People often imagine that illustrators wake up with a fully formed idea, sit down with a cup of coffee, and immediately start producing finished artwork. I wish it worked like that, but the truth is far more interesting.
Professional illustrators rarely leap straight from idea to final art. There’s a whole bunch of steps in between: research, scribbles, false starts, visual problem‑solving, character exploration, world‑building, and a lot of playful experimentation. Every illustrator has their own version of this journey, and over the years I’ve learned to trust mine.
A few years back, I recorded a short video walking through my process. The tools and technology have evolved a little since then, but the heart of it hasn’t changed at all. Only the subject matter has. These days, that subject matter is Divi & Frey: two adventurous trouble‑magnets who seem determined to drag me (and my pencil) across deserts, rooftops, ancient stairways, and the occasional motorcycle chase.
If you’re curious about how these stories and illustrations begin — long before they become polished pages, this video is a snapshot of the creative messiness that makes may ideas come to life.
The process stays the same. The worlds and characters just keep getting more fun.
Divi & Frey 
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