Cartoon duck riding a skateboard and performing a trick in mid-air.

Welcome to

The Platypus Studio & Shop

A platypus is a very unusual creature, and I would like to think I am one as well. I am Peter Hester, and this is my work. Come on in and explore. I am always playing and trying new things. I'm never quite sure what will pop up. I am still figuring this out but it is all fun.

MY FIRST BOOK
The Very Hungry Ghost cover pic

The Very Hungry Ghost

The story of a little ghost who wakes up hungry and eats everything she sees! The kids at Neighborhood Childcare Center in Santa Cruz, California, wrote this delightful story. It was so wonderful that I just had to bring it to life and turn it into a book to share with everyone.

A spread from my book "A Very Hungry Ghost".
Pick up a copy today

Pick up some very unusual gear

I wanted to make some more fun stuff, so I connected with Threadless to make some really cool things from skateboards to socks. Have a look, hope you like them as much as I do. Keep your eye out for more stuff to come.

Skateboards
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A pair of orange Roo Shoes.
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Platypus Shoes
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A pare of black Skating Platypus Socks
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Platypus Tee shirt
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Greeting card with a cartoon duck riding a skateboard, waving, and a blank speech bubble above its head.
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A cartoon cat surfing inside a bowl of food, holding a skateboard, with a speech bubble above. There is a spoon next to the bowl. The background is light blue.
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Cartoon of a man with white eyebrows, beard, and mustache wearing a red fez hat with a tassel, and a red shirt with green epaulets. The man has a speech bubble above his head.
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Greeting card with a drawing of a blue pickup truck carrying a man waving, with the text 'A Good Day' above, and an envelope behind it.
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A greeting card with a drawing of an orange and green food truck on a street, with trees and grass in the background, and the text 'A Good Day' at the top.
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A pin on a denim jacket featuring The Platypus character holding a smaller pink platypus with sunglasses and orange hair.
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Tote Bag, On a good day you need to get your stuff down to the beach. Try our Good Day tote bag.

A Good Day Tote Bag
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Tiny story

Thoughts on Honesty from a cranky old guy.

Cover of my Zine "Honesty"
An illustration of an elderly man with a beard, speaking a quote that reads 'Even one lie would show the world you can not be trusted', against a light blue background.
A cartoon illustration of an elderly man with a beard, wearing a light-colored shirt, with a speech bubble that says, 'I have always tried to honor this. I know I do not always pull this off.'
An illustration of an elderly man with a white beard and mustache, pointing upwards with his index finger. He is wearing a white shirt, and there is a speech bubble next to him that says, "EARNING the trust of others is important to me. Especially if I have failed in some way." The background is blue.
Cartoon drawing of an elderly man with a white beard, wearing a white t-shirt and gray pants, standing barefoot in front of a blue background. The man is gesturing with both hands and has a speech bubble that says, 'I have also always dealt with others in the same way. If I am lied to, I will no longer take that person's word.'
Cartoon illustration of an elderly man with a white beard and eyebrows, wearing a light-colored shirt, against a blue background. He has a speech bubble that reads, "I try not to judge the whys of what others do; I just try to protect myself and my family."
A cartoon illustration of an elderly man with a white beard and eyebrows, wearing a white shirt, holding a small dog. The man is speaking, with a speech bubble that reads: "I have always tried to honor this. I know I do not always pull this off." The background is light blue with a few white clouds.
A comic strip featuring an elderly man with a white beard and white hair, wearing a white shirt. In the first panel, he is sweating and pointing upward, saying 'There have always been dishonest people, but if we found them out, we did not trust them again.' In the second panel, he looks contemplative, with a caption reading 'What happened? Honesty used to be a personal value, a family value, and an American value.'
A cartoon man with a white beard, wearing a white t-shirt and white pants, standing barefoot on snow with a blue sky background. There is a speech bubble next to him with a quote about friendship and honesty.
A cartoon drawing of an elderly man with a gray beard, wearing a white T-shirt and gray pants, standing against a blue background. He has his arms raised and open hands, with a speech bubble above his head that says: 'Even when the intention is good, if you try to achieve your goal by lying, it's just not right. Your achievement is just a lie. You cannot be trusted.'
Illustration of an elderly man with a white beard and gray hair, holding up his right hand with the pinky and index fingers extended in a gesture. He appears to be speaking or explaining something. There is a speech bubble with text that reads: "Why are we no longer outraged by the lies, no longer call liars out as liars, no longer expect people to earn our trust, or care to earn the trust of others by being honest?" The background is light blue.
A cartoon illustration of an elderly man with a white beard, wearing a beige shirt and gray pants, standing outdoors against a blue sky background. The man is gesturing with his right hand and has a speech bubble that says, "I have never been someone who looks for leaders."
A cartoon image of an elderly man with a white beard and white hair, wearing a white t-shirt and pants, with one hand in his pocket. He is smiling and has a speech bubble that says, 'I try to do the right thing, and I trust that I have learned how to tell what the right thing is for myself.'
A cartoon drawing of an elderly man with a long white beard and mustache, bald head, and wearing a white shirt, with a quote about community, trust, and justice in a speech bubble next to his face.
Illustration of an elderly man with a white beard, wearing a beige shirt, with a thought bubble above his head asking about honesty and trust.

©Peter Hester2026