by dmariepascual | Jan 10, 2026 | Uncategorized
If you’ve ever opened your sketchbook and immediately felt pressure to “make something good,” you’re not alone. Most artists don’t struggle because they lack talent — they struggle because perfectionism kills ideation. The moment you expect a sketch to be...
by dmariepascual | Jun 3, 2025 | Career Pivots, Dreams, From the Archives
Photo by Marcos Paulo Prado on Unsplash Originally written in 2013. Edited for clarity and reflection in 2025. I haven’t blogged in a while—life has been wild these past few months. Today, I’m moving back across the country to California. I always sensed New York City...
by dmariepascual | May 27, 2025 | Creative Entrepreneurship
Image from Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs (1937). © Disney. Sourced via That Old Picture Show. Used here under Fair Use for commentary. By Diane Pascual Back in 2009–2011, I was deep in the world of character design, storyboarding, and late-night assignments while...
by dmariepascual | May 19, 2025 | Creative Projects & Studio Updates, The Forgotten Earth
© Diane Pascual – digital painting of The Northsar. Circa 2013. Back in 2013, while finishing my MFA in Visual Development at the Academy of Art University in San Francisco, I was living in New York City—commuting from Brooklyn to 34th St. Penn Station, working...
by dmariepascual | May 15, 2025 | Creative Journey, The Forgotten Earth
Image source: “Korra Alone” episode still via [Avatar Wiki – Fandom] By Diane Pascual In every creative journey, there are seasons that feel almost unbearable.Moments when you wonder if you’ll ever find your way back to yourself. Recently, while rewatching The Legend...
by dmariepascual | May 12, 2025 | Creative Journey, From the Archives
Photo by Prophsee Journals on Unsplash Originally written in 2014. Updated for reflection and relevance. Let’s be real—discipline and routine haven’t always come naturally to me. As a creative, I used to thrive on spontaneity and passion alone. But over the years,...
by dmariepascual | May 8, 2025 | Creative Career and lessons, Freelance Life & Mindset
Originally written after speaking on an alumni panel at the Academy of Art University in July 2016. Updated and republished with reflection. Photo taken at the Academy of Art University during the Alumni panel. My friends pictured to the right of me, Eugene Yanza, and...
by dmariepascual | May 6, 2025 | Career Pivots, Creative Career and lessons, Creative Journey
Picture of me taken at the Salesforce HQ in San Francisco when I contracted as an Illustrator and Art Director, circa Spring 2017. In 2023, I walked away from my recruiting career without knowing what came next. After 15 months of unemployment, freelancing as an...
by dmariepascual | May 1, 2025 | Creative Career and lessons, Freelance Life & Mindset
By Diane Pascual From 2013 to 2016, I lived a full-on freelance life. At the end of 2013 I left New York and my stable job to move back to California with dreams of landing a job in the animation and entertainment industry. Fresh out of finishing my MFA in Visual...
by dmariepascual | Apr 25, 2025 | Creative Career and lessons
I had this website up the last few months and have failed to update it until quite recently. Life happens. I also work full time as a UX Designer for a company, and between being a mom, juggling projects, teaching a college course this spring semester called...
