Weaving an Artistic Web of Preferred Subjects

They say when you’re an artist, you should find your niche, your voice, your thing. Well, what if “your thing” keeps coming back to the same subjects, as if you’re stuck in some sort of artistic groundhog day? If you’re like me, you might find that no matter how hard you try to illustrate a normal animal, you always end up back with the same adorable spiders staring up at you with their many eyes. It’s time to just lean in and admit: yes, I’m obsessed.

There’s nothing wrong with being drawn to a particular subject. Yes, even if it’s an oddly charming jumping spider. Instead of fighting it, I started asking myself why I kept returning to them. Maybe it’s because they’re quirky, unpredictable, and just a little misunderstood—kind of like me. Or maybe I just really like drawing little googly eyes. Whatever the reason, acceptance is the first step.

Once you’ve accepted that you’re the “spider artist,” it’s time to dig a little deeper. I’ve started researching different types of jumping spiders, learning about their habitats, their unique hunting techniques, and all the cute little ways they wave their legs in the air. This is what it means to connect with your subject on a “deeper level,” right? Or maybe it’s just an excuse to keep illustrating the same thing over and over. Either way, it’s working for me.

Even though my subject matter hasn’t changed much, I’ve started experimenting with different approaches. What if the spiders were purple? What if I tried turning them into aliens. Or what if I just made the background some trippy op art pattern of spiders eyes designed to distract from the fact that I’m still painting spiders?

Enter: the jumping spider wallpaper. At first glance, it’s just some cute green spiders hanging out on your wall. But look closer, and you’ll see I’ve tried to create a sense of rhythm and flow in the pattern. I even gave them a charming (slightly mischievous) look, as if they’re saying, “Yes, we’re back, and we’re here to stay.”

In the end, leaning into your preferred subjects isn’t about getting stuck—it’s about finding comfort and growth in the familiar. Sometimes, the subject chooses you, and maybe, just maybe, that’s okay.

So, next time you find yourself drawing the same thing for the hundredth time, don’t despair. Embrace it, research it, and try to add a twist.