Why I draw from the Heart
Why I Draw from the Heart
There’s something about drawing heartfelt animal moments that reaches deep into my soul. It’s more than technique. It’s more than realism. It’s even more than beauty. For me, drawing is a quiet, sacred act of capturing emotion—and when I create pieces filled with love, warmth, and connection, I feel like I’m doing what I was meant to do.
I don’t just see animals as subjects—I see them as storytellers. Their eyes, their gestures, the way they rest against one another or gaze into the distance... all of it tells a story of feeling. Of trust. Of love. And that’s the part that speaks to me most.
When I draw a mother bear curled around her cubs, or two siblings resting together, or a dog caught mid-laugh—there’s something in those moments that feels both personal and universal. It’s a reminder that love exists in the wild. That tenderness lives everywhere, even in the wilderness. And through art, I get to share that softness with others.
Drawing From Emotion, Not Just Reference
Many of my pieces start with multiple reference photos—but I never copy a photo exactly. I blend scenes. I shift the angle of a gaze. I reposition a paw. I create the moment I feel more than the one I see. That’s where the magic happens—when I stop drawing what’s in front of me and start drawing what’s within me.
Each piece becomes a visual prayer, a quiet meditation on love, stillness, belonging, or joy. It’s not always easy—some drawings take weeks, even months—but I keep going because the emotional pull is too strong to ignore. It fills me up. It grounds me. It reminds me who I am.
Art That Whispers, Not Shouts
I’ve never been drawn to loud, flashy art. The pieces I love most are the ones that make you pause. The ones that whisper something soft and true. That’s the kind of art I want to make. Art that whispers love.
So when you see one of my drawings, I hope you don’t just see animals. I hope you feel the heart behind it. The warmth. The story. The moment of peace that made me stop and say, “Yes—this is the feeling I want to draw.”
Because that’s why I do what I do.
To capture the unspoken.
To celebrate the gentle.
To share what stirs my soul.
With heart,
Nancy
Creator of Wildlife art that whispers love