Whimsical watercolor illustrations designed to make you smile

I'm Iris, a watercolor illustrator based in Virginia. I create whimsical animals and playful scenes designed to bring a moment of calm. My artwork translates beautifully to greeting cards, paper goods, and licensed products.

Let's Work Together!

You can also reach me directly at: iris@wanderingirisstudio.com

Explore my illustration portfolio by category.
Click an image below to view collections and individual works.

Seasonal

Animals

Floral

Meet the Artist

Hello! I’m the artist behind Wandering Iris Studio. I work primarily in watercolor, creating animals and botanical scenes that carry a bit of humor and warmth.

I love drawing animals interacting with their environment, often with a hint of mischief.

Shop the Studio

A small collection of greeting cards, prints, and paper goods featuring my watercolor illustrations.

Browse the Collection

Follow me on Instagram @the.wandering.iris

Earlier this week I shared the sloth illustration and the repeat pattern built from it. I was curious whether a watercolor illustration built around the sloth–moth relationship could translate into a surface pattern and still feel cohesive. De
Here it is! Earlier this week I shared the watercolor sloth illustration that anchors this small trio. Here is the pattern built from it. I am particularly pleased that I was able to carry the narrative aspect forward into the pattern. Turning an
This sweet sloth... I love drawing animals because they carry such personality. This sloth began as part of Jehane’s Golden Thread last year. My research into the sloth's relationship with the sloth moth gave me the direction for my illustrat
“Nordic Tales” was the prompt for Jehane’s Golden Thread challenge. I started by researching Nordic creatures and Scandinavian folklore. In keeping with my Golden Thread of including animals in my illustrations, I centered this piec
This coastal winter illustration now lives inside a small, coordinated watercolor trio. What began as one painted scene has expanded into supporting surface patterns, including this olive color seaweed blender and an alternate dark colorway. I like
I have been building out watercolor surface pattern designs based on a coastal Christmas illustration I painted just a few months ago. I wanted the seals in the original scene to feel playful and relaxed, as if they were celebrating around their dri
🐿🦅🐍This week’s Jehane’s Golden Thread prompt is the Woodland Squirrel. In Norse mythology, a squirrel named Ratatoskr runs up and down Yggdrasil, the world tree, carrying messages between an eagle at the top and a serpent at the roots
I painted a small Valentine trio in watercolor. An echidna, that spiny little mammal, gathers flowers while a pink galah bird looks on. A hedgehog stands awkwardly in a field of clover. Two pangolins curl inward around a Valentine message. These wa