Sometimes a client needs a unique solution, or a great gift, or a moving billboard and I have to figure out how to get it made, how to set it up, how to solve this new problem. A lot of times, these pieces stand alone, and sometimes they're just fun. These are a handful of examples of the weird and entertaining ways my artwork has come to life in the world:

• I created the original Goldy Ears for the University of Minnesota! They won multiple awards, and I shared the specs and planning process with University designers around the country after they were a hit in our first run of 20,000 for the 2012 Minnesota State Fair. The University printed several hundred thousand of them in the following 5 years, and they still pop up at student events in 2026.

• Find out more about the Joyful Optimism umbrella and ice sculpture from Visitation School's 2014 Mardi Gras Merrie Market on that portfolio page.

• The Robettes are Minnesota's only competitive all-girls high school robotics team, from Visitation School, and they were getting a new trailer to go to events. I started with a low-resolution logo illustration and created a new vector illustration of their robot. Then I put her into the trailer and let her have fun.

• After 20 years at the University of Minnesota, sometimes the only thing left to create as a giveaway is a knitted Goldy scarf.

• The school store at Visitation got an overhaul and they needed some wall signage to set the scene.