#BringTheJoyCards - Josh Cleland - Portland, Oregon Illustrator and Designer

#BringTheJoyCards

Art for kids

During the early days of the COVID-19 outbreak my wife, Rayna, and I started an Instagram movement called #BringTheJoyCards where we illustrated birthday cards for kids (and kids at heart) celebrating birthdays while in quarantine. This project was so much fun that artists from all around the world joined in illustrating cards for people they don’t know.

Here are the cards I illustrated. Most of them were created in Procreate on my iPad in under 30 minutes.

You can see all of the cards by amazing artists here.

Other projects

jingle jolly joy card mockup 1-josh cleland

Christmas Snowman Greeting Card for Trader Joe’s

hiking-bear-josh-cleland

Hiking Bear

i-am-money-featured-image-1

I Am Money

trex flossing 1c

Flossing T-Rex

Rhino skating at Christmas

Christmas Skating Rhino

daddy-o-saurus-featured-1

We Love Daddy-O-Saurus custom book

Find me on Instagram

joshcleland

1,914 41,318

Children’s book illustrator / educator
Rep’d by @advocateart01
Email or Dm for inquiries. Josh@clelandillustration.com
#illustration #kidlitart

Jan 15

Quick heads up. Soon, by popular demand I’ll be re-opening enrollment for my course: “Character Design for Kid’s Books”. Join the waiting list now!

What you get:
* An understanding of character design principles for children’s books
* Step-by-step exercises, PDFs, and visual examples
* Support and feedback from me!
* Lifetime access to the course.

Sign up for the waiting list now to receive an EXCLUSIVE DISCOUNT and be the first to know when the course launches!

Link in my bio.

#kidlitart #kidlitartist #illustration #joshclelandart #joshcleland

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Jan 14

One of the really fun things about illustrating the Woofmore series is getting to draw the opening scenes in different seasons.

Book 3 of the Woofmore series: “The Woofmore on Thin Ice” is available for pre-order! This snowy installment releases in just over a month (Feb 18). Pre-order link is in my bio.

The Woofmore book series is written by @lorihaskinshouran and @dgephartwrites , and published by @abramskids / Amulet Books.

#kidlitart #kidlit #childrensbooks #kidsbooks #chapterbooksforkids #illustration #drawing #welcometowoofmore #woofmore #joshcleland #joshclelandart

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Jan 10

Drawing a parasaurolophus (spelling that Dino took longer than the actual drawing 🤣). Illustrated in @procreate

#illustration #kidlitart #kidlitartist #dinosaur #characterdesign #behindthescenes #process #joshcleland #joshclelandart

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Jan 8

I found these old sketches from a couple years ago while going through my @procreate library. Maybe I should do something with them? It’s funny how time gives you a different perspective on your work.

#illustration #sketch #kidlitart #kidlitartist #drawing #joshcleland #joshclelandart #monsters #artlicensing

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Jan 6

Book 3 of the Woofmore series: “The Woofmore on Thin Ice” is available for pre-order! This snowy installment releases in just over a month (Feb 18). Pre-order link is in my bio.

The Woofmore book series is written by @lorihaskinshouran and @dgephartwrites , and published by @abramskids / Amulet Books.

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Jan 2

Happy New Year!!! Kicking off 2025 here with a quick share of some recent @procreate doodles. This character isn’t for anything in particular—just for fun. What are you looking forward to the most this year?

#kidlitart #kidlitartist #drawing #sketch #dinosaur #characterdesign #joshclelandart #joshclelandart

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Dec 24

I haven’t had a lot of time recently to create new artwork (that I can share anyways) so I’m reposting this from last year. I hope you all have a fantastic Christmas and holiday season. 🌲❄️☃️ Thank you for all the love and support this past year. Looking forward to a fun 2025! Lots of great things planned 😀.

#kidlitart #kidlitartist #illustration #christmas #christmasdog #drawing #holidays #winter #joshclelandart #joshcleland

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Dec 17

Some Christmas birdie doodles in @procreate

#illustration #sketch #kidlitart #christmas #holidays #doodle #joshcleland #joshclelandart

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Dec 13

I posted the process reel for this the other day. I figured I’d post the actual artwork. Merry Christmas 🎁 🎄 😊

#illustration #greetingcarddesign #greetingcards #christmas #artlicensing #holidays #catplayingsaxophone #joshcleland #joshclelandart

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Dec 7

I don’t care what your mommy says, Christmas time is near. Drawing on my trusty @wacom Cintiq 27qhd.

#illustration #kidlitart #greetingcards #artlicensing #winter #christmas #saxophone #music #drawing #process #joshcleland #joshclelandart

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Dec 5

Doing some final edits on my course: Character Design for Children’s Books. This course will be releasing very soon, and I’m very excited!! You can still sign up to the waiting list. Link in my bio or on my Linktree. See you there. 😀

#illustration #drawing #kidlitart #kidlitartist #joshcleland #joshclelandart

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Nov 28

Terry the turkey says it’s ok to skip Thanksgiving and go directly to Christmas. He doesn’t mind. In fact, he encourages it. As for me, I say Happy Thanksgiving 🦃🍁

#illustration #kidlitart #happythanksgivng #turkeyart #holidays #christmas #characterdesign #joshcleland #joshclelandart

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Nov 20

A little Christmassy doodle.

#illustration #drawing #kidlitart #cat #saxophone #christmas #holidays #sketch #sketchbook #joshcleland #joshclelandart

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Nov 14

Some @procreate doodles. Just your average armadillo playing the banjo.

#illustration #kidlitart #kidlit #characterdesign #sketch #drawing #armadillo #banjo #joshcleland #joshclelandart

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Nov 11

Here’s a little preview of my latest collaboration with @wonderbly , “Our Family Saves Christmas!”   Christmas is cancelled...unless your family can save the day! A festive story full of laughs and rip-roaring family fun, this riotous read-aloud adventure will bring everyone together this Christmas.   I had a festive blast working on this latest personalized book. See @Wonderbly for info on how you can get your own personalized copy.

#illustration #kidlitart #kidlit #kidsbooks #childrensbooks #picturebooks #booksforkids #christmasbooks #reindeer #workspace #wacomworkspace #photoshop #joshcleland #joshclelandart

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Nov 1

Today @rayna_c and I get to celebrate 21 years of marriage!! I can honestly say that I wouldn’t be where I am career wise without her.

21 YEARS!!!

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Oct 31

In honor of Halloween I thought I’d repost this spooky bat pattern I created a few years ago. Happy Halloween 🎃!

#halloween #illustration #kidlitart #bats #characterdesign #patterndesign #drawing #halloweenart #artlicensing #joshcleland #joshclelandart

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Oct 29

Working on the cover for “The Woofmore is Not Haunted“. Written by @lorihaskinshouran and @dgephartwrites , and published by @abramskids / Amulet Books (and illustrated by me :) ). Available now. Order link in my bio.

Hardware
Tablet: @wacom Cintiq 27qhd,
Mac mini M1
Monitor: Benq 3220u

Software: Photoshop

#kidlitart #kidlit #behindthescenes #childrensbooks #kidsbooks #joshcleland #joshclelandart #woofmore

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Oct 23

Did you know that soon I will be launching my very first course: Character Design for Children’s Books. We will be covering the basics of how I approach designing characters that captivate and delight an audience. I don’t have an exact launch date yet, but if you’re interested I encourage you to sign up to the waiting list to get more info. The waitlist link can be found in my bio. I hope to see you there!

#illustration #kidlitart #childrensbooks #kidsbooks #booksforkids #process #procreate #ipadart

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Oct 18

Meet Hank. He’s the housekeeper at The Woofmore (which is NOT haunted by the way!!! Don’t believe the Yelp reviews. This is a completely normal hotel filled with non-haunted things).

Written by @lorihaskinshouran and @dgephartwrites , and published by @abramskids / Amulet Books (and illustrated by me :) ). Available now. Order link in my bio.

#kidlit #kidlitart #childrensbooks #kidsbooks #booksforkids #dogart #woofmore #joshcleland #joshclelandart

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Copyright 2025 © by Josh Cleland or respective clients. All rights reserved.