Turning mistakes into magic

Cosmic Bear painting by Natalie Eve Marquis

The Cosmic Bear and the Wild & Whimsical animal paintings were born from what I first thought was a mistake.

It all began with a painting that, while not a complete disaster, stirred up an unexpectedly strong and negative reaction in me. Instead of rushing to paint over it, I let it linger on my wall — a silent challenge — and gave myself space to reflect. What was working? What wasn’t?

A few days later, while driving to the beach, an idea lit up in my mind: What if I leaned into the parts I loved most — vibrant color, expressive marks, and rich textures — then outlined an animal’s head and face, painting the space around it in white or another bold color? The animal could burst with life and energy, while the background stayed clean and simple, letting the personality shine.

At the time, most animal art I admired leaned toward realism and traditional palettes. This new idea felt fresh, playful, and a little daring. Back in the studio, I decided to take the leap.

That’s how the magical Cosmic Bear came to life — the very first in what would become my Wild & Whimsical series.

Since then, I’ve created over fifty colorful, character-filled creatures in this joyful style. While my artistic path continues to branch into new ideas, I keep coming back to the Wild & Whimsical collection year after year — simply because the process is pure fun, and the spirit behind it never stops inspiring me.

Come visit the Wild & Whimsical zoo where every animal has its own spark. Find the one that calls to you, and let its spirit inspire your home for years to come.