Thank you to everyone who tuned into my live video! Join me for my next live video in the app.
Welcome back to the dust, Brave Souls.
Tonight we are doing things a little differently. Normally, I start with a conversation, but tonight we are jumping straight into the work.
I’ve been doing a bunch of watercolor lately. And since I don’t have a fancy setup, I’ve been using an old piece of furniture as my watercolor board.
It works. And that is all that matters. Use what you have.
The Skill Forge
I ended the night with a thought that has been on my mind, something about the way we operate in this modern world.
We are constantly pushed to be wide. To have a breadth of knowledge. To be a jack of all trades.
But I think that is a trap.
It is only in the deep work, it is only in the forges of depth that we find ourselves actually becoming skilled.
Don’t always strive to be the “best.” That is a competitive mindset that often leads to shallow work.
Strive to be Deep.
Strive to understand the thing you are doing so well that it becomes a part of you.
That is the only way to mastery. Not through shortcuts. Not through hacks. But through the forge. Through the repetition that bores others but excites the master.
The City of Azir
We spent some time tonight visualizing the city of Azir.
I’ve painted it before, repainted it, and it’s been living in my head.
This is the home of Biaba, the Priestess of the Fireworm (the Rhomox).
The Location: Ashfall Peaks.
The Vibe: It sits in the shadow of the volcano. It is a place of black rock, heat, and devotion to the cycle of the Fireworm.
I think I’ve finally nailed the look of it. It’s dense. It’s vertical. It feels lived in and dangerous. It feels like a place where the people have adapted to the heat rather than fought against it.
Watercolor Experiments
I’ve been messing around with watercolor lately.
It’s a different beast than ink. It requires patience. It requires you to let go of control.
I’m still learning. I’m still studying. But I’m happy with the progress.
We did a few swatches, tested some colors, and tried to capture the feel of the Ashfall Peaks—the oranges, the blacks, the greys. It’s about finding the texture of the world, not just the shape of it.
The Ask
We are building this world one brushstroke at a time.
My Ask: If you are working on something, go deep. Don’t skim the surface. Put in the time. If you feel so inclined tell me what you’re working on lately.
And if you want to see these sketches become something real, check out the BoneShop or share this newsletter with another Soul that dares to Brave the Sands.
Until next time,
It’s your boy Howler.
