Whimsy: Playful Nature Art for Pediatric Healthcare Spaces

At Faith Regional Health Services (FRHS) in Norfolk, Nebraska, the newly refreshed Pediatrics Department looks a bit different these days. It’s brighter, lighter, and filled with color and imagination.

The walls feature our new Whimsy series, a playful collection of nature-inspired art designed especially for pediatric healthcare spaces.

Continuing a Creative Partnership

Our team was thrilled to collaborate once again with FRHS. We previously partnered with the hospital to bring nature imagery to other areas of their campus, a project featuring black and white photographs of soothing waterscapes, rocks, flowers, and trees.

The images provide a serene, grounding connection to nature for patients, visitors, and staff alike.

When it came time to refresh the Pediatrics Department, the design team wanted something with a different kind of energy, artwork that would spark curiosity and joy for younger patients while still offering the restorative qualities of nature. According to Shantell Skalberg, VP Business Dev, Communication, Foundation & Marketing/PR at FRHS:

“We chose KJP’s nature images over stock imagery because of our desire to make our facility a welcoming, calming, and supportive environment for all who enter.”

Why Whimsy Artwork Works So Well in Pediatric Healthcare

Research shows that “nature art is the preferred type of art by children from age 5 to 17” (Eisen, 2006), and our new Whimsy series takes that idea a step further, adding imagination, play, and storytelling to the mix.

These playful compositions, blending high-resolution photography with hand-drawn illustrations that maintain photo realism, invite children to explore and discover new details, offering positive distractions that can help ease anxiety during hospital visits. The wildlife images used for this project were taken by KJP’s contributing photographer, Jerred Zegelis, the graphic artist who created the hand-drawn elements as well.

Being a father to a son who spent a fair amount of time in pediatric healthcare spaces, Jerred understands the impact of having nature art that kids can connect with:

“When you’ve spent time in those spaces, you realize how much even a single image can lift a kid’s spirits and make the room feel a little less scary.”

Whimsy images transform natural forms like landscapes, butterflies, flowers, and animals into friendly characters and dreamlike scenes that spark creativity and serve as much-needed positive distractions for the littlest patients.

The vibrant colors and playful details draw children in, encouraging them to explore and discover new things.

FRHS chose this series to create moments of curiosity and comfort for young patients and their families. Installed throughout the pediatric department, Skalberg shared the artwork’s impact:

“The Whimsy series imagery in our pediatric clinic helps create a sense of comfort, while also being a conversation starter for our medical team and patients. Featuring landscapes with focal points that children recognize makes the space feel more welcoming and less intimidating. Parents have shared how these images spark conversations and bring moments of joy, while kids are drawn to the images and playful details. By surrounding our patients with artwork that reflects the world they know, we’re able to create an environment that feels safe and soothing.”

Thoughtfully Designed for Healthcare Environments

Like all of our healthcare artwork, the Whimsy collection was created from high-resolution images suitable for both framed and large-scale applications. While framed art remains our most requested format (available in sizes up to 60″x40″ when using regular glass, or 48″x96″ with plexiglass), most Whimsy designs can also be printed up to 30 feet wide on any substrate. Select designs and vector-based elements allow for even greater dimensions, and custom creations are always available to suit any project or wall size.

For FHRS, the images were printed on durable, triple-coated laminate canvas with a reinforced backing to ensure both stability and longevity.

Each piece is made with healthcare durability in mind, designed to meet infection control standards while bringing warmth and connection to the space.

Inspiring Imagination and Calm

Whether it’s a child tracing shapes in a butterfly’s wings or a parent taking a moment to breathe in a colorful waiting area, Whimsy invites everyone who passes by to pause, imagine, and feel a bit lighter.

At Faith Regional, the results speak for themselves:  a space that not only looks beautiful but feels like a place where healing can begin.

Shantell told us,

“These playful elements brought warmth and whimsy that immediately appealed to our young patients, without losing the professionalism that parents appreciate. The balance of nature’s beauty with kid-friendly charm has truly elevated our environment and made our clinic a place where children feel more at ease.”

If you’re looking for artwork that inspires creativity, connection, and calm in a pediatric healthcare setting, Whimsy might be the perfect fit. Contact us to learn how we can customize this playful nature art collection for your space. The sky’s the limit!