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Mustard Beetle 𓆣

@mustardbeetle

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textiles | press | goods ☞ est. 2015
by @elizabethjeanyounce ⚘ Los Angeles, CA
NO BRICK & MORTAR | SHOP ONLINE
*email for customer service, no DMs*

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Finally a look at the completed Washington STEM Elementary Mural in Pasadena, CA. Washington is such an incredible school that I have had the pleasure to work with now in various capacities, from the Bird Science Program through @pasadenaaudubon to painting now 3 murals on their campus.
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They had the idea of converting their lobby into a forest and gave us free rein to paint any and everything including the ceiling! All flora and fauna depicted is native to California.
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Featuring the schools mascot, the coyote, giant swallowtail, California poppies, bush sunflower, Allen’s hummingbird, chaparral yucca, black bears, burrowing owl, mule deer, Engelmann oak, gray squirrel, redwoods, spotted owl, California condor, rough winged swallow, barn swallow, mountain lion, mantis, checkerspot butterfly, scrub Jay, steller’s jay, California juniper 🌼
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The students here are so lucky to walk through this everyday! 🌲
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Huge thanks to my assistants @cameron_mcmanus @slept_the_bed @jonah_online @ceramicprintmaker @shai_skoretz @alanaciccarelli_art @sleepingjuliette and of course to @washingtonelementarypasadena @wesm_pusd for the opportunity and @pasadenaaudubon for the connection 🖤
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#mural #muralartist #artist #illustration #calfiornia #losangeles #scientificillustration #nativeplants #painting #muralist by @mustardbeetle

In 2018, the renowned Southeast Alaska artists Eric and Pam Bealer walked into the wilderness. They entrusted their remote homestead to the Sitka Conservation Society’s Living Wilderness Fund with a clear intention: that it be used to protect the wild places they loved so fiercely. Since 2018, SCS has been caring for, restoring, and updating Sea Pony Farm while using it as an outpost for wilderness stewardship work and a place to host artists, changemakers, and community members to experience the Tongass, feel its rhythms, and be inspired to care for it.

With the help of artists Elizabeth Jean Younce @elizabethjeanyounce and Bethany Goodrich @bethanysgoodrich, Eric’s presses have been reawakened as tools to connect a movement of creatives who share a common love for the Tongass National Forest: its lands, waters, and the weird and wonderful people who call it home.

Introducing the Sea Pony Press.

Follow along and join our community as we build what comes next…

🎥 @bethanysgoodrich by @mustardbeetle

Elizabeth Jean Younce is the owner of Mustard Beetle, a company based in Los Angeles where she illustrates nature-based designs. Being an artist, Elizabeth has always been inspired by nature — but her artistic process was often separate from nature itself. It wasn’t until she really started immersing herself in the wildlife around her, beginning her artistic process outside, field sketching and observing native species in their environment, that she came to find the regenerative relationship she has with her work today.

Today, much of her artistic work begins on public lands. But this manufactured separation between nature and people is something she sees across society — especially for those of us who live in cities.

“We’ve come to this point in culture and society, where we think of nature as being so separate from us. We’re all hustling and bustling in our cars and our careers, and we think of nature as this separate other thing that doesn’t affect or impact us directly. But we all need fresh water. We all need clean air. We all rely on these resources. Maintaining and conserving public lands is really about living as humans to our fullest capacity. And these places are for everyone.”

Today, nearly half of California’s land and freshwater is protected as public land. At CalTrout, we’re working to ensure that number only grows — because these landscapes are essential to the health of our rivers, our fish, and our communities.

Protecting public lands takes all of us. Learn more about how you can get involved at the link in @californiatrout's bio or go to caltrout.org/publiclands by @mustardbeetle

Well, unfortunate news has just come to my attention that the Pasadena Unified School District has made the decision to demolish San Rafael Elementary, instead of investing in repairing one of the cities oldest public schools. I am heart broken that our newest and largest mural, to date, very likely will not survive the demolition. My team and I worked tirelessly for 6 weeks to install this native flora and fauna themed mural in the Spring of 2025. Students of all ages, as well as community members, helped as well. We celebrated the completion of the mural with specimens from the Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County, a potluck, and live music.
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If you are local to the area, you can check out the mural during the Green Schools Tour, Saturday May 2nd from 9am-1pm. This may be the last opportunity for members of the public to see this piece of artwork.
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#mural #muralartist #pasadena #california #nativeplants by @mustardbeetle

For this #BlackFriday, we encourage you to Shop Small and with intention. California Trout and Mustard Beetle have teamed up to bring you an exclusive collaborative merch series featuring the endangered Southern Steelhead Trout as well as other native species of the Malibu Creek watershed. CalTrout and partners are working to @restoremalibucreek, and are taking an ecosystem-based approach. Just as the Southern Steelhead is focal in these new merch designs, so too is it a focal point of Southern California ecosystems. Tap the link in @californiatrout or @mustardbeetle's bio to shop the collection!

🪲 Mustard Beetle is a Los Angeles-based small business, established in 2015, by Printmaker & Illustrator Elizabeth Jean Younce. Elizabeth designs and crafts environmentally-inspired prints on paper & fabric. She strives to bridge the gap between nature and science, volunteering with environmental organizations fighting for conservation and giving back.

🐟 California Trout is a statewide nonprofit conservation organization dedicated to revitalizing waters for resilient wild fish and a better California. Through science-based advocacy, restoration, and community engagement, CalTrout has been working to protect and restore the state’s freshwater ecosystems for fish and people alike for over 50 years. by @mustardbeetle

I am pleased to announce a new project, DIORAMA: a nearly-monthly journal chronicling and archiving my many Outdoor Adventures, Artist Residencies, Native Plant Gardening, Monarch Raising, Life as a Small Business Owner, and Printmaking.

As a passionate naturalist interested in community engagement and education, this newsletter aims to excite and empower other enthusiasts through first-hand environmental research and a little sneak peek into the behind-the-scenes of the California inspired and based Mustard Beetle.

The first two entries highlight my recent 18-day, 265 mile, adventure solo thru-hiking the John Muir Trail. One is a detailed day by day account of the experience, while the other is a comprehensive Guide to help you plan and prepare for your own hike of the JMT!

✸ mustardbeetle.substack.com ✸

live now, link in bio ⛰️ by @mustardbeetle

We're still buzzing with excitement about the incredible schoolyard transformation at San Rafael Elementary in Pasadena! Last month, we celebrated the completion of a stunning 120-foot mural, a vibrant depiction of local flora and fauna, which has now become a permanent fixture on campus. This beautiful artwork was skillfully completed by Mustard Beetle (@mustardbeetle) and San Rafael students!

This year-long schoolyard greening project was a holistic effort rooted in environmental education and community collaboration. Students were key players from the very beginning, helping to complete the vibrant mural by Mustard Beetle and learning more about the benefits of green infrastructure. In addition to the mural, the project included the delivery of salvaged logs from Angel City Lumber (@angelcitylumber) for the school's new, durable benches, which families helped assemble and install.

This vital greening work, including the new mural and seating, was made possible with generous support from the Cygnet Foundation. We're so grateful for their contribution and the dedication of everyone involved. While the official celebration last month was a wonderful capstone, the real success is the lasting impact this project will have on the San Rafael Elementary community.

#PasadenaSchools #EnvironmentalEducation #PublicArt #SchoolyardGreening #CommunityImpact by @mustardbeetle

Here it is! Our November drop is live! Featuring:
• 2 new tea towels
• 10 new stickers
• 3 new nalgene’s
• 12 new gift tags
• 10 new greeting cards
• 1 new limited holiday stocking
• 2 new holiday gift wraps
• 13 new screenprints
• 1 screenprint restock
• a selection of my “fine art print” collection
All California native flora and fauna focused artwork! Lots of stocking stuffers for the birders, nature lovers, hikers, backpackers, climbers, etc! by @mustardbeetle

It’s market season! This was us a couple weekends ago at San Francisco @renegadecraft !
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We’ve got textiles, prints, and goods for all the nature lovers and specifically native California flora and fauna lovers in your life! Perfect stocking stuffers for birders, hikers, and backpackers 🌲🖤🦜
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You can find us at the following markets throughout the next month:
• 11/16-17 10-4pm Los Angeles, CA @renegadecraft at the State Historic Park
• 11/23-24 10-6pm San Francisco, CA @westcoastcraft at Fort Mason
• 12/1 11-3pm Pasadena, CA @gamblehouse at Gamble House
• 12/7-8 12-6pm Los Angeles, CA @uniquemarkets at Cooper Design Space
• 12/14 2-6pm Los Angeles, CA OPEN STUDIO @mustardbeetle @srustudios at the West Coast Fulfillment Center
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~*We hope to see you in person!*~
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#handmade #california #nativeplants #nativeanimals #florafauna #losangeles #sanfrancisco #printmaking #screenprinting #craftfair #craftmarket #nativecalifornia #scientificillustration #naturalhistory #natureart #birder by @mustardbeetle

We packed it all in hand-made boxes to match @mustardbeetle’s illustrations, and added a bookmark too!
Special guest: a wee mouth breathing by yours truly. by @mustardbeetle

Thrilled to share this adorable and very autumnal collab with @mustardbeetle, with bats, lizards, adorable creatures, and paper with actual leaves! by @mustardbeetle

A new 4-color 11x14” hand pulled screenprint for @haypeep ‘s Batty B.A.T. themed portfolio for the upcoming @midamericaprint @mapc2024 Print Conference this October! The illustration was inspired by an evening hike where all these native California critters were witnessed.
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Featuring the Yucca Moth 🦋 pollinating Mojave Yucca 🌸, a Canyon Bat 🦇, Desert Hairy Scorpion 🦂, and California Ebony Tarantula 🕷️
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(Exclusive/Earlybird) Prints will be available this weekend at the @jackalopeartfair Pasadena ArtWalk, Saturday and Sunday from 11am-6pm (Green St, between Los Robles and El Molino)! The remaining limited edition of 100 will be available online in the next drop, stay tuned. by @mustardbeetle