Drawn From The Heart: Inside PONY’s Playful, Powerful World On iPad

Just in time for World Creativity and Innovation Day, Montreal-based artist Gabrielle Laïla Tittley—better known as PONY—is proving that creativity doesn’t need a studio to thrive. With her iPad and Apple Pencil as her canvas and tool, she transforms everyday moments into bold, heart-led illustrations that blend humor, vulnerability, and social commentary. From sketching on the Metro to designing pieces worn on the streets, PONY’s work captures the emotional pulse of a generation—one colorful character at a time. —Noa Nichol

The Digital Sketchbook: You are known for your multidisciplinary approach, but the iPad is often your primary canvas. Does the portability of the iPad allow you to find “socially conscious” inspiration in the wild—like at a Montreal café or on the Metro—that you might miss in a traditional studio?

Totally. iPad lets me stay porous to the world. I’ll draw in cafés, at my shop between two meetings. In moments of peace and quiet. That’s often where the most honest emotions live. Away from the chaos. A traditional studio can feel a bit removed from that. iPad keeps me inside life instead of observing it from afar.

Heart-Headed Tech: Your characters often feature those iconic heart-shaped heads. When you’re sketching on your iPad, do you feel that the digital medium helps you better translate complex themes like “vulnerability” into such playful, clean illustrations?

I think the digital medium helps me simplify without losing depth. Vulnerability is such a complex feeling, but when you reduce it to a image, it becomes approachable. iPad lets me play with that balance: something visually gentle that still carries weight.

The “PONY” Palette (2026 Edition): Your art is famously colorful and playful. If you had to name a custom digital “PONY” color palette that represents the current state of mental health in 2026, what would the colors be called?

• Soft Alarm Pink
• Dissociation Blue
• Hopeful Green
• Burnout Beige
• Healing Lavender
• Boundaries Orange

From Screen to Streetwear: As an illustrator and clothing designer, you bridge the gap between digital art and physical fashion. What is the most satisfying part of seeing a design you perfected on a screen being worn by someone walking down Saint-Laurent Boulevard?

It’s honestly the most emotional part. Seeing someone wear something I made especially when it carries a message feels like the work is alive. Like it left me and is now walking around, connecting with strangers on main street. It’s a quiet kind of magical. 

The Humor in the Hardware: Humor is a massive part of your work. Has there ever been a “happy accident” or a digital glitch while designing on your iPad that actually inspired a new character or a funny punchline for a piece?

Yes sometimes a bug or a weird brush glitch creates something slightly “off,” and that’s where the personality comes in. I’ve definitely kept mistakes that felt more human than what I was trying to do perfectly. I trust accidents a lot. Imperfection where the beauty lies.

Modern-Funk Mentality: Your style is often described as a mix of “Modern-Funk” and playfulness. How does using modern Apple technology help you maintain that “funky,” hand-drawn feel without it looking too “perfectly” clinical?

I try to resist perfection on purpose. Even with super precise tools, I keep things a bit wobbly, a bit naive. I think “funk” comes from imperfection, from letting your hand show. 

Mental Health Rituals: Since you focus heavily on themes of mental health, do you have a specific “digital sanctuary” routine? For example, do you use certain iPad apps or settings to stay grounded while creating?

I keep it simple. No notifications, soft music, sometimes I dim the screen a bit. I try to create a space that feels safe and slow. Drawing, for me, is less about producing and more about regulating.

The Montreal Muse: Montreal is such a hub for creativity. If you had to design a new “PONY” character that embodied the spirit of the city’s art scene today, what would their heart-shaped head be thinking about?

I think it would be a character with a big sesame-topped bagel heart that’s a bit cracked but glowing from the inside. Thinking about community, survival, rent stress, protests, late-night conversations, dancing, and softness in a chaotic world. Montréal is intense but full of care.

The “Matchmaker” Moment: Much like a digital “matchmaker,” you connect people through shared vulnerability. What is the most touching message you’ve received from a follower who felt “seen” by one of your digital illustrations?

I’ve received messages from people saying a drawing made them feel less alone during really dark moments. Those messages stay with me forever. It reminds me that vulnerability and realness can travel far.

The 2026 Vision: As we move further into 2026, what is one “dream project” you’re currently sketching out on your iPad that pushes the boundaries of how art can spark social change?

I want to push more into public spaces, bigger installations, interactive work, things that people can physically step into. Art that doesn’t just live on screens, but creates real-life moments of connection, colors and care.

Empowered Boundaries: Your work is multidisciplinary and deeply personal. How does the iPad empower you to push the boundaries of your creativity, allowing you to experiment with new characters and socially conscious themes more fearlessly than traditional media?

With iPad, I can try things quickly, fail fast, explore weird ideas without overthinking the cost or the materials. That freedom creates space for intuition and that’s where the most honest and fun work comes from.