Friends of Earth: Where Joy & Creativity Meet Climate Action

What do playful critters, bold colors, and climate action have in common? They all show up on Friends of the Earth — a new tee designed by illustrator and POW Creative Alliance member Eliza Carver. Equal parts joyful and powerful, the design invites us to rethink what activism can look like: fun, connected, and full of life. 

Eliza’s art has always been rooted in the outdoors, and with this tee, she’s sending out a call to protect the wild places we all call home. We caught up with Eliza to learn more about how she connects with the outdoors and her creative process.

To start off, can you introduce yourself and explain why you got involved with POW?

Hi! I’m Eliza Carver — a freelance graphic designer, illustrator, artist, and outdoor enthusiast. I grew up in the hills of Vermont and now live in Washington State. My work is deeply rooted in the natural world, where I spend most of my free time — playing in the mountains, floating rivers in my kayak, or foiling in the ocean. My art tends to have a lighthearted, loose quality, reflecting the importance of play in our daily lives and how we feel when we connect with nature.

I first came across Protect Our Winters in 2010, right before graduating from college — a time when I was figuring out how to step into the world as a working artist and designer. My life has always revolved around the outdoors, and I knew I wanted my work to support clean energy, community building, and protecting the places I loved to play. Fast forward to three years ago, I saw an opportunity to join POW’s Creative Alliance and jumped at it. I thrive in community, and POW gives me a place where art, activism, and my love of movement in wild spaces all come together.  

Tell us a little about your creative process for the Friends of Earth POW collab tee.

I recently read Catherine Price’s book True Fun, which might seem like an odd reference in the context of the climate crisis, but it really resonated with me. She defines “True Fun” as the combination of playfulness, connection, and flow. That felt like a core part of what we need in our activism. Joy isn’t frivolous — especially during hard times. It’s essential for resilience.

In the face of climate anxiety and burnout, we can’t just operate from fear or urgency. We need moments of real connection and creativity — not as an escape, but as fuel. This shirt design is a celebration of that. It honors our interconnectedness and the idea that we are, at our core, Friends of Earth. When we root our activism in love, laughter, and shared purpose, we become more powerful, more enduring, and more human.

There are a lot of fun elements in the tee — do you have a favorite?

I love that it feels like a call to all creatures — humans included.

How do you think art can help inspire action for the climate?

Art helps people feel connected to each other, to place, and to the bigger picture. And when we feel connected, we’re more likely to care and take action. I tend to be an optimist, so I’m drawn to creating playful, whimsical work. I think joy and curiosity are powerful tools in the climate movement, especially when things feel heavy.

For the Friends of Earth tee, I wanted to highlight the small creatures that quietly make up our ecosystems. It’s a reminder that we’re all just beings here on Earth, and we need each other to keep it a place where we can all thrive. When we create spaces — through art, community, or movement — where people can feel that joy and connection, we remind them of what’s worth protecting.

How does your connection with the outdoors influence your art, and where do you find the most inspiration?

Nature is where I feel most alive, and my art is really just a reflection of that feeling. Inspiration doesn’t come from one specific place but from the colors, shapes, sounds, and movement that the natural world stirs up in me. As a kid, I’d lie on the ground and stare at the sky upside down, imagining I lived in another world, and that sense of wonder has stuck with me.

I find so much creative energy in movement and moments of flow — kayaking, foiling, skiing, biking. Those are the moments when I can quiet my mind and tune in to my senses. I’m most inspired when I can feel a breeze, hear a river flowing, or watch the sky change. That physical feeling of being fully present in nature is something I try to carry into my work — loose lines, playful energy, and a deep sense of aliveness.