STRAWBERRY SHORTCAKE, CARE BEARS and THE GET ALONG GANG creator/designer Muriel Fahrion joins DCS April 20-21, 2024!

Every now and again we book a guest that feels really unique and special, and this is one that genuinely means a lot to us. She’s the designer who brought to life the iconic STRAWBERRY SHORTCAKE, the CARE BEARS, and THE GET ALONG GANG, among other awesome creations. We’re extremely honored to welcome Muriel Fahrion to her very first DFW appearance at DALLAS COMIC SHOW’s Spring Spectacular this April 20-21, 2024! Here is Muriel’s bio in her own words:

A life-long career in design, illustration and art management – starting in Cleveland, OH at American Greetings as humorous card designer where I graphically depicted the first drawings of Strawberry Shortcake in 1977 as a greeting card line. It was determined she would be licensed and in 1978 I transferred to the newly created Those Characters from Cleveland, a toy think tank composed of artists, writers and marketing. What followed was 30 more characters in the Shortcake line. The biggest thrill was seeing my drawing come to life as she skipped across the screen and spoke for the first time. Within the same year I was asked to depict the first 6 Care Bears and a year after that the Get-Along-Gang that became TV cartoon series. Because all these characters were licensed I worked with book illustrators, Toy designers, clothing manufacturers and room décor.

I left American Greetings for a stint during that time I worked freelance with my husband for Disney, Hasbro and Fisher Price among others. returning to TCFC 5 years later. Together with my husband we team taught computer graphics for the Cleveland Institute of Art night course.

After 2 1/2 years as a Sr. Art Director in Chicago I advanced my career and accepted the position that lead to being the Creative VP at United Design Giftware in Noble, OK presiding over sculptors, paint designers and working with line designers. That job dissolved when much of United Design artwork and manufacturing moved to China.

With my husband Michael moved to the eclectic and historic Medicine Park in SW Oklahoma. My husband I returned to freelance followed by retirement but continuing to create artwork. It was there I taught myself 3D rendering and animation selling my prints and small paintings at the Red Door Gallery in the Park. After 4 decades of our creative life together Michael passed in 2018.

I relaunched my career under the masthead OUTTA THIN AIR. I share my studio and home with my two crazy terriers in Mid Town near our daughter and continue creating, because artists never really retire. I belong to both Portrait Artists, InkSlingers and Figure Drawing Groups in Tulsa.

Don’t miss this special opportunity to meet Muriel in person at DALLAS COMIC SHOW! And if you’re looking for a cool item to get signed, see if you can track down either the STRAWBERRY SHORTCAKE or CARE BEARS comic books from STAR Comics.