Why Tigers: The Story Behind My Journey as an Artist

When people ask me, “Why tigers?” the answer goes back to one place: The Tiger’s Den. The Tiger’s Den was no ordinary gym—it was a martial arts dojo turned CrossFit box tucked away in the industrial district, later turned into Dallas’ Design District. To most people, it was a vast warehouse filled with barbells, burpees, and sweat. For me, it became something more: a canvas if you will.

Tiger a Day Project

At first, it started small. Chalk drawings of tigers on the horse stall mat lined floors—just quick drawings to add a little energy to the space. But those sketches caught on. One day, the gym owner walked over, handed me a blow torch, and asked me to burn a tiger into the wooden panels on the wall. Bold, unexpected, and honestly a little terrifying—that moment changed everything. Wood burning felt raw, powerful, and alive in my hands. From there, the tigers multiplied: painted across walls, etched onto boxes, prowling on kettlebells, even stamped onto shirts. The community began calling me the “Tiger Queen,” and for the first time, I felt like I had stepped into my true artistic flow. Tigers weren’t just what I drew anymore—they had become my signature, my story, and in many ways, a part of me.

Tiger Legacy Project

However, like many journeys, mine wasn’t a straight line. After earning my Bachelor’s in Fine Arts at UTD, life pulled me into the daily grind. Work, responsibilities, and survival slowly pushed art to the sidelines. For years, I carried the quiet ache of knowing I wasn’t creating the way I was meant to.

In 2023, I made the leap to embrace art full-time. It was scary. It was risky. But it was also the most honest decision I could make. Creating isn’t just something I do—it’s who I am. My hands need to make, my heart needs to share, and my spirit feels at peace when I’m bringing art into the world.

The tigers taught me that. Fierce, bold, loud, and beautiful—they reminded me to embody those qualities in my own life and work. Every project since then, from murals to wood burning to laser engraving, carries that same spirit.

What started as chalk sketches in a CrossFit gym has grown into a diverse creative journey that I now share with businesses, homes, and communities. Tigers are more than a theme—they are a legacy. They remind me, and hopefully everyone who sees my work, that we all have that fierce energy inside us waiting to come alive.

So, why tigers? Because they’re the story of where I began, the symbol of how I found my way back, and the spirit that drives me forward.