Custom Illustration

Person (Molly Chidsey) with pink hair painting with watercolors at a desk, surrounded by art supplies and jars, next to a desk lamp in a cozy room.
An illustration of a swirling green vine with leaves by Molly Chidsey.

Welcome to my studio.

I am an illustrator based in Portland, Oregon. I specialize in ink drawing, watercolor, lettering, and sometimes a combination of all three. I also draw digitally, and often combine hand-painted elements with digitally-drawn lines to create a unique handmade piece.

  • Need to capture attention with a fun infographic? Love it.

  • Got a bare wall that’s just asking to be a mural? Yes!

  • Need something super special to mail to your clients? Done.

My specialty is listening to your vision, and translating that into a unique, hand-drawn or hand-painted art that is all yours.

My clients are small business owners, change agents, authors, gift-givers, and dreamers of all kinds.

Not sure what you need? Let’s brainstorm together to come up with a design solution that works for YOU.

Let's brainstorm

Portfolio of client illustration projects

Lane County Waste Wise cover illustration detail

Lane County Waste Wise cover illustration detail

Lane County Waste Wise cover illustration detail

Lane County Waste Wise cover illustration detail

Lane County Waste Wise cover illustration detail

Lane County Waste Wise cover illustration detail

Temporary tattoo design, Peri & Sons tearless onion campaign

Temporary tattoo design, Peri & Sons tearless onion campaign

Temporary tattoo design, Peri & Sons tearless onion campaign

Temporary tattoo design, Peri & Sons tearless onion campaign

Temporary tattoo design, Peri & Sons tearless onion campaign

Temporary tattoo design, Peri & Sons tearless onion campaign

Infographic detail

Infographic detail

Infographic detail

Infographic detail

Infographic detail

Infographic detail

Illustration for client ad campaign

Illustration for client ad campaign

Illustration for client ad campaign

Illustration for client ad campaign

Illustration for client ad campaign

Illustration for client ad campaign

Podcast cover art, "It Might Get Dark"

Podcast cover art, "It Might Get Dark"

Custom illustration of salon for owner

Custom illustration of salon for owner

Custom illustration featuring client's own sketch

Custom illustration featuring client's own sketch

Hollywood Theater Facade

Hollywood Theater Facade

Restoration of century home photo in ink and watercolor

Restoration of century home photo in ink and watercolor

Kenton Veterinary Hospital

Kenton Veterinary Hospital

Custom notecard design

Custom notecard design

Custom notecard design

Custom notecard design

Custom watercolor design for client reception place cards

Custom watercolor design for client reception place cards

Making sustainability fun with infographics

A comic-style infographic explaining electronic waste recycling. It shows a sequence of steps: start with a lamp needing repair or disposal, then images of doing homework, taking selfies, finding keys, and growing plants. It warns about lamp breakage and suggests either trashing the lamp or repairing it, with a call to fix or recycle electronic waste at FixItLaneCounty.org.
Illustration of a pathway with signs labeled 'Reuse,' 'Repair,' 'Swap,' and 'Start Here,' showing people engaging in activities like repairing and swapping clothes, riding bikes, and refurbishing bicycles, with a house containing stored outdoor gear in the background.

Custom illustrations for Lane County, Oregon’s waste reduction and recycling programs.

Specialty Illustration Services

  • A craftsman house home portrait illustrated in ink and watercolor. A gray house surrounded by trees.

    Home portraits

    Custom ink-and-watercolor illustrations of homes and architecture are a specialty. Available in original painting or digitizied formats.

    Learn more
  • A gray dog with brown eyes as a watercolor illustration pet portrait.

    Pet portraits

    When you order a custom pet portrait from me, I create it by hand, with ink and watercolor paint, an original artwork that captures your pet’s unique spirit.

    Learn more
  • A family tree illustrated in green watercolor and calligraphy.

    Custom illustration

    Do you want to give a gift that only your beloved would understand? From family trees to mural designs, I love to draw your story. Commercial and private clients welcome.

    Request a quote
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Green decorative swirl border illustration on black background, copyright design by Molly Chidsey.

Request a quote

Green swirling and looping vine line art on a black background, copyright design by Molly Chidsey.
Contact me

What my satisfied clients say

  • Cook cover design

    “Molly does a creative and professional job of making your project come to life in a way that will exceed your expectations! Detailed and artistic, Molly really cares about what she creates for you - you will feel this in her interactions with you.” - Debi

  • Special gift

    “Molly's work not only caught the memory and moment for my project, which I simply adore, and she was able to communicate a feeling, through her art, to the recipient of my gifts. She has a very special talent.” - Allen

  • Special keepsake

    “I wanted to gift something special to a friend who is moving into her new home. Molly worked with me to create a whimsical one-of-a kind piece that will undoubtably be displayed as a keepsake in my friend’s home for years to come.” — Neha

  • Custom home portrait

    “Molly did a wonderful job of capturing the beauty of the home, and the sentiment of grateful happiness that I wished to convey! The gift was so appreciated by the recipient, who absolutely loves it!” - Rob

  • Custom illustration

    “The generosity of Molly’s spirit and her deep love of nature and magic shine through in her beautiful work. Her images and lettering combine a delicacy and whimsy with strength, attention to detail and vibrancy that is impressive and lovely - just like the artist herself.” - Hila

  • Custom family tree

    “Molly brings her sense of whimsy and magical thinking to everything she does, and her hand-lettering is no exception. Woven within the beauty of each carefully crafted stroke is a lightness that holds your gaze as they gather together and dance across the page…and you find yourself smiling along with them, no matter what the message.” – Diane

  • Custom art for home office

    “I wanted some art to hang at my desk to remind me to pause and reflect on what matters most. Molly took this idea and created a beautiful hand-lettered piece of a line of poetry that encourages me to live a life true to myself. I cherish it and look at it several times a day!” - Jenna