If you've been following me for any amount of time, you're probably familiar with a term I use often: Therapy Playmats. I wanted to take a moment to explain exactly what they are—and why they mean so much to me.
A Therapy Playmat is a blank playmat that I created specifically for drawing on. Originally, my idea was simple: I wanted to bring these blank mats to conventions so that people could buy them and then walk around getting sketches from various artists.
But one night, when I was feeling a little restless, I grabbed one of those blank mats and decided to do a quick pen-and-ink sketch. What started as something simple quickly evolved into something far more complex—before I knew it, the entire playmat was covered in artwork.
That night was a therapeutic moment for me. I realized how much I enjoyed the process of creating on these mats. From then on, I would occasionally pick up a blank mat when I had an idea in my head, roughly pencil it in, and then begin inking directly onto the surface.
My tools are simple: a fine-tip Sharpie and a regular Sharpie. I usually start loosely, not thinking too much about tone or detail at first. I just put the pen down and let it flow. As the piece progresses, I tighten up the lines, darken areas I feel should have more weight, and slowly bring the composition to life. If it's too dark, there's no bringing it back—so I build carefully.
The process is completely organic. I don't plan every detail. I don't even really know what the final piece will look like until it's finished. That's part of what makes these Therapy Playmats so special to me—they're spontaneous, intuitive, and honest.
This latest piece, which I'm calling The Dragon Playmat (at least for now), started with just the eye of the dragon. From there, it grew naturally: the eyebrow, the nose, the jawline, the spikes along its head and under its chin, the horns, the neck, the wings. If you look closely, you’ll see it’s not perfect—but I’m happy with it, and more importantly, it’s done.
When I reach a point where the structure feels complete, I start working in dark blacks using the thicker Sharpie for bolder lines, building up the final background afterward. Again, none of it is heavily pre-planned. It just happens.
And honestly, that’s the whole spirit behind these pieces. I never really know what the final result will be until I stop, look at it, and realize—it's finished.
I just completed this playmat tonight, and I hope you enjoy it as much as I enjoyed creating it. Let me know what you think!