Joyce Cleveland grew up on a 9-acre estate in Orchard Park, New York, surrounded by a diverse array of animals, both wild and domestic. Her passion for art began at the age of 7, when she started drawing horses and wildflowers. She later pursued her artistic aspirations at Syracuse University, earning a Bachelor of Fine Arts in illustration and silversmithing. After graduation, she was selected as one of only 30 illustrators nationwide to join Hallmark Cards, where she worked as an illustrator and 3D production designer.