Pig-Headed Determination

If I had to pick my favorite thing about myself, it’s probably my pig-headed determination.

Now, that might not sound elegant or poetic—but let me tell you, it’s been the engine behind everything I’ve created. The kids’ books, the patterns, the podcast interviews, the oddball t-shirts, the animal socks, and the late-night editing sessions fueled by too much caffeine and not enough sleep. I’m not someone who floats on creative muses or waits for perfect inspiration—I’m someone who digs in, snorts through the mud, and makes it happen, tusks-first.

What’s your favorite thing about yourself?

Which brings me (very fittingly) to my Babirusa wall art from my Uncommon Animals of the Alphabet kids book. This print is part of a limited edition set (only 10 available), and I’ve come to realize that the Babirusa isn’t just a wild, under-celebrated pig from Sulawesi—it’s a full-blown symbol of the thriving artist.

Let me explain.

🐗 The Babirusa: Artist Spirit Animal

At first glance, the Babirusa looks like something straight out of a fantasy novel—tusks curling through its snout like ivory scimitars, a gaze that says “I’ve seen things,” and an air of defiant weirdness. And that’s exactly why I love it.

Here are a few things I think artists can learn from this marvelous beast:

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🌀 Stand Out By Being Odd
The Babirusa doesn’t blend in—and neither should you. Artists thrive when they embrace what makes them different. Whether it’s your style, your subject matter, or your story, lean into the weird. That’s where the good stuff lives.

🌀 Grow Against the Grain
Those tusks? They grow upward, sometimes even curling back toward the animal’s own skull. While not ideal from an evolutionary perspective, it’s a metaphor for doing things your own way—even when the world tells you to go in the other direction.

🌀 Defend Your Territory
Babirusas use their tusks in fights to protect their ground. As artists, we need to protect our creative time, our voice, and our vision. The world will always try to encroach—fight for your space.

🌀 Thrive in Isolation
These creatures live in isolated pockets of jungle and swamp, thriving in places others might find difficult. Sounds familiar? Whether you’re creating from a kitchen table, a garage studio, or the front seat of your car (been there), you don’t need ideal conditions to make meaningful art.

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My Babirusa wall art isn’t just a quirky alphabet animal. It’s a tribute to persistence, defiance, originality, and that slightly stubborn spark that drives so many of us to keep creating—no matter what.

So if you’ve ever been told you’re “too intense,” “too weird,” or just “too much”… lean into it. The Babirusa would. And so would every artist who’s ever made something bold and lasting.