Introducing My New Thank You Cards at Papyrus

"Thanks, Dawg" note cards at Papyrus by illustrator Chris Olson.

As a mom to three dogs, I am delighted to introduce my new "Thanks, Dawg" note cards at Papyrus. You can find the boxed set of ten at Papyrus here. 

Designing this card for Papyrus came naturally to me. I am an illustrator and designer, but I am also passionate about my work as a dog adoption counselor for a dog rescue organization here in Colorado. Finding forever homes for dogs is so rewarding. Not only do I get plenty of puppy kisses, I have the privilege to give a voice to our canine companions who truly appreciate their human family with unconditional love. These shelter dogs teach me so many things about resilience and compassion. A dog who is homeless is so much more than a needy dog--he could be your new best friend. As the saying goes, I didn't rescue the shelter dog, the dog rescued me. 

My three dogs.

When I begin a dog illustration project with a client, I spend time getting to know more about the dog(s) featured in the project. If I am drawing a specific dog, then I try to learn more about the appearance of the dog as well as the dog's personality. Mixed breed or purebred, each pup is amazing in a unique way. Photos are always helpful, but talking to the dog's human pals is often the best way to capture the spirit of the dog.

Dachshund and French Bulldog illustration by Chris Olson

My dog illustrations are modern line drawings. When exploring the best ways to make the dog come alive on paper, my motto is: less is more. 

Sometimes capturing the spirit of a dog involves adding a lively background. Chihuahua art by Chris Olson.

To see more of my dog art and my canine pals, check out my Instagram feed at @chris_coco_olson. To help get the word out about shelter dogs, I also share #adoptdontshop photos of some amazing shelter pups on Instagram. 

Here are just a few of the shelter dogs that I featured on Instagram. All were adopted!