What’s on My Desk & Midnight Ideas: A Creative Update
This update is arriving a little later than I intended, but that seems fitting—I’ve been caught in that familiar space between momentum and hesitation, caught up in the many unfinished things whispering from the corners of my workspace. Right now, I’m putting the final touches on my Anubis illustration. I posted a vote on TikTok asking for opinions on different layouts, and the results are in: Layout 1 took the lead. Though honestly, I’m still tempted to finish all the versions... or perhaps explore different Egyptian gods for the alternate layouts. We’ll see where that path leads.
Another current project is a commissioned Aurora Borealis painting for a dear friend. I started one version, but it’s sitting half-finished—something about it just isn’t clicking. I’m torn between transforming it into something else or calling it a loss and starting over. Either way, I’ll begin a new one soon; I want this piece to reflect something specific and meaningful for them.
I also just placed a wildly indulgent order from Archer & Olive’s summer collection (easily my favorite one yet, especially Moonlit Garden & Midnight Florals —those covers are stunning!), and I’m excited to begin a new reading journal with them. I’m planning to start filming content for YouTube this summer, and I’d love to share that process with you all.
Lastly—and this is something I’ve been quietly sitting with—I’ve been thinking about starting a new sketchbook. It’s been years since I kept one regularly. Somewhere along the way, I started treating every piece I made as if it had to be a final product. That perfectionism, combined with years of working as a professional artist, photographer, and designer, has really affected how I create. I miss making art just for the sake of it—messy, unrefined, and full of feeling. Maybe this sketchbook will be a return to that. Maybe it will be a small rebellion against burnout.
Thanks for being here. And for walking beside me—through both the polished and the in-progress.
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Curious to see the Anubis piece that won the vote?
It’s coming soon—but for now, here’s a sneak peek at how the illustration is coming together behind the scenes.
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