An alphabet of original characters - paintings, prints, cards
Throughout the years artist Liza Cole has added many original characters to the Liza J design portfolio. A character is usually ‘born’ after a brainstorm or customer requests. Originally, each character was hand painted from a quick doodle outlined in pencil onto canvas then the artwork was reproduced using RAW images and software on the computer. Lately, technology has advanced so the characters can now be created digitally and transferred straight to the computer for editing into print and card designs. The choice of the digital paintbrush used still looks and feels like a hand painted piece.
A - Acronym
Popular acronyms derived from the Graffiti style font in 2016.
B - Balloons
2022 inspired by daughters love of Rose Gold, other colours available.
B - Beach Hut
2016 inspired by a beach hut (project can be read in the blog).
B - Boat
In 2017 the boat was part of the nautical collection. Originally hand painted.
B - Bunny
Hand painted in 2017 for my daughter who loves her soft toy.
C - Cat
An adorable ginger tabby cat ‘Elvis’ has been drawn digitally using software.
C - Chicken
Part of the farm animal collection in 2007, the chicken is an original painting.
C - Cow
Part of the farm animal collection in 2007, the cow is an original painting.
C - Crocodile
The crocodile was a later additional to the jungle collection, painted in 2008.
C - Cupcake
The cupcake design was new for 2018 and another addition to the digital creations.
D - Dinosaur
A not so scary dinosaur, designed after a customer request - new for 2020.
D- Dinosaur Christmas
A not so scary dinosaur, redesigned for Christmas 2020
D - Deer
Part of the Woodland collection painted in 2010, the deer is a pretty apricot character.
D - Duck
This cheerful duck was originally hand painted in 2007, part of the Farm Original collection.
D - Dog ‘Buddy’
Meet Buddy, an adorable apricot cockapoo. Buddy has been drawn digitally using advanced software.
D - Dog ‘Honey’
Meet Honey, an adorable golden retriever. Honey has been drawn digitally using advanced software.
D - Dog ‘Nellie’
Meet Nellie, a gorgeous manchester terrier. Nellie has been drawn digitally using advanced software.
D - Dog ‘Rosie’
Meet Nellie, a gorgeous manchester terrier. Nellie has been drawn digitally using advanced software.
E - Elephant
Hand painted in 2007 as part of the jungle collection, a popular character for the nursery.
F - Fairy
The fairy design originated in 2009 as a bespoke hand painted wall art, a castle in the clouds.
F - Farm Animals
Farm original was created in 2007. Six characters, cow, chicken, duck, horse, pig and sheep.
F - Festive Tree
A cheerful Christmas tree, new for Christmas 2021, standard and personalised options available.
F - Flamingo
Created in 2021, a digitally drawn character full of glitter and sparkle!
F - Football
The football design originated in 2011, personalised with chosen football team colours.
F - Fox
The fox was an original painting created in 2010 for a woodland themed nursery.
G - Gemstones
NEW in 2021, individually illustrated gemstones, created digitally with added glitter.
G - Gingerbread Man
Oh Crumbs! The new joyful character for Christmas 2021, created digitally.
G - Giraffe
The first born character in 2007 and has influenced all the different characters from that day forward.
G - Graffiti
Although Graffiti is not a character it originated after a request for a teenagers bedroom in 2009.
I - Ice Cream
New in 2024, digitally created, a new design originally for a 14th birthday!
J - Jungle
Created 2007-2008, eight characters, crocodile, elephant, giraffe, lion, monkey, snake, tiger, zebra.
K - Koala
New in 2019, digitally created using advanced software and no paints.
L - Leopard
Just a little bit later in 2018, the leopard was painted to join the Jungle Pastel range.
L - Lion
With tones of yellow and orange the lion was painted as part of the Jungle collection in 2007.
L - Lighthouse
Part of the 2017 Nautical collection, the lighthouse is a popular greeting card.
M - Monkey
This cheeky character was created in 2007 as part of the Jungle original collection.
N - Nutcracker
An illustration of festive Christmas musical instruments, with a cheerful Nutcracker standing proudly at its attention. Snowflakes gently fall around the soldier, adding a touch of winter magic.
NEW for 2024!
N - Netball
The netball design is currently produced as a hand painted name canvas, a request in 2016.
O - Owl
The owl character was originally painted as part of the Woodland character in 2010.
P - Panda
I adore the panda! Original painting in 2017 as my daughter was in the ‘Pandas’ class at school.
P - Paint Your Own
The paint your own range first came about after hosting a six year olds birthday party in 2016.
P - Penguin
Hand painted in 2015. A popular greeting card design for Christmas, Valentine’s and Birthdays.
P - Pirate
In 2008 I was asked to create a pirate themed painting for a little boys nursery room.
P - Polar Bear
Hand painted originally as part of the arctic animal collection. Popular Christmas card design.
P - Pony
The dark chestnut pony was first painted in 2011 as a customer request. Reproduced digitally.
P - Poppy
Later part of a whole school project to remember 100 years of the Great War, read in the blog.
R - Rag Doll
An original hand painting in 2014, the rag doll became a fine art print and greeting card design.
R - Rainbow
New in 2020, originally designed for my daughter’s lockdown birthday.
R - Reindeer
An original painting created in 2017 and it became a very popular Christmas card design!
R - Roses
Designed in 2022 for the older adult (originally for a 90th Birthday request).
S - Santa
The jolly santa was digitally drawn using advanced software and introduced Christmas 2018.
S - Seagulll
An original seagull painted on our beach hut door mural in 2019 has been reproduced digitally.
S - Seal
The seal is an original painting in 2015, the character is part of the arctic animal collection.
S - Sheep
The sheep character was originally painted in 2007. With pink or blue spots.
S - Snake
The snake was designed to curve around the letters in the Jungle Name Canvas in 2007.
S - Sloth
New in 2019, a digitally created character produced as a greeting card for a sloth loving birthday boy.
S - Sloth Christmas
The original sloth design was adapted to show it hanging from a tree, with the pun RELAX! Also available in a Christmas design.
S - Snowman
The new snowman character for 2019! Available as a standard Christmas card or as a football design.
T - Tractor
Designed in 2017 for a Christening gift for a little boy to compliment his bedroom.
T - Train
Hand painted in 2011, the Choo Choo train was to compliment a boys new ‘big’ bedroom.
T - Tiger
Part of the 2007 jungle collection, the tiger has somewhat branched out on his own!
T - Tennis
First design in 2017 as an extension to the ball sport collection.
U - Unicorn
New for 2018, the first digitally created character using advanced software and no paints.
V - Vehicle
The vintage collection, new in 2019, digital drawings of vintage American vehicles.
W - Wedding
In 2013 I was asked to create some unique wedding invitations for a very good friend.
W - Whale
An original painting in 2017, this became part of the nautical range.
W - Woodland Bear
The bear character is very special, first produced when I was a teenager, see Materials section.
Z - Zebra
The zebra character was created in 2007 as part of the jungle design.