Meet Heidi Stavinga

Before starting my journey with Surface Pattern Design, I was a fine artist working primarily in alcohol inks. My work focused on vibrant seascapes and marine life, and I sold my paintings to collectors and through galleries. When I suddenly lost the ability to continue painting in that medium, I felt lost. I wasn’t sure how I could still be a working artist or continue creating in a way that felt true to me.
When I discovered Immersion in 2024, something in your message immediately resonated. I had absolutely no knowledge of Adobe Illustrator, but I could feel that this was a path back to creativity. I wanted to find a way to translate my art into something new, to keep painting in spirit, even if the tools looked different.
Before joining, I was worried that learning digital design would strip away the heart of my work. I didn’t want to lose the texture, emotion, or story behind my paintings. I feared the computer would feel mechanical, but you changed that completely.

After taking Immersion, everything shifted. You taught me that digital design doesn’t replace the artist’s hand; it amplifies it. Through your lessons, I learned how to honor my artwork in a new form. How to build collections with meaning, rhythm, and story.

The best part of Immersion was how you encouraged us to cultivate a story within our collections. To let the artwork lead and create from a place of authenticity. That idea became the guiding light for my work moving forward.

The skill I cherish most is the ability to bring my original watercolor and ink paintings into repeat patterns using Adobe Illustrator, a skill that once felt completely out of reach. It gave me a bridge back to my art.

Since completing Immersion 2025, I’ve launched my own baby clothing and art brand. Little Drift Co., born in 2025, a dream that began while I was still in Immersion. Each collection is released like an art series: every pattern begins as a painting, inspired by the sea, nature, and gentle beginnings. Without Immersion, Little Drift Co. would never have been born.

Looking ahead, I’m excited to keep growing Little Drift Co. as both a creative business and a heartfelt art brand. I plan to continue releasing collections like chapters in a story,  nurturing a business that keeps art, meaning, and storytelling at its center.

Thank you, Bonnie, for creating a course that teaches so much more than design, it teaches possibility.