Central & Gus

Iggy & Mags Hermano American Flamingo Portrait Study

$20.00

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Size 8x10" 9x12" 11x14"

It’s Tuesday evening and, like every Tuesday, at 4:00 on the dot, Mags clocks out and hustles an hour across town to the neighbourhood basketball court before dusk sets in. The park has no lights, giving them only two and a half hours of play...but it is worth every moment. It has been a weekly ritual since Iggy was little - before he could even make the net. Mags Hermano American Flamingo says his favourite sport of all is basketball. That isn’t true. It is golf, but he loves basketball more. Because when he plays, he plays with his son Iggy.

While Mags doesn't express in words just why he loves the game so much, it is easy to see. The rush of the play; the satisfaction of a good pick and roll, a good block, a good steal, a good hook shot. Shutting down the opposition by putting up a stronger defense - and doing it together, as a team. This is the most satisfying part.

When he was younger, Mags would go for the glory shots. But now, with time, he’s evolved. Everyone at the park calls him Pops. He takes a more supportive role. He plays smarter, with strategy making up for lost agility. The opposition is invariably younger, more athletic, more energetic, quicker, but they don’t play team basketball.

To win, which they do more often than not, Mags and Iggy need to anticipate each other’s moves and intentions; they need to be in sync. This connection has migrated off the court, effortlessly strengthening their bond and growing their relationship. Lately though, Iggy has been missing their Tuesday dates. It isn’t because he doesn’t want to play or spend time with Mags. Nope, it’s because he just welcomed his own son into the world. But soon Iggy will be back. And soon enough after that, Little will be big enough to play, and it’ll be Iggy eagerly hustling to the basketball court after work.

Portrait Study, 8x10”, 9x12”, or 11x14" in protective cello. Each Portrait Study is accompanied by a whimsical tale of the animal featured. Entirely collectible, the stories intertwine, creating a much-loved community of characters. We print on a luxurious 318 gsm, 100% cotton paper. Soft and durable, this paper showcases crisp detail and vibrant colour.

We donate a portion of gross sales to animal welfare.

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Frequently Asked Questions

They are — and that's one of the things that makes Central & Gus so unique. Every character lives in the same universe. They know each other, reference each other, cross paths at the switchboard, in the woods, at the patisserie, on the road. Collecting them is a little like reading a novel one chapter at a time — except each chapter fits on your wall or popped in the post for a stamp to someone you love.
We spent a long time on this. Every Central & Gus illustration is hand-drawn in pencil — and so we are eternally inspired by the classic #2, enrobed in that particular shade of yellow. For that, we call it Ticonderoga Harvest. Studies on colour and emotion find that people associate this shade with joy — which felt exactly right. It also nods, quietly, to our farm roots, everything that grows out of the land, and also to a less tangible but just as important creative harvest. The envelope is not an afterthought. It is part of the story.
They are extraordinary gifts — and we say that not as a boast but as something we hear constantly from our retail partners and customers. A Central & Gus card is not a card you send and forget. It is a card the recipient reads, re-reads, frames, or keeps in a drawer to return to. The story on the back transforms it from a greeting into a small, meaningful object. We have heard from one customer who had special date-day trips with his young daughter, each time choosing one special card for her coveted collection. The goldenrod envelope alone tends to stop people in their tracks. Another, a fiance purchased the entire set for his partner, a reminder of a day they spotted them in a shop and giggled while reading the stories aloud. These are not cards. They are moments, saved.
Wholeheartedly yes — and the characters seem to know instinctively which age they are speaking to. Children are drawn to the illustrations, the names, the animals. Adults read the stories and find themselves unexpectedly moved. We regularly hear from customers who frame them in nurseries and living rooms alike, who give them to grandparents and grandchildren in the same gesture. The world of Central & Gus does not have an age. It has a sensibility — and that sensibility tends to recognise itself across generations.
Yes — and we love that you asked. We offer curated collections and themed bundles. Our Open Water & Coastal set, our Woodland & Hedgerow set, our Wetland & Waterway, or our Start Your Collection bundle are all wonderful entry points. And for those that just wantall of themat once, The Whole Gang brings every character home together at a saving. Bundles make particularly wonderful gifts — there is something about receiving a community of characters at once that feels genuinely special.
We do — and this is at the heart of everything we do. A portion of every gross sale goes directly to animal welfare. The characters you collect are not just whimsical illustrations — they are advocates. Every purchase is a small act of care for the natural world and the creatures in it. We are deeply grateful for every order that makes this possible.