Haunted by the hyper-optimisation ghost? Art is so much more than raw output. Forcing it while ignoring how ephemeral and individual creativity can be is a recipe for burnout and crashing. Recently I've had to slow things down myself, so I'm journaling on my own relationship with the ebbs and flows of creativity, the benefits of rest, and aspects of creativity beyond grinding output.

An art journal entry where I ramble about my current thoughts on digital illustration, letting mediums be what they are, and painting mindsets.

My first moleskine sketchbook ended in disaster. The binding fell apart only a few spreads in. Ouch! Three years later I’m giving it another go. Rediscovering how the paper acts with my favourite art supplies, and whether the sketchbook can hold up to daily use this time.

With my favourite watercolour pigment discontinued and running out, I now embark on a quest to find its successor. With colour mixing charts at the ready and limited palettes to explore, who will be the victor? The warm red throne lay empty, waiting for its new monarch.

Choosing what scanner is best for you is dependant on the characteristics you need. For an entry level scanner specifically for artwork, this is what I chose and my initial results with it so far.

Artist Journal Entry: musings about facing possibilities bombarding you when drawing, navigating choice overwhelm, and how internal skills can be developed alongside art skills. All while sketching a… warrior knight man? Sounds about right.

An art journal entry about how I have been practicing comics using tips and exercises picked up from comic authors and courses.

I brought my compact travel art kit with me on a recent search for fossils along the coast of the North Sea. Creative inspiration can be found everywhere, and sometimes can reach all the way back into childhood memories. Join me as I share with you the treasures of the Yorkshire coast from fossils to the folklore-rich Witch Stones (aka Hag Stones, Odin Stones, Adder Stones) and some of the sketches this trip inspired.