my handdrawn heart by gumdots on Etsy

How I started and why:
I was on maternity leave after having my second baby, and I started drawing as a form of mindfulness to help with anxiety. I illustrated a few pieces for friends and family, and then began getting requests from them for artwork that they could give to their friends. After a while I decided to start the business and with word of mouth, and social media, it grew from there.

I love all animals and plants, especially native Australian species, as they are beautiful, unique and remind me of home. I do not want to see them disappear through extinction, and this passion has driven me through my career at Perth Zoo and also my business with gumdots. Education is an essential part of conservation, as people protect what they know and love, and through my drawings (and associated information that I provide), I want to spark a love of these species in any person that I can.

What is a gumdot?:
Well, at first I really had no idea what I wanted to call my business, but I didn’t want the absence of a perfect name to hold me back from starting, so I just dived in! All I knew is that I wanted to create a new word because being unique and authentic is so important to me.

I wanted the word to be inspired by both my artwork subjects and the style of my drawing. My deep love of eucalyptus is where ‘gum’ originated, and my frequent use of dots in my drawings accounts for the other half! Most of my drawings have a gum blossom somewhere, and I always ‘dot’ their pollen on. These are what I call ‘gumdots’.

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Great Southern Land Illustrated Map Australia A4 / A5 unique map illustration print; Australia souvenir drawing wall art koala eucalyptus

illustrated letter 'under the sea' print of unique fineliner illustration, personalised Australian nursery decor, orca fish Australia ocean

Australian bush kids activity echidna printable bundle colour in nature play diy craft, digital worksheet home school resource

A3 Choose your own map adventure! Australia Rottnest New Zealand England double illustrated map artwork bundle wall art print souvenir

All Items

I love you bigger than the whole sky A4 / A5 white ink print of original illustration; gumdots galaxy space planet sky solar system wall art

Choose your own 10 cards gumdots greeting card bundle; 10 unique cards, Australia birthday card thank you card all occasions colour in card

Australian Christmas Wrapping Paper -unique gift wrap illustration print; gumdots Australia Christmas flowers rustic colour in gift wrapping

Customised A3 Illustrated name artwork print; unique decor personalised gift handdrawn illustration Australiana

nice boobies greeting card; seabird pun funny card; animal card; gumdots flora and fauna series; bird drawing; handdrawn colour-in-able card

Jellyfish pun greeting card; I don't think you're ready for these jellies; gumdots ocean animal illustration funny card Beyonce song lyric

Too cool for school- trigger fish greeting card; print of unique handdrawn illustration, coral reef ocean drawing unique card colour in card

illustrated letter 'under the sea' print of unique fineliner illustration, personalised Australian nursery decor, orca fish Australia ocean

Trio of prints 'Out of Natives' A6 gumdots little art prints of unique illustration, Australian animals echidna bilby numbat Australia decor

Illustrated Map of New Zealand- A3 unique map illustration print; NZ souvenir drawing unique decor wall art kiwi penguin kakapo tuatara ~~~

A5/A4 Choose your own map adventure! Australia Rottnest New Zealand England double illustrated map artwork bundle wall art print souvenir

Choose your own 6 cards gumdots greeting card bundle; 6 unique cards, Australia birthday card thank you card all occasions colour in card

Love Letters - A3 Illustrated Letter drawing custom artwork print; personalised unique wedding gift paper engagement gift anniversary gift;

Illustrated Map of New Zealand- A4 and A5 unique map illustration print; NZ souvenir drawing unique decor wall art kiwi penguin kakapo

Great Southern Land Illustrated Map Australia A4 / A5 unique map illustration print; Australia souvenir drawing wall art koala eucalyptus

Quokka bouquet - 'I'm a flower' A4 size quokka illustration print gumdots Australiana wildflower bouquet

Choose your own 16 cards gumdots greeting card bundle; 16 unique cards, Australia birthday card thank you card all occasions colour in card

My Handdrawn Heart; gumdots A4 / A5 print of original artwork; Australia illustration boho decor unique gift heart numbat shark drawing

Ocean 21st birthday card; colour in card- gumdots under the sea series; orca, whaleshark, sea turtle, manta ray, coral reef, marine life

Ocean 18th birthday card; colour in card gumdots under the sea series; orca, whaleshark, sea turtle, manta ray, reef, marine fish, sea life

Plant These to Save Australian Bees- illustration print, Australiana native bees Australia flora native wildflower flowers blue banded bee

Home Among the Gumtrees A4 /A5 print of original artwork; unique Australia wall art, gumdots eucalyptus flowers leaf flower wreath drawing

Echidna Out of Natives A3 print of unique fineliner illustration, gumdots little art Australian animal wall art (Australia leaf flowers)

Australia Bush Christmas Gift Tags 5 pack; print of unique illustration Australia Bush card colour in swing tag (turtle parrot flower shark)

Australian Bush Wrapping Paper - unique illustration gift wrap; recycled paper gumdots Australia woodland flowers recyclable colour in wrap

Thankyou for helping us grow- Teacher colour in thank you card; Unique teacher card; 21 pot plants colouring in carer greeting card

Choose 20 unique illustration cards- Australian Christmas pun colour in cards; Australia Christmas card, funny card, greeting card,

Illustrated Map of England A4 / A5 unique map illustration print; English souvenir drawing wall art; fox hedgehog owl rabbit birds flowers

Bilby Out of Natives A4 / A5 print of unique fineliner illustration, gumdots Australian animal wall art (Easter Bilby artwork, easter gift)

Perth Cityscape A5 / A4 white ink print; gumdots fineliner illustration city skyline Perth souvenir Perth Australia urban art Australiana

Whaleshark- Australian Christmas Gift Tag, Australia Bush card, colour in shark swing tag

Grevillea - Australian Christmas Gift Tag, Australia Bush card, colour in flower swing tag

Great Southern Land Illustrated Map Australia A3 unique map illustration print; (Australia souvenir drawing wall art koala eucalyptus)

Western Swamp Tortoise - Australian Christmas Gift Tag, Australia Bush card, colour in turtle swing tag

Twin baby greeting card, Congratulations on your pair of devils, gumdots illustration print Tasmanian Devil; Australia twin Tasmania animal

little whaleshark and diver; gumdots little art A6 print of original artwork ocean, diver whale shark Ningaloo Reef souvenir

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