Year 3 Begins!

January marks the beginning of our third year making wooden jigsaw puzzles at Hello World Puzzles.  I'm very excited to begin another year of great puzzle-making with new content and updates to some of our existing favorites.

In 2025 we added our Artist Series, in which we featured interesting artwork from artists based in North Carolina and Virginia. Our first artist in the series is Susan Maley Rash.  Susan is a wonderful artist and proud alumna of Salem College.  Susan's art features vibrant colors and lively brushwork that make for great puzzles.  Her love for her alma mater comes through in the reverence she shows for her Salem College works.

From artist Janice Wiess, I chose works centered around beloved landmarks like Wait Chapel at Wake Forest University and the Old Well in UNC Chapel Hill.  What I loved about those pieces, and what made them great puzzles, is the depth of the artwork.  Janice uses paper as her artistic medium.  Her torn paper approach incorporates hundreds of distinct images into one seamless whole, sort of like making a puzzle.  This gives us a sort of puzzle-within-a-puzzle effect which I find fascinating.

Artist Justin Leitner brought us artwork featuring landmarks and Appalachian State University and NC State University.  His method involves a more traditional painting method, but with incredible detail and depth.  You can see the layering of brushstrokes in each puzzle that almost gives them a three-dimensional effect, which dramatically enhances the Starry Night motif.  The swirling stars of the Van Gogh-inspired work inspired the design of the puzzle pieces themselves.  

Finally, the "Bears In Bloom" puzzle featured a quilt from textile artist Carol Cowan. Our first shaped puzzle, this puzzle features whimsy pieces designed to reflect the flora and fauna of the Appalachian Mountains.  The quilt upon which the puzzle is based is composed of a collection of cloth flowers all stitched together to form the outline of a bear.  This, too, is like building a puzzle.

In 2026, I look to add artists with interesting techniques and bring forward more pieces from our existing artists.  I will also be experimenting with new techniques in designing the pieces. Our third year promises to be our best ever.  Stay tuned!

Jay