Simone Collins here! I’m one of ArtCorgi’s co-founders and I’d like to share the backstory behind this company.

On August 5th, 2013, my boyfriend (and ArtCorgi’s co-founder) Malcolm Collins posted his marriage proposal to me reddit, using Advice Animals and a post leading to an album of original art featuring us in various romantic scenes that represented various shows, movies, genres, and artistic styles we had bonded over.

I read through top posts on reddit (a popular social network to which people submit cool content) every morning, so when I clicked to its front page on August 5th, I was surprised by Malcolm’s romantic posts (it was like seeing a marriage proposal targeted at me on the front page of the New York Times)- and then absolutely floored when he emerged from an adjoining room, got down on one knee, and presented me with a ring.

Malcolm and Simone by Nippy13
Malcolm and Simone in Disney Style by Nippy13
Malcolm and Simone by Rydia_16
Malcolm and Simone by Rydia_16
Adventure Time Malcolm and Simone by Amy Liu
Adventure Time Malcolm and Simone by Amy Liu
Malcolm and Simone by Amy Liu
Malcolm and Simone by Amy Liu
Malcolm and Simone in SF by Amy Liu
Malcolm and Simone in SF / Adventure Time style by Amy Liu
Malcolm and Simone by Denoro
Malcolm and Simone by Denoro
Malcolm and Simone in MLP Style by Faceless Jr
Malcolm and Simone in MLP Style by Faceless Jr
Malcolm and Simone by Belliko Art
Malcolm and Simone by Belliko Art
Malcolm and Simone by Lalas Dream Box
Malcolm and Simone by Lalas Dream Box
Malcolm and Simone by Laverinne
Malcolm and Simone by Laverinne
Malcolm and Simone by f0rmaldehyde
Malcolm and Simone by f0rmaldehyde
Malcolm and Simone in Avatar Style by Amy Liu
Malcolm and Simone in Avatar Style by Amy Liu
Malcolm and Simone by Daekazu
Malcolm and Simone by Daekazu
Malcolm and Simone by Sumi
Malcolm and Simone by Sumi
Art by Jumpix
Art by Jumpix
Malcolm and Simone by Kuropin
Malcolm and Simone by Kuropin
Art by sTiViA
Art by sTiViA
Malcolm and Simone by Unsound M
Malcolm and Simone by Unsound M
Malcolm and Simone Sprites by iconcrausse
Malcolm and Simone Sprites by iconcrausse
Ring by Valentin Magro
Ring by Valentin Magro

Malcolm’s reddit-based marriage proposal ended up going viral and got a surprising amount of attention. For months after it happened, Malcolm and I were asked about the art he commissioned. People wanted to commission avatars, wall art, and romantic gifts of their own!

Our friends’ interest in art commissions, the virality of Malcolm’s proposal, and our love of the online art community ultimately inspired us to create ArtCorgi, which went live on January 15th. We love seeing the incredible art people are commissioning through our site, though the pieces Malcolm commissioned to propose to me will always have a very special place in my heart. Have a look at them below and I bet you’ll see why!

I hope this inspires you to commission some original art of your own. :)