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.

Can you create an illustration with three watercolours? Let's find out as I take you through my process of creating my traditional fantasy illustration “An Early Riser”. Starting with the sketchbook process, choosing the colour palette, and then diving into the illustration itself. I’ll share the highs and lows of my creative process, and how through it all I form a consistent art practice.