Born and raised in the great Northwest

Welcome to my world!

A Western heritage

My great grandparents on my father’s side made their way west across the Oregon Trail. It didn’t end well for my great-grandfather … he was killed by a renegade band of Native Americans while he was homesteading in Idaho. My maternal great-grandfather was friends with Buffalo Bill. I’m truly a child of the Wild West.

Early on

My early love of gardening, skill at drawing, and eye for design led me to my degree in Landscape Architecture.

Working at my father’s printing plant taught me a love of type and letterforms (lots of typesetting!) and kindled a passion for the importance of the printed word, and the significance of the design behind it. I combined those passions into my career and work in print communication and illustration.

Going it alone

I started my freelance business in Portland in 1987 after years of working as a graphic designer for a variety of public agencies and private businesses, here in Portland and in California. The world of graphic design has changed a lot since then, but my love of it hasn’t.

Starting a new project with a blank slate and bringing a concept to life . . . this I love.

More tidbits

  • No day is complete for me without cheese and crackers.

  • I’m fluent in Carney (ask me!) Heezere eezis eeza heezzint

  • I love rocks and pine cones and stargazing and sprinklers (I have a collection of sprinklers) and reindeer (I also have a collection of reindeer that I bring out at winter and I’ve drawn many of them~also available in a variety of tschotkes on my Society6 site.).

I collect reindeer

On weekends

My husband and I hike the beautiful Pacific Northwest. Click here to see my scenic (and other types of stuff) illustrations.

What I’m most proud of

By far my best creation is my two kids. Both are independent, free spirited, creative individuals following their own paths in life. Lucky me.

Looking for California Bighorn Sheep at Cottonwood Canyon State Park, near Wasco, Oregon

Original Art of Cottonwood State Park for sale Society6

My digital illustration of the same spot. You can order it here and find other cool stuff at the green button.

 You’ll like working with me because . . .

I’ll take care of your project. I’m a gardener, I know how to tend to things (I love succulents and have tons of aloe and jade plants starts; let me know if you want one!).

I’ll take care of your project. I’m a gardener, I know how to tend to things (I love succulents and have tons of aloe and jade plants starts; let me know if you want one!).

I have 30+ years of experience, so you’ll only get senior level design expertise. No junior staff to hand it off to.

I have 30+ years of experience, so you’ll only get senior level design expertise. No junior staff to hand it off to.

I love what I do and it shows in the care and attention I shower on each new job.

I love what I do and it shows in the care and attention I shower on each new job.

You can depend on me. I’ve never failed to deliver a project on time.

You can depend on me. I’ve never failed to deliver a project on time.

I’ve been running my business for over 30 years. I understand the business of business … not just design.

I’ve been running my business for over 30 years. I understand the business of business … not just design.

I’m easy to work with, responsive, trustworthy, kind, eager to please, and loyal . . . kind of like a dog.

I’m easy to work with, responsive, trustworthy, kind, eager to please, and loyal . . . kind of like a dog.

 

“The Northwest Gas Association has worked with Christine for well over 17 years. She helps us produce our signature study every year and designed our service area maps, fact sheets, and images. She communicates our ideas through her designs, has respectable turnaround times, and always has a positive can-do attitude. We don’t know what we would do with her!”

– Dan Kirschner, Executive Director, NWGA

You can follow me on Instagram to see all the beautiful places we hike.

Sunny day! After so much snow and ice the trails on the Oregon side of the gorge were still snowy but Catherine Creek on the Washington side with its south facing slopes was almost snow free. One tiny flower, harebell? Views are amazing from the trai
Pretty snowdrops, a welcome sign that winter is letting go of its icy grip. Let’s hope it’s over! Swipe through to see some of the cool stuff you can get with my snowdrop illustration … coffee mug, iPad folio, note card…. Fi
Ice day in Portland. Thank you @sophpolitzer for the crampons, I would not have attempted our front steps without them! #icy #icywalk #frozenleaves #crampons #portland #icysteps #icicles #winterice #silverthaw
First hike of 2024. The Labyrinth is part of the Coyote Wall loop trail system just east of Bingen. It’s a maze of trails winding through basalt rocks with canyons and waterfalls … very cool hike! Rainy and gray but the Columbia Gorge is
It will never be here again! #123123 #lastdayof2023
Puzzles are always great gifts, especially if they’re a very beautiful Oregon or Washington scenic spot. And even more especially so if they’re an original illustration by moi. But you need to order by Dec 11 to get one by Dec 24. Lots of
Another spectacular fall day in the Columbia River Gorge, ending with Catherine Creek, the pretty sunset with Mt Hood. Starvation Ridge Trail winds uphill for views up and down the gorge. The pink writing “Happy to be here now” is on the
Frosty morning walk! Soooo cold but loving the sun streaming through the beautiful Doug firs in Grant Park. #nep #northeastportland #myneighborhood #frostymorning #grantpark #portland
CALENDARS are here! Here’s a sneak peek at some of the beautiful Oregon and Washington scenes you’ll get in my 2024 Calendar, including mountain lakes, the high desert, a very cool waterfall, Pacific Ocean shores, and wilderness hikes.
My Little Free Library is open for business! Hand-built by my very nice husband, it’s really cute and matches our front door. Take a book, bring a book. There’s an always-changing selection. When it’s warmer I’ll put out som
More waterfalls on a spectacular fall day in the beautiful Columbia Gorge. Horsetail Falls is right alongside the Scenic Highway and Ponytail Falls is half a mile up, where the trail goes behind the falls! It continues over to Oneonta Gorge, the site
Amazing Columbia River Gorge waterfall (there are so many!) Yes it actually comes out of that hole! At Starvation Creek State Park, just off the freeway near Cascade Locks. This illustration is on my 2024 calendar. Once it’s all ready for deli
Another waterfall hike. Lower Latourelle and also the upper falls, a mere .8 mile up the trail. Check out the guy without a shirt. Free shower! Must’ve been a bit chilly. We stopped in at Crown Point on the way home, the craftsmanship is incred
Pretty fall waterfall hike. Actually we drove over to Bend (leaving home at o’dark thirty) to see the eclipse. Too many clouds for a great view of it but we got a nice waterfall hike in. Lots of falls along this trail. And gorgeous yellow quaki
Calendar time! With all new illustrations … mountains, lakes, the Oregon coast, a waterfall in the Columbia Gorge … so many amazing Pacific Northwest scenes. Anybody want to pre-order? No $$ yet, just message me back here if you’
Here’s another new illustration for my 2024 calendar. The iconic view of Mt Hood reflected in Trillium Lake. You can have this print if you order my calendar, it’s not ready quite yet… working on it! #trilliumlake #mthood #oregon #
Perfect weekend to catch the almost-unbelievably beautiful fall colors in the high meadows and mountain lakes. And a sneak view of Mt. Rainier. #fallcolors #huckleberry #mountainmeadows #mountainspirea #pnw #beautifulwashington #cascades #mountraini
Such a gorgeous fall day up in the Cascades, great closeup of Mt Hood as well as nine other mountain peaks were visible from Lookout Mountain, you can see Mt Jefferson and the Three Sisters in the second pic. Lotsa cool rock outcrops and fellow hiker
Well here’s a little teaser. A new illustration that will be included in my 2024 calendar of beautiful Oregon and Washington (there might be one of Mt Lassen in California, but it’s Northern Cali, so . . .). This one is the sun setting be

 

“Christine is responsive and innovative and creates beautiful work that enhances our organization’s image. She designed the initial logo for the PBDG and we also used her services to lay out our monthly newsletter. Always efficient, always timely. I highly recommend her!”

– Faye Burch, FM Burch and Associates and Professional Business Development Group (PBDG)