Why hello! May I interest you in a piece of carrot cake? Perhaps you’d prefer a little fry-up from the Egg Man, or are craving a Mr. Softee ice cream cone? 🙂

If you’re a fan of anthropomorphic animals and retro food icons served up with whimsy and nostalgia, award winning artist, illustrator and textile designer Lisa Zador has you covered.

Originally from Philadelphia but currently based in Greenwich Village, Lisa creates “unusual artwork for the discerning eccentric.”

Her apartment serves as an artist studio, and is filled with vintage kitchenware and toys, often used as inspiration for her work. She inherited much of her furniture from her parents and through the years has scoured thrift shops and eBay for accessories that remind her of her childhood home.

About her animal portraits, which are painted in oil on wood panel or canvas, Lisa says:

I have been enchanted by whimsical animal characters for as long as I can remember. Inspired by fairy tales, cartoons, and Disney films from my childhood, I delve into the soul of each animal to create an imaginary personality. I love researching clothing from different eras to place them not only in an alternate world but also a historic time period to imbue the portraits with the sense of nostalgia that I feel when painting them. 

Her gentlemanly portraits are quite dapper, aren’t they? And they do have a soulful, almost moody appearance about them, making you wonder what the subjects are really thinking. These portraits are inspired by Lisa’s lifelong love of animals and the classic portraiture of the Renaissance. She also has a penchant for 1950s science fiction.

Since she’s an ardent dog lover, it’s no surprise that her own dogs frequently appear in her paintings. She also enjoys doing commissioned portraits: working from photographs provided by clients, she portrays their pets as they imagine them to be (no request too unusual).

Her other portraits — Egg Man, Mr. Peanut, Man in the Moon, Clown, Mr. Softee — reflect her love of the odd and quirky, most notably in the vein of the Victorian Gothic. Gotta say, I’ve always had a thing for Mr. Peanut. 😀

Lisa’s artwork has been published by many companies, including Graphique de France, Sterwart Tabori & Chang, and Artville/Getty.

Back in 2002, she collaborated with writer James Waller on two books published by Harry N. Abrams: The Well-Bred Dog: Lisa Zador’s Cabinet of Curious Canines and The Well-Bred Cat: Lisa Zador’s Folio of Fabulous Felines.

In the past 20 years, Lisa’s textile designs have been used for apparel, tabletop, and bedding for clients including Nick & Nora, Town & Country Living, Echo scarves, the Gap, Limited Express, and Springs.

See more of Lisa’s work at her Official Website and two Etsy Shops, Curious Portraits (prints, cards, brooches, pendants, ornaments), and CuriousPrintPattern (prints and cards from handpainted gouache pieces, cross-stitch patterns, needlepoint designs and ornaments). Stay updated via her Facebook Page and Instagram.

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