Spotlight Cards^TM is an independent design and production firm owned by Heller Rhys Studios LLC. We do not accept work from outside designers at this time.

The story of how this card line got going: John Heller began inventing his wild world of wacky characters in 1996 as line drawings, pastels, and acrylic paintings. His wife, Emilie Heller-Rhys used one of his images as their personal Christmas card first in 1997; just a line drawing copied onto red paper...and so it went for a few years.

In 2000, a computer-savvy friend scanned John's drawing onto the computer and helped Emilie work on it to transform it from a line drawing to full color...still, no thoughts yet of starting a card line! Then 2004, Emilie and John acquired some equipment that permitted the design and printing of their first full color card. That was a very rudimentary version of 102004 `Christmas Gothic' and it produced quite a response.

Friends inquired where they could buy the card. When they heard that it was the Heller's personal holiday card, they replied..."Well, it should be in the stores!" So, early in 2005, John and Emilie began creating the line that would become Spotlight Cards^TM.

As a rule, John comes up with the concept for the card. Then he begins to draw with pen on plain white paper. Sometimes he draws groups of characters, but mostly individual people will emerge from his pen, often to be combined later by Emilie on the computer. Many people are drawn before he is satisfied with the result.

Then he winds his way through their labyrinthine house to Emilie's office, with a stack of drawings, where they discuss -- much like casting directors -- who will make it to the card. Emilie scans the chosen drawings into Photoshop® and begins the process of merging characters together in a composition, adding costumes (she is especially fond of creating the shoes), color, background drawings --- and, of course, the spotlight!

Drop us a note or call us toll-free at 866-666-9193.