The work of McArdle springs from a sense of joy of the world around her. She has created a unique visual world much akin to a language. Her works suggests a dream-like place, where humor and subtle interplays of her characters take place. She will often mix images of our immediate world with an era suggestive of her grandparent's time, often portraying her characters in antiquated clothing. Her works have a childlike quality and a sense of wonder and innocence presented from the perspective of a child.