05/19/2026
After years in dry dock, This Paper Ship is setting sail once again! ⚓️
We built This Paper Ship in 2008 with hand-drawn illustration and lettering, warm fuzzies from holding real paper, and a blend of quirky details and whimsical colors. Then in 2018 the tide carried us somewhere unexpected, and we shifted directions into the world of children’s books as Joel and Ashley Illustration . We’ve grown and learned and worked on some really fulfilling projects, but lately, something has been calling us back home.
In a world rocketing toward automation and AI, we’ve found ourselves craving the imperfect, the personal, and the handmade more than ever: pencil marks, hand-painted textures, wobbly lines, coffee drips. The counterintuitive freedom you get from working within the limits of your medium and materials.
After a lot of praying and thinking, we’ve pulled This Paper Ship, patched her up and gave her a fresh coat of paint, weighed anchor, and set sail again.
We’re getting back to our roots with new illustrations, paper goods, and small pieces of art made slowly and intentionally. Created by our two hands, from our two hearts.
Thank you for being here after all this time. We can’t wait to share what’s ahead. 🌊✨
