Vom Gemälde zum Journal – Die Entstehung meines neuen Otter Journals

Some motifs stay with me longer than others.

The two otters on this journal definitely belong to that group. The idea grew out of many walks along lakes and rivers, and from my fascination with these remarkable animals. Otters seem playful and carefree, yet they also remind me of trust, companionship, and finding our way through life's changing currents together.

Like many of my journals, this one began with a hand-painted artwork. In the video below, you can follow part of the creative process, from the very first brushstrokes to the final details.

Once the painting was finished, I began designing the journal cover digitally. I added an intricate frame of winding vines, tiny stars, and all the elements that would later become the foil details. Unlike some of my previous journals, I chose silver foil this time. Its cool shimmer felt like the perfect match for water, moonlight, and the world of the otters.

The journal's title took a while to find. I asked my newsletter readers and Instagram community for their thoughts, and "Through Light and Dark" quickly became the favourite. The longer I sit with it, the more I love it. To me, the two otters represent walking through both light and darkness together, through calm waters and rough currents alike. That sense of companionship is at the heart of this design.

A few days ago, the very first prototype finally arrived, and that is always one of my favourite moments in the entire creative process. For the first time, I get to hold the idea, the sketches, and all those hours of work in my hands as a real journal.

The finished journal will feature 128 pages of beautiful Munken Pure paper and will be available in three layouts: dotted, lined, and blank. There are still a few final steps before the official release, but seeing this first prototype suddenly made everything feel wonderfully real.

I hope you enjoy this little behind-the-scenes glimpse into the making of my newest journal. If you'd like to be the first to hear about its release, I'd love to welcome you to my newsletter, where I regularly share new products and studio updates before they appear in my shop.