In this slow, behind-the-scenes art vlog, I’m taking you along while I plan out some bookish illustration ideas, paint a few colour studies, and sketch character concepts while prepping for an upcoming book fair. It’s very much a “paint and sketch along with me” kind of session—cozy, a little meandering, and focused on the real, unglamorous middle stage of making art: figuring things out on paper before anything feels “final.” I also chat a bit (in my slightly allergy-season voice, sorry!) about what I’m thinking as I test new approaches and try to nudge my character work forward. A big theme in this video is that tug-of-war between practicing fundamentals and actually making the art you want to make. I’ve definitely felt that loop of “I’m not ready yet, I should practice more,” and I wanted to talk through it while I’m actively working on pieces that matter to me. My takeaway is that studies and fundamentals are important, but they’re most helpful when they’re feeding directly into your dream projects—so you’re learning in context, not just endlessly warming up. If you’ve ever felt stuck in practice mode, I’d genuinely love to hear how you’ve navigated that.