Meet the artists.

Get to know our growing collective of independent artists. A lot of them actually live with a chronic illness themselves. So they get it. A portion of every sale supports chronically ill artists in our collective.

  • Ariela Paulsen is a teacher, artist, and patient advocate who has lived with multiple chronic illnesses since childhood: Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome, Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome, and Mast Cell Activation Syndrome (among others). Growing up in rural Vermont gave her a sense of peace in solitude and a love of nature. Her art is inspired by her interactions with wild animals and her experience with illness.

    While most of her life was impacted by brain fog that made writing difficult, Ariela has recently turned to writing and storytelling as a way to process life as a spoonie, as well as to find community. You can find her stories at arielaaviva.wixsite.com/blog and blog.mighty-well.com/

    Artist Website: arielaaviva.wixsite.com/arts

    Etsy: etsy.com/shop/withloveandspoons


  • I'm the full-time sole proprietor of Dendron Design Company, based in Eastern Tennessee. I offer a myriad of design services including branding packages, photography, videography, websites and much more! My passion is to use design in a way that matters. Advertising can be used for much more than selling a product, like promoting an idea or a mission to better the world. By combining my talents and creativity with that objective, I'm able to use Dendron as a medium to promote education, conservation, and environmentalism efforts as well as many other organizations that simply need a strong voice. I'm an optimist at heart, that is always looking for real, data-driven, solutions to our world problems. One of the more social issues that need a voice is the public perception of invisible diseases, such as chronic pain. I've lived with AS, a type of arthritis, since I was a small child so getting to promote this voice is a very personal opportunity for me. Often people with diseases that are not obvious are discounted or treated differently for their struggles. Part of this voice is using art to illustrate the emotional and mental states of those suffering, so that the public may have a short glimpse into their day-to-day and begin to understand. It is not a cry for sympathy, but rather an expression of strength.

    Website: http://dendrondesignco.com/

  • Leah Strickman is a St. Louis based graphic designer, hand letterer, stationery designer, and avocado and puppy enthusiast. She works full-time at a brand communications agency called 2e Creative, and on the side she combines her background in graphic design with custom hand lettering and watercolor illustrations to create wedding stationery for her business, Letters By Leah. In her (minimal) free time, you can find her cooking, doing yoga, or debating the finer points of the most recent episode of The Bachelor with her friends (no shame!). You can check out her work on her website at https://www.lettersbyleah.com/, or over on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/letters_by_leah/

  • I am a freelance graphic designer and illustrator during the day and a Theatre Actor at night. I live in Houston Texas in the Montrose area which is a historic and lively neighborhood that leads to plenty of inspiration. My biggest passion is creating good memories and interactions in as many people as I can both in design and my acting.

    I love working in design because it’s something people don't typically think about but can hugely impact someone’s mood and day. I also am passionate about projects that can create social change which is why I wanted to work with ClubIll.

  • I have been illustrating from an early age typically on walls, often leading to trouble and love to find new ways to express an idea. Be it through art direction, illustration, or writing, I love to create engaging pieces that break through the cluttered landscape. It is humbling to be asked to contribute to a campaign to celebrate those who live with chronic illnesses every day. Most of my family on my dad's side including my father and I personally have struggled with chronic illnesses including arthritis, diabetes and Alzheimer’s. Having the opportunity to contribute my artwork to champions of chronic illness is an honor!

    Website: https://www.illutztrations.com/ Instagram: @illutztrations

  • Diana Aydin is a comedy writer and lifelong doodler based in New York. Her design is inspired by the many times she heard her neurological symptoms—from M.S. and the one time she had brain surgery—were all in her head. And, yes, they literally were. Good catch, people who said that!

    https://www.dianaaydin.com/

    IG/Twitter: @daydinwrites