BttDBArt

Hello! Thank you for coming to check out our shop's story!

One thing I am frequently asked is "What is a 'Shawna app'? Can I get it on my phone and create art, too?"

I hate to disappoint you, but no, you cannot get it for your phone because I want to keep all the awesomeness to myself!

But in all seriousness, I am Shawna Apps, and yes, that is my real name.

I am the artist and owner of Back to the Drawing Board and the illustrator of The Adventures of Boathouse Mouse book series. I typically create pieces based on nature, including (but not limited to!) landscapes, the sky, and animals. I am currently obsessed with clouds and have been known to have my husband pull the car over on many occasions so I can photograph the sky so I can paint it later!

Creating art is my passion, and I hope to inspire wonder and joy in everyone who encounters my work.


Another thing I am asked is how I chose my business name. Well, it’s a bit of a funny story. We had a huge list of potential names, and none of them were feeling right to me. In a fit of frustration, I said to my husband that I had to go back to the drawing board and start all over again.

He looked at me quizzically, and said: “Why don’t you use that as your name?”

And so Back to the Drawing Board was born….and it is the absolute perfect name for my business. I am always going back, attempting to make my products better both in aesthetics and quality, trying to keep costs down for my customers while having fast turnaround time, reworking every aspect of what I do until it is the best it can be. Adding in the fun play on words is just the icing on the cake!


Do you do all the art yourself?

Yes I do. Every single piece available is created solely by me, but I do have an amazing team of people who help me behind the scenes:

My Tech Guy Extraordinaire is my amazing husband, Peter. He’s always fixing any issue I have as well as teaching me how to use my programs again and again. I wouldn’t have a single print or any of the Boathouse books finished if it wasn’t for his expertise!

My Design Consultant is my daughter, Paige. She is our oldest, and loves to help me figure out color combinations for jewelry, layouts for my booths at festivals, and any other design issues that may arise. She has an amazing eye for detail and is an asset to my team!

The Muscle Guys are my boys, Nathan and Ryan. They’re always ready and willing to help me cart supplies around or pack up from festivals. They have saved my back on countless occasions!

Thank you so much for visiting my shop. I put my heart and soul into every single piece I create, and every sale, favorite, or even visit makes my day! <3