Where Animal Art Meets Coffee Chemistry

The Idea:

Coffee.Animals.Strings is a father–daughter art studio that blends whimsical animals, steaming mugs, and the science of coffee. We create original illustrations and educational prints that make your walls warmer and your brews nerdier—in the best way.

Our Story:

I grew up loving to draw, but I took the engineering career route—chemical, bio, and systems. Years later, drawing with my daughter rekindled that creative spark. Together we started sketching cozy woodland scenes and coffee-loving critters, and we couldn’t stop. Coffee.Animals.Stings began as our family ritual and became a studio dedicated to art, wonder, and the science behind a perfect cup.

McDonald Creative Ventures became the overall company which also involves lutherie (guitar and violin) as well as engineering and leadership coaching.

The Art:

From hedgehogs hugging mugs to foxes mid-pounce over a latte (or simply sleeping-in), each piece celebrates comfort, curiosity, and character. We work in mainly ink, but when the piece is colored we focus on warm palettes, soft lighting, and story-rich details—designed to feel like a deep sip on a chilly morning.

The Science / Engineering of Coffee:

Coffee is delicious—and delightfully technical. Our educational pieces (mainly blog) translate chemical engineering concepts—extraction kinetics, diffusion, Maillard reactions, roast curves—into clear, beautiful visuals. Think “wall-worthy infographics” you’ll actually talk about.

I like to think this is a great way to better understand the “why” and “how” behind all the miscellaneous information people give about making a better cup of coffee.