From Butterflies to Tigers

Often, I find myself creating on my iPad using Procreate—a wonderful illustration tool that lets me design artwork for licensing, manufactured products, and prints wherever I happen to be. It’s freedom, really. Portable. Immediate. Full of possibility.

That said, I am, at heart, a painter. And perhaps because of that, I never quite use programs the way they’re “supposed” to be used.

I usually begin with a clear intention—maybe working from a photo, or developing a
whimsical pattern design. I have always loved textiles. Truly cherished them. I understand the rules: patterns need to be built in layers, motifs carefully placed, repeats engineered to be seamless. After years of study, I can do this.

But I rarely do it that way.

Instead, I move motifs around. I change colors midstream. I return days later and add
something new—something that shifts the entire composition. The design evolves.
Sometimes it rebels.

This piece is a perfect example.

What began as a simple floral scallop pattern started innocently enough. I sketched in a delicate butterfly—light, playful, almost predictable. Then I layered in floral motifs
borrowed from one of my original prints with a bit of a retro spirit. As I tested the repeat,something unexpected happened.

I saw a face.

Staring back at me—bold, unmistakable—a tiger began to emerge. Growling, almost
demanding attention. So I listened.

I created a tiger face in a separate file, refined its shape, explored the colors, and introduced it into the pattern. Suddenly, everything changed. The butterfly garden transformed.

When I later showed the two versions to AI—voilà—the butterfly garden became Tiger
Garden.

For the artists reading this: there are no rules.

Digital tools are powerful, and using them as creative partners can open doors to entirely new ideas. What matters is keeping the work original, intuitive, and true to yourself. Art doesn’t have to follow a straight line.

I may never return to that original scallop design…

Then again, I might.

I love tiny house drawings. Perhaps a few would fit beautifully here. Or maybe they’d turn into kittens. Who knows?

That’s the joy.

Art is a discipline. It’s also a practice. But when you allow yourself to create your way—to follow curiosity wherever it leads—you are, without question, a true artist.