Hello, and welcome to Ika Ink! My name is Manda, the artist behind the celestial inspired creations in this shop. Today, I want to share the story of how my art journey began and how my love for bunnies, nature, and the stars continues to inspire me ✨
A Love That Sparked an Artistic Journey
I've been an "artist" for as long as I can remember. I was always drawing and creating as a child. It was an obsession at times. Every phase I went through growing up became my new inspiration. I was sure I’d work in some sort of creative field one day. But life has a funny way of steering you in unexpected directions, and I spent over a decade as a web developer in Seattle's tech industry. Art remained a hobby, but one that I didn't find much time for.
My pet rescue rabbit, BunnBun, was the catalyst for change. She entered my life unexpectedly when I first moved to Seattle and quickly became my whole heart. Her silly antics and calming presence filled my days with so much love and joy. We shared many wonderful years together, but when her health began to decline, saying goodbye was one of the hardest things I’ve ever faced.
In the wake of her passing, I was left with an immense void I didn't know how to fill. At the same time, I was starting to burn out in the tech industry. It didn't seem worth spending so many precious hours of my life doing something that wasn't making me happy anymore. So I quit! I didn't know what I was going to do at the time, but throwing myself into a creative outlet was all I could think of. Painting bunnies became my way of processing grief and honoring BunnBuns memory. I created my first set of "Bun Cafe" paintings, which I started selling in early 2022 to raise money for rabbit rescues and help bunnies in need.
What started as a personal expression of loss soon evolved into a celebration of bunnies and a way to support rabbit rescue initiatives. BunnBun has inspired so much through me, and in that way, it feels like a part of her is still alive. To this day, even though I have moved on to other subjects beyond bunnies, I continue to donate and support rabbit non-profits in BunnBuns memory. If you've ever loved a bunny, you understand how much of an impact they can leave on you, even years after they've gone.
From Stars to the Sea
I’ve always found inspiration in the natural world—especially the contrasting mysteries of starry night skies and the deep ocean. I grew up on a small island in the pacific, where both the oceans and night skies were crystal clear. During the day, sun hitting the water sparkled like the stars themselves. At night, the skies were lit up as an endless sea of stars. Stars and seas feel like two sides of the same coin. Different but the same. Both are mysterious, weightless and uninhabitable. Beautiful and terrifying. It's hard not to feel fascinated by it all.
While I adore exploring the beauty of the ocean, its vastness and the strange, otherworldly creatures that inhabit it fill me with a mix of awe and unease. My fear of the open ocean—especially massive creatures like whales—runs deep. There’s something about the sheer scale and mystery of it all that’s both thrilling and terrifying. Strangely enough, this fear sparks my creativity, turning my unease into a fascination with the mysterious beauty hidden beneath the waves. Aliens may or may not exist in space, but they surly exist within our oceans.
Unexpected connections
Switching to a creative career was something I could have only dreamed about, but it came with unexpected challenges. Without co-workers or regular interactions with friends from my tech career, life felt quieter, even isolating at times. My days were mostly spent creating and running the business, with interactions limited to messages from customers or talking with my partner when they got home from work. One day, a different sort of message came through—a customer messaged me after purchasing my art to share their story. They had recently lost their beloved bunny, and my painting reminded them of their companion. It brought them comfort. Their story resonated deeply with me, reflecting my own experiences of love and loss with BunnBun.
Over time, more messages arrived with a similar story. Each message carried unique tales of cherished bunnies who left an indelible mark on the lives of their owners. Each person connected with a piece of my bunny art that they felt represented their own lost and cherished bunnies. These small moment truly made me feel like my art had grown beyond me in my isolated little studio. It's out in the world and finding those who resonate with it the most. In my grief, love and joy of rabbits, I'm truly not alone.
Through these stories, I began to see a beautiful thread connecting us all. Each person saw a piece of themselves or their bunny in my work, and in turn, I felt seen and understood. I have saved every one of these messages as a reminder of these special connections, and that the things I create can become bigger than myself. These shared stories reminded me that while our individual journeys may feel isolating at times, existence is filled with unexpected connections waiting to be discovered.
Thank You for Joining the Journey
I’m so grateful for the opportunity to share my work with you. Whether you’re here for a cute bunny design or a piece of celestial oceanic art, your support helps keep BunnBun’s memory alive and makes a difference for rescue rabbits. Thank you for being part of this journey, and I look forward to sharing more stories and creations with you!
