When I started this little #inspiredbyposh project, I knew I wanted to create beautiful, elegant interpretations of some of my favorite Posh products. The project is part character design, part fashion illustration, and ALL ME.  For such a long time, I have worked as a designer whose main goal was to create beautiful things with another person’s vision in mind. It was a great job and I was GOOD at it! This is my calling, and its on my terms.  I’m taking inspiration and creating something that is totally unique—and completely MINE.

Posh Boss is a Big Fat Yummy Hand Crème (BFYHC) by Perfectly Posh. The scent profile is “Creamy Vanilla, Sweet Cassis and Peony”, and the packaging indicates a subtle argyle design etched in metallic silver, layered over a leafy illustration of silver peonies, outlined in red. The lettering is white and peach, in an elegant and feminine, yet strong script

When I begin an #inspiredbyposh illustration, the first thing I think about is WHO is this product? What is a “Posh Boss”? When I think about Posh Boss, I think about an elegant, feminine and strong woman. She is in charge wherever she goes. She is a formidable woman who makes bold statements and is unapologetic in her choices. I feel like some people are intimidated by a Posh Boss.

Next, I look over the package design. I see layers. I see strong lines (the argyle) mixed with curved elements (the floral). This person mixes colors and patterns in an unexpected way. She likes soft and hard lines. I started to research mixed patterns in fashion and found several fabulous examples. The combinations of bold and vibrant prints was exactly what I had in mind.

Once the type of fashion was semi-determined, I needed to move on to THE WOMAN. Who was this Posh Boss? I sketched and sketched, but nothing seemed to work for me. I had that moment…“Designer’s Block!” The muse just stopped working. I put Posh Boss aside and worked on something else. A few weeks later, as James and I were working the “Woman of Achievement” Pageant which was held on the historic Ocean Liner the Queen Mary which was built in the 1930s and has been permanently docked in Long Beach, CA since 1967. The gift shop on the ship features merchandise branded with a simple word: Queen. I was reminded of a fellow Posh consultant who called her team members her “queens” and left it at that.

Later, during a break in the Pageant, as we worked our Posh table, I met a woman who’s beauty struck me. She was a tall, bubbly, curvaceous woman of color, and her smile simply glowed. She made an impression. As I curated images of fashion-forward women of color I was practically smacked IN THE FACE by a photo of Miss Musemo Handahu (instagram: @misslionunter). It didn’t take long to connect all the dots. Here was my Posh Boss—My QUEEN—Her style, her boldness, her attitude. She is EVERYTHING!

Now that the muse— Miss Lion Hunter— had provided me with such a clear vision—I got to work! The Print for her dress was all about the package design. I found images of floral/plaid combos, as well as florals with a peony motif. The color palette is not only derived from the Posh Boss package, but also from the Perfectly Posh branding. Posh’s signature color combo of pink, black and white (polka dots to be exact) became the inspiration for her coat and handbag. The metallic silver in the package became her belt, and the floral motif of the design found its way into her head scarf.

Being #inspiredbyposh has opened something up in me that I didn’t know I was missing. I know it might be hard to believe, but I have a hard time feeling like I’m an “artist”. Why? Because I have spent so many years seeing what I can do with a pencil as a “skill” that I have developed over time. NOT ANYMORE! Drawing like this has made me feel alive! I’m using my brain, my hands AND my heart with these illustrations, and. I couldn’t be happier.

Now, I present to you: Posh Boss

To see more of my artwork, including my current #inspiredbyposh illustrations, check out my Etsy store: etsy.com/shop/JASONdesignsArt

Follow Musemo Handahu on Instagram: @misslionhunter, and at her website: www.lion-hunter.com

If you’d like more information about Posh Boss, or any other Perfectly Posh products, check out our online catalog at www.TheJsPosh.com