People usually think I'm crazy for starting One Piece in 2024, but finding a way to enjoy the famously long-running anime has helped me develop traits that spilled over into my creative endeavors.

My desire to paint the world with the colors I want to see includes the nostalgia of a printed magazine or digest. I loved sitting in the doctor's office as a kid because it meant I could read whatever issues of Highlights they had. I desperately wanted Nickelodeon magazine because of their commercials. I loved skimming through Reader's Digest as it arrived at my family home as my mother has a subscription. Even to this day, I still read the single issue of Playstation magazine that I got in 1999 whenever I come across it in my mother's attic. What's new in this issue? What games could I play? Could I make whatever recipe they have for me this time? All of these things that I felt as a reader are things that I want to be able to provide as a creator.

Sunday Flamenco was an idea that came to me before I worked at IKEA, but IKEA was where I got most of its reps in.

This is one of my favorite stories to tell with regards to my development as a creative. Having an alternative perspective. Fighting against convention and being audacious. Simply using a different crayon. These are the energies I try to channel through my designs and creations. If you've never heard this one before, I hope you make the time to read it here.

One thing I’m really enjoying about my latest creative format is that it feels instantly gratifying. So much of how I worked before, I felt like I had to hold off on telling anyone or showing anyone my updates or thought-process because I was so unsure of what I was doing or how it would appear. Now that I have my website and my blog as well, it will all go out as I see fit!

I’m going to try to get into the habit of doodling on my days off and posting whatever I come up with here. No sense in leaving you readers out of the fun that I’m having, hehe…

I want to encourage you to act on an idea simply because it entered your brain.

(The image: Me, Wal, as depicted by Esrever, an artist friend!)

I've finally decided to actually sit down and work on building a proper website for Wal of Books!