Internationally recognized for her vibrant imagination and signature style, Joyce Cleveland built a decades-long career designing puzzles, fabrics, and 3D products for major U.S. companies with global reach. After graduating from Syracuse University's esteemed design program, Joyce was handpicked by Hallmark Cards in Kansas City as one of just 30 artists selected nationwide. It was there she honed her eye for storytelling through design, laying the groundwork for a future defined by innovation and whimsy.

A few years later, she launched her own studio, and her artwork quickly gained commercial success. For 11 consecutive years, Joyce showcased her collections at the SURTEX show at New York's Javits Center, a premier international marketplace for original art and design. Buyers from around the globe sought out her playful yet elegant work.

Her client list reads like a who's who of lifestyle brands: FX Schmid Puzzles, Enesco, LL Bean, Avon Products, Colonial Candle of Cape Cod, Amscan Party Goods, VIP Fabrics (a 20-year collaboration), DanDee Imports, House of Hatten Baby Products, Bibb, Triboro Quilt, and Possible Dreams Collectible Dolls, among others. Her creative process took her across the world, traveling frequently to overseas factories to bring her imaginative products to life.

Eventually, Joyce traded deadlines for dawnlight. She relocated to the Adirondack Mountains, embracing a quieter rhythm and dedicating herself to painting full-time. Surrounded by wilderness, she discovered a new muse: the rich, expressive world of bear cubs, portrayed with humor, tenderness, and narrative charm. As she painted them tumbling through a forest or mischievously unpacking a birch bark canoe, her cubs became a joyful cast of characters—each scene infused with warmth and wonder.

Today, Joyce Cleveland continues to blend fine art with storytelling, painting the untamed beauty of nature with the heart of a seasoned illustrator and the soul of a lifelong creator.