Illustration

The Pony Island is an educational brand I created to inspire the next generation of horse lovers through original artwork, storytelling, and interactive learning. At the heart of the brand are six illustrated pony characters, each with a unique personality, breed, and backstory that guide children through courses, games, and printable activities.

From expressive character design to educational diagrams and playful spot illustrations, I created a cohesive visual language that brings the world of The Pony Island to life. Every illustration is designed to make learning about horses approachable, engaging, and memorable while maintaining an authentic connection to the equestrian community.

The project showcases a wide range of illustration styles, including character design, vector illustration, educational graphics, icons, infographics, and marketing artwork. Together, these illustrations create a recognizable brand that encourages curiosity, confidence, and a lifelong love of horses.

Created for author and dressage educator Sally O’Dwyer, Expect the Wrench is an editorial illustration inspired by the idea that setbacks are an inevitable part of every rider’s journey. Rather than fearing unexpected challenges, the piece encourages equestrians to anticipate them, adapt, and keep moving forward.

The illustration depicts a horse calmly navigating a storm of falling wrenches as a visual metaphor for the interruptions, frustrations, and surprises that every horse and rider encounter. Using a limited grayscale palette and a clean, graphic style, the artwork balances a serious message with a touch of humor, creating an image that is both memorable and relatable to equestrians.

The illustration accompanied Sally’s article “Expect the Wrench” on YourDressage.org.

Illustration for a dressage trainer’s article about the effective use of the rider’s hands.

Winner of the 2023 PNHS Poster and Program Cover Art Contest.

DiFelice’s piece “Behind the Scenes at PNHS” met the judging criteria of creativity, originality, quality of design and unique representation of The Pennsylvania National Horse Show, earning DiFelice the contest’s $1,000 grand prize.