Custom Illustration for Small Businesses: A Community Coffee Collaboration

Mar 2
2 min read

I create hand-painted artwork for print, with a focus on pieces that are meant to be handled, shared, and part of daily life.

Most of my work lives in places where people are already gathered—around tables, in envelopes, at events, or passed from one person to another. I’m interested in what happens when artwork becomes part of routine: when it’s folded, wrapped, carried, or noticed in passing. When it adds meaning to everyday moments and invites a brief pause or moment of appreciation.

Wearing My Art on a Sleeve

In December, I explored this idea through a community collaboration with Lucky Finn Café in Scituate, Massachusetts, the cutest coffee shop in New England. A single watercolor illustration was adapted into coffee cup sleeves and used by the café during the holiday season.

Custom Illustration Made to Travel, Made to Help

The sleeves moved through hands, out the door, and into real moments -- a morning coffee on the way to work, a familiar drink brought home to someone else, a shared table and conversation. The artwork wasn’t the focus of those moments, but it was present for them. It added something extra. A beautiful layer of holiday warmth and cheer.

The project, titled Share the Luck, supported Scituate Community Christmas, helping raise awareness for a beloved local organization that provides support to families in the area. In this way, the artwork served a dual role: offering a visual pause within everyday routines while also reinforcing a shared sense of community.

Artwork in Shared Spaces

This type of collaboration reflects how I approach my work more broadly. I create custom illustration for small businesses, events, and brands with a particular focus on printed pieces people physically interact with—menus placed on tables, packaging passed across a counter, signage helpfully placed.

I think carefully about scale, texture, and context: how a piece will be used, where it will travel, and what kind of moment it’s meant to support. Often, the most effective work isn’t the largest or most elaborate, but the work that fits naturally into its setting and tells a simple story beautifully.

I’m especially drawn to collaborations where artwork serves a purpose beyond decoration—projects that live within a space, support a cause, or become part of a shared experience. Whether it’s a mailbox, a hospitality environment, or a community initiative, the goal is always the same: to create artwork that feels considered, relevant, and connected.

If you’re a business or brand interested in custom illustration that feels thoughtful, tactile, and integrated into real-world experiences, I’d be happy to explore what that could look like!