Post-Project Feels: How I Recovered and Recharged My Creativity.

Plus a full-length Plein Air ASMR painting video!

240 pages of my new Middle-Grade Graphic Novel

I finally finished my new middle-grade graphic novel a few weeks ago, and I’m really proud of it! I honestly think it’s my best work yet. That said, I’m totally wiped out. The last stretch was especially tough—over the last six months, I was putting in 10 to 12 hours a day to meet the deadline. I had a blast doing it, but now that it’s all done, my brain and body are definitely feeling it.

You know that feeling when you’ve been running on adrenaline for a while, and the moment you finally get to take a break, your body just decides to crash? That’s exactly what’s happened to me lately.

I’m not sick or anything, but I’m definitely feeling some muscle tension and a bit of tightness in my chest from all the stress. My mind feels fried! I have a ton of fun ideas and things I want to dive into, but my brain just isn’t firing on all cylinders right now.

‎⁨Tesoro Adobe Historic Park⁩, ⁨Valencia⁩, ⁨CA - Feb 24, Sunny

My new graphic novel is all done digitally, but after a year of working on it on the computer, I really miss using actual paints! One thing I used to love was plein air painting. It's a super fun way to sharpen your skills. There’s really no better way to study color, lighting, and values than by observing nature and everyday life. Plus, it’s super fun and relaxing!

You don’t have to stress about what to paint because, with plein air painting, you just capture whatever’s in front of you. This lets you dive right into working with paint and color. You have the freedom to try out different techniques and styles without worrying about telling a story or coming up with some clever composition.

Feb 24, Sunny

This is also a great way to connect with yourself and learn how to use basic tools like color and lighting to express your emotions and feelings while you paint.

I visited my local historical park for my painting outing. I had been to the Tesoro Adobe Historic Park before, and I really love it there. The place is full of local history, with charming California Spanish-style bungalows and a lovely garden that feels very homey. It's a quiet, hidden gem in the area.

March 6, Cloudy

I went to the park on a sunny day, February 24, and then went back on March 6 when it was cloudy and right before rain. I like to pick spots that get full sun and some shady areas, so I can see how the colors change with different lights and weather.

I have a lot of fun painting these. Since Southern California doesn’t see many cloudy days or much rain, it’s a special treat for me to study color on a cloudy day. I hope to return to the park on a rainy day to paint the rain next time it pours.

A while ago, someone asked me to share a full-length video of my on-location painting process. Here is the video of me painting on a cloudy day. I've also turned it into an ASMR experience, featuring gentle sounds of water, bird songs, and dog barks in the background. I preserved the live recording's sound and added some audio mixing to better capture the ambiance of the park. I hope you enjoy it!

Click image to visit my Little Art Supplies Store on Amazon.

I brought along a bag with some watercolor sketchboards, brushes, and pencils, but honestly, I usually just stick to one brush for everything. That’s my size 10 Da Vinci Watercolor Travel Brush in the picture. If you're curious about the art supplies I used, you can check them out at my Amazon Art Store.

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