

I like to incorporate some of my biggest personal and artistic inspirations into my work: puppet shows, nostalgic media, queer indie comics, and the magical girl genre, all of which have influenced me greatly. In combination with these, I utilize bright, playful colors, round shapes, retro imagery, and spontaneous textures to inspire childlike whimsy in all ages. Despite its seemingly frivolous aesthetic, I use my work to examine topics that are typically taboo like loss, illness, and conflict. I like to let my art develop itself throughout the process rather than following a strict pattern – combining planning with experimentation.
Operation: Art!






I have three goals for my work:
educate
The world is so wide! There’s a lot to learn about history, our environment, and the people around us. Education is the best way to expand people’s worldviews.
inspire
Joy and optimism lead to action, self-expression, and hope for a better future.
connect
When we use art to understand other people better, we can encourage unity and make the world a more welcoming place for everyone, regardless of who they are.






Operation:Art!
I have three goals for my work:


educate
inspire
connect
Joy and optimism lead to action, self-expression, and hope for a better future.
When we use art to understand other people better, we can encourage unity and make the world a more welcoming place for everyone, regardless of who they are.
The world is so wide! There’s a lot to learn about history, our environment, and the people around us. Education is the best way to expand people’s worldviews.
I like to incorporate some of my biggest personal and artistic inspirations into my work: puppet shows, nostalgic media, queer indie comics, and the magical girl genre, all of which have influenced me greatly. In combination with these, I utilize bright, playful colors, round shapes, retro imagery, and spontaneous textures to inspire childlike whimsy in all ages. Despite its seemingly frivolous aesthetic, I use my work to examine topics that are typically taboo like loss, illness, and conflict. I like to let my art develop itself throughout the process rather than following a strict pattern – combining planning with experimentation.
More about Me
My legal name is Caitlyn Ellis, but I prefer to use my pen name (CJ Fonnesbeck) where possible for professional projects. I'm originally from Texas, but now live in Kansas. Aside from my illustration and puppetry work, I enjoy writing, singing, and overanalyzing children's TV.

