In this paint-with-me, I’m making a simple, meditative portrait illustration using a mixed media combo that feels like a warm cup of tea: the Strathmore toned paper pad I finally found again, Holbein gouache, and one very specific coloured pencil that I keep reaching for. I start with a few cherry blossom composition sketches (because South Korea in spring is just… unreal), then I narrow it down into a portrait idea I called “Ghost of the Cherry Blossom Season.” The whole goal here is to keep it gentle and calming—less pressure, more presence. I talk through my materials as I go, including how gouache behaves on thinner toned paper, and why I actually enjoy leaning into simplicity instead of over-rendering everything. I also touch on character design choices and Korean clothing details, plus a little art style experimenting—without losing that comfort of returning to familiar tools. By the end, I add the final patterns and shading touches, and I share how this piece became my March Patreon art print (and I’m genuinely so happy with how the postcard and sticker versions turned out).