It all started during Inktober when I decided to take on the prompt “castle.” Most people would go for a nice, straightforward turret or two, but not me. I was deep into experimenting with black and white op art, and naturally, I thought, “Why not mix that with a castle?”
This idea blended with a cushion design has a nostalgic quality that takes me right back to the good ol’ days of building pillow forts. There’s something about getting lost in the creation of a pattern, just like getting lost in the folds of blanket and pillow cubbies, that brings out the inner kid in me. It’s a different kind of magic—one that’s not about creating a physical space, but a mental one.
What do you enjoy most about writing?
Blogging about this pattern gives me a chance to reflect on all that. Writing helps me organise my thoughts, especially when I’m rambling about how to become a thriving artist. Fiction and kids’ books take me to a completely different creative space from visual art—a space where I’m not just arranging lines on a screen but conjuring up entire worlds in my head. And if I’m being honest, that’s what I love most about both writing and art—they let me revisit that creative place where anything is possible, even if it’s just for a little while.
This cushion design is a bit of a throwback for me. It’s a reminder that art, like building pillow forts or writing kids’ books, is all about finding joy in the process, no matter how twisted and warped things might seem along the way.
Kids Book Illustrator Andy C Marshall 