, I’m still moving through my orders but now I’m only a couple days behind instead of weeks and oh man does that feel better. . Maybe my birthday will feel sorta birthdayish this year after all? . Posting sneak peeks at some of the pieces I’ve done this week in my stories too if you wanna peep ‘em. . Thanks for having my (& my pups literal) back, friends. . . . . (Image description: digital illustration of the phrase “it’s ok. I promise” in orange on a lighter orange/golden background with a reddish orange flower next to it.) . . . . #illo#illustration#Drawing#mightypigeonart#digitalart#anxiety#mentalhealth#positivity#motivation#motto#itsok#positivethinking#depression#anxietyquotes#anxietyisaliar#anxietyrelief#happy#instaart#visiblewomen#womensupportingwomen
Who needs a smile today? 🙋🏼‍♀️ This beautiful pup made me smile ear to ear while I worked on this piece months back & since it’s now been gifted I don’t have to keep it a surprise anymore. . I’ve said it before but these commissions truly do make me so happy. It’s such an endless source of light to see how much love people have for their pets and getting to be a part of that has meant so much to me. 💛 I’m grateful. . (Did you sense a “but” coming?)... AND... on that note, some quick programming notes. I’d asked in my stories last week, if people would be interested in gift certificates they could use specifically to gift a pet portrait or family portrait. There seemed to be a decent enough response to make the effort of drafting one worthwhile. And then... 💩 (man I really thought there was a fan emoji. Oh well). My dog is really sick; my kid is sick; *im* sick— i need a time out. Last night the last of the pre-order listings for portraits for spring 2019 was purchased & I took the opportunity to turn the shop off entirely for the holidays. I’ve still got a stack of portraits to move through (& I will— I don’t want to rush your pieces but I will also make sure you have them in plenty of time for Christmas— if you have a concern please email me!) but I also need to not add another thing to my plate right now. . SO. 🌼If you had your heart set on a gift certificate, please EMAIL me & we can talk about options. . 🌸If you didn’t get to grab a pre-order spot, please EMAIL me (I don’t need any other info rn besides when you’d like it by; currently probably looking at May delivery) & I can add you to the queue & I’ll check in in the new year. . 🌺 if you want actual objects from me & you’re in Baltimore, please come find me at MICA’s Art Market next week (omg that’s so soon 😵) & the Charm City Craft Mafia’s Holiday Heap the following Saturday. . I’m hoping this helps reduce my stress levels, gives me time to care for my creatures needing care & also ensure I’m able to meet my own high expectations by meeting yours. . If you need *anything* else please 📧EMAIL me because I will 100% lose track of your DM 😑* . Thank you for your support & sticking with me ❤️
💛 A new yellow colorway of this older piece... look ma! a repost! 💛 . I’ve been feeling all kinds of ways recently— moving through the welcome but slightly ill timed growing pains of my business, coupled with my own self imposed perfectionism & absurdly high expectations of myself & stalled by a few back to back family emergencies & my own health set backs— and realizing that a major source of stress was not being able to fulfill my end of the social media agreement we have with one another... feeling badly about not being able to produce enough content to post here, since all my time is going into private commissions I can’t really share/share yet. . It’s a weird thing, social media. And the feeling of obligation or face “punishment” by the algorithm... knowing that the lack of exposure also effects my income. What strange pressure: POST OR ELSE. And then of course, anxiety steps in and tells me here’s another way I’m failing... ugh, thanks dude. . I shared this frustration in my stories a few days back and was so happily surprised (though I shouldn’t have been) to see so many of you suggesting I do reposts AND telling me not to feel bad. Whodda thunk?! . So thank you for sticking with me. . . . . (Image description: digital illustration of a girl with blue hair and a melon colored shirt, against a yellow background patterned with leaves and yellow flowers in the foreground.) . . . . . . #illustration#illo#digitalart#digitalillustration#procreateart#womenwhodraw#visiblewomen#kidlitart#childrensbookillustrations#yellow#floral#bluehairdontcare#bluehair#drawing#instaart#mightypigeonart
🌼SHOP UPDATE & SOME NEWS!🌼 . I just wrote this whole long thing and then deleted it by accident and that’s really par for the course today so rather than add another stress patty to the grill, I’m just gonna take that as a sign to be less long winded this time: . On Monday night I will be taking down the listing for Pre-Orders for portraits for 2019. The listings can be found via the link in my bio and I’d recommend just checking them out since there’s a lot of info I should never have tried to fit here 😂 If you NEED a piece to be delivered by April 30th, you’ll want to go grab one of those (& lock in the current commission rate because they’ll be a bit pricier next year). . BUT, starting Tuesday (hopefully— my dog is suddenly quite sick and even the vet is like 🤷🏼‍♂️) if all goes to plan, I will be launching GIFT CERTIFICATES good for pet & family portraits, which you can purchase for yourself or to give as a gift. These will have a set start & end date, which means they’re better for gift giving and to allow your recipient to work directly with me on getting their piece made, OR for you, if you want to “set it & forget it” (lock in the price, secure a spot in an ambiguous queue, set your own due date etc) and are ok not being able to begin the process until April. See my stories for more info! And you’ll get a cute downloadable certificate with all the details so you have a physical thing you can give your recipient for the holidays AND give yourself the gift of knowing you don’t have to take sneaky covert photos of their pet or screenshot their Facebook & trick them into telling you their favorite flower. 😂 . So, more info coming as soon as I can get it to you. Also there’s some Small Biz Saturday giveaways & deals happening in my shop— more info in the shop banner & in my stories. . Keep my dog son in your thoughts, please 😔💛 . . . . (Image description: digital illustration of an orange cat with white chest and white paws & brown stripes, sitting next to a big yellow flower, against a white background. She’s looking a little puzzled & over her head are small aqua retro stars.) . . . . . . #illustration#cat#kitty#kitten#drawing#digitaldrawing
Friends, this year I am so very thankful for you. I am thankful for everyone who has followed me on here for years and years; for the people who’ve collected my work since I first started selling it 2 decades ago. I’m thankful for my Patreon patrons who choose to make supporting my work an ongoing part of their monthly budget. I’m thankful for everyone who’s ever given one of my dolls (or prints, or pillows, or painting, or...) a happy new home. I’m thankful for @myfavoritemurder & @hardstark & @stevenraymorris & every single Murderino who heard my letter & came to find me; who filled my inbox with love & support, and gave me a to do list like I’ve never known before. I’m thankful for every kind soul who has joined me in confronting our mental illness & who has helped curate a safe & welcoming community here for *everyone*. I’m thankful for everyone who is giving one of my portraits this holiday season (I’m still working on them! I gotchu). I’m thankful for @schittscreek for reminding me there’s still so much pure joy to be found out there. I’m thankful for my supportive friends & my beautiful family. I’m thankful for boundaries & risks & challenges & reminders that I CAN do anything & I WILL do everything I want to do. I’m thankful for growth. I’m thankful for hope. . I’m thankful for each & every one of you. . What and who are you thankful for? How bout we fill those comments with gratitude? Tag a friend and let em know how much they mean to you! . . . . (Image description: whimsical digital illustration of the phrase “thank you” in shades of greens & blues, with different colored plants & flowers growing up from Thank. The space behind the words is reds and browns, like dirt with a bumpy top. The sky is golden yellow with white retro stars.) . . . . . . #thankful#gratitude#flowers#floral#happiness#typography#handlettered#digitalart#mightypigeonart#illo#visiblewomen#womenwhodraw#womenartists#justacard#illustrator#illustration_daily#illustration_best#instaart#procreateart#digitalartist