Today I wanted to show you a very simple little trick, something I often use to make the individual hairs, fur, or feathers on the top layers stand out more and appear more naturally lifted from the surface.

Some time ago, someone asked me why, back when I mainly worked with coloured pencils, my progress photos barely showed the sketch underneath. The truth was simple...

So, here's where I'm at the moment with my bird. I’m not mentioning the name yet, so you can take part in my little guessing game I posted with the first video on YouTube, where you can also see a further two fragments of the process I’ve just uploaded

Black objects often contain hints of indigo or deep navy tones. I remember that when I first started drawing animal portraits I leaned heavily into those cooler hues.

We are now halfway through this first six-month chapter, and I would love to make the final August issue feel especially thoughtful and meaningful, that’s why I’ve prepared a small poll for you.

Now, for what I think is the second time in a row, I’m attempting to build black using a combination of coloured pencils and watercolour. Since I’ve never really described my process in detail before, this might come as a surprise...

If you click the link below, you can watch a short video showing the layering I talked about in one of my latest blog posts.

Inside the Studio is my way of encouraging you to look for your own answers, to go further and to find a balance between what you see here and what you can discover on your own.

This technique solved things I had struggled with for years. Combining pencil with watercolor opened up so many possibilities that I just couldn’t get with one medium alone.

Among them, one colour clearly stands above the rest. Whether I am working with pencils or paints, it is always there. Over time it has simply become a natural part of my visual language, a tone I return to again and again.

Bird Card Club grew from that thought. It started with a simple intention of sending a card each month to my family, which inspired the phrase on the back of every card: “Chirping from Afar.” A small reminder that says, “I miss you, you’re on my mind.”

Choosing to step away from commissions was not easy, but it allows me to explore new ideas and focus fully on my creative journey.