BY SUZY STUMP for WEEKLY VOLCANO 12/19/25 |
Last week, we put out a call to local artists asking for the quintessential Christmas image for our front cover. The response was overwhelming, with artists from across Pierce County submitting work that ranged from cozy to glitzy. In the end, it was the unmistakable feline charm of “Tabby the Artsy Bear,” the creative alter ego of Tabitha Conner, that won us over. After taking a gander at the cover of this paper, it is hard not to agree that she nailed it.
That sense of charm and storytelling runs through Conner’s work. She traces the first moment she truly felt like an artist back to a drawing class, when she stepped beyond still lifes and technical studies to create a stained-glass-style fan art piece inspired by Game of Thrones. “It was the first time I was creating something that felt like my own,” she says, marking the beginning of her shift toward narrative-driven imagery.
Originally from the Mojave Desert in Southern California, Conner says moving to Tacoma transformed how she creates. As an artist deeply inspired by nature and wildlife, the desert landscape felt limiting. The Pacific Northwest, by contrast, opened everything up. “Once I came here, I was able to pull foliage and life into my work,” she says. That abundance shows up clearly in her compositions, where animals are often nestled into lush, layered environments that feel alive and intentional.
While describing her creative process, she explained that each piece begins with a loose sketch and a general idea, followed by extensive research into symbolism, color, and cultural meaning. Only then does she commit to the final composition. Conner chooses colors intuitively, allowing the piece to develop its own sensibilities. She describes her style as “escapist romanticism.” “I want to remind people of the beauty we overlook,” she says. She invites viewers to slow down and observe the world with fresh eyes.
Even with careful planning, her work often surprises her. “The idea changes and grows,” she says, much like people themselves continue to evolve.
One of her most emotionally significant works, a fox hidden within the hedges of a flower bed, appears at first glance to be a simple animal portrait. In reality, it was created during a period when she was grappling with feelings of betrayal and abandonment. The fox became a symbol of observation, a reminder that beauty can conceal complexity and that not everything is as gentle as it appears.
Among her many influences, Claude Monet stands out. His use of color and movement in Impressionism taught Conner to see the world differently, less rigidly, and more emotionally. That influence is evident in the way her subjects seem to glow from within rather than sit flat on the canvas.
Viewers often describe her art as whimsical, bright, and joyful. “I’ve been told my art makes people happy and sparks joy,” she says, which aligns with the warmth and quiet enchantment of her holiday cover image.
Looking ahead, Conner is finishing her bachelor’s degree in illustration and is set to graduate next fall. She is currently illustrating a book for Wild Stork Publishing focused on wildlife and biochemistry in a national park in Costa Rica and is preparing for a large mural project in Arizona for a yoga and reiki studio. She hopes to continue growing, experimenting, and sharing her work wherever opportunity takes her. Follow her journey on Instagram, @tabbytheartsybear.
