This whole thing started with a thought that kept bugging me: what if curiosity and imagination are slipping away? Feels like everywhere you turn, the world’s telling you what to think, what to feel, what to believe. I worried kids might forget how to wonder, how to ask wild questions, how to get lost in the magic of their own imagination. That’s when the idea for a children’s book popped up—a reminder that anything’s possible.

But I hit a wall: I couldn’t afford an illustrator. Instead of tossing the idea, I told myself, alright, time to learn how to draw. Something in me said, draw 500 characters and give them away to anyone who wants want… completely free. So I did. For over 400 days, my life was basically work my day job, then come home and draw. Tutorials, late nights, sketch after sketch—just paddling out and catching wave after wave until it started to click.

What came out of it is 500 characters scattered across the world, each one marking a step in the journey. The real story’s not about whether the drawings are good or bad—it’s in the progression. From the wobbly first sketches to the last bold lines, you can see the growth written all over the pages.

The 500 was never about perfection—it was about chasing possibility. And looking back, those 400 days taught me way more than how to draw. They taught me how to keep showing up, no matter how messy it feels. The art is finished, but the ride’s just beginning.

Feel free to cruise through the characters—the first sketches are up top, and the very last ones are at the bottom.