Please join us in welcoming new artist Sally King McBride! Sally is a watercolor artist based in New York City, and the Founder of The Letter Nest®, a line of Alphabet and Name Prints for children. For over ten years, she worked at The Metropolitan Museum of Art, all the while taking commissions for watercolor house portraits, landscapes, and wedding illustrations. She studied Art History at Brown University (B.A.), Columbia University (M.A.), including courses at RISD and the School of the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston. Her work takes inspiration from a rich artistic vocabulary built over the course of these experiences, and is recognized for its inventiveness, whimsy, and precision.

Sally’s Dogwood Hill holiday artwork takes inspiration from her brand, The Letter Nest; from objects discovered during her time working at The Met; and from motifs she’s honed through years of client commissions. Below you can find some images of Sally’s beautiful artwork in-process as well as our Q&A with Sally.

Dream destination:

Palm Springs, CA

Magical place:

Sydney

Ideal dinner date:

Steve Martin

Favorite album:

“Details” by Frou Frou

Life changing read:

Goodnight Moon. Currently: as a captivator of small children; Historically: as the first book to teach me what an illustrator was.

Favorite recent film:

Little Women (2019)

Favorite foods:

Chocolate. Chip. Cookies.

Power color:

Pink in every shade

Beach or mountains:

Mountains

Inspiration:

Nature and cities—especially where they intersect

Prized possession:

Water Wipes, enabling toddlers and a professional artist to happily cohabitate

Preferred sign-off?

My written signature, which has been the same since grade school

Etiquette tip:

Write thank-you notes! (With the added boost of having drafted them professionally for years at The Met.)

Writing utensil:

Paper Mate Flair Felt Tip Pens

Road trip game:

More likely an NYC subway game: spying on what people are reading

Go-to hostess gift:

Flowers

Hidden talent:

Playing the handbells

Perfect cup of joe:

Iced!

Childhood dream job?

An architect

Creative fuel:

Getting lost in my local art supply store

Tool of the trade:

My ability to listen. To my clients, my collaborators—and on balance, my inner critic.

Continue scrolling for the finished products of Sally’s work as well as some of her other holiday designs that appear on our cards. To shop Sally’s artwork in our holiday collection head to our website here.

Photography: Mary Margaret Smith Photography