The Year in review Farewell Building year 2025

The Year in review Farewell Building year 2025

Inside the Studio: Creativity, Chaos, Coffee, and the Rise of Bolt Voltage

A full-scale update on everything happening in the JDubsArts universe and where we are headed next.

There is a moment every morning in the studio when the lights flip on, the dogs are still waking up, the house is quiet, and the coffee machine prepares for its daily sermon. That is when the magic usually hits. It is the meeting point of new energy and the ideas that carried over from the night before. If you have been following me across Facebook, TikTok, Instagram, Threads, LinkedIn, or YouTube, you already know that things at JDubsArts have been moving at hyperspeed lately. New art drops. New storytelling expansions. New merch. New events. New chapters in Bolt Voltage’s universe. New episodes of Coffee with Dubs every morning. And now, new plans for the future that I am finally ready to reveal.

This blog is my chance to gather all of that energy in one place. It is a behind the scenes look at what is happening in the studio, how the creative whirlwind is shaping up, and what you can expect from the JDubsArts world as we close out this year and push into the next.

So pour a cup, pull up a chair in the neon shadows of Sector 37 QS, and dive with me into this full studio update. There is a lot to cover, and every bit of it reflects the direction this creative universe is growing.

The Heartbeat of the Studio: Coffee with Dubs

Every creative universe needs a pulse. For JDubsArts, that pulse is Coffee with Dubs. What began as a simple morning vlog has become a ritual of storytelling, reflection, humor, and the occasional glitchy moment of philosophy that Bolt Voltage would be proud of.

Coffee with Dubs has grown into a daily conversation with the community. It documents the journey, the struggles, the wins, the creative experiments, and the deeper emotional work that fuels everything I make. It is where people get to see the process, not just the polished product.

Here is how the series has expanded over the past few months.

Daily long form videos

These offer a deeper look into studio life. They include creative commentary, breakdowns of projects in development, personal reflections, and updates about where the JDubsArts brand is headed next.

Bite sized Shorts and Reels

Designed for quick impact across platforms. They carry humor, insight, small lessons, and moments of connection that people can watch on the go.

Behind the scenes studio glimpses

These include new artwork pinned to the grid wall, sketches in progress, paint tests, animation drafts, and the growing landscape of tools, canvases, and equipment filling the workspace.

Micro lessons on creativity and emotional intelligence

These segments are closely tied to the Bolt Voltage universe. Topics like patience, emotional regulation, resilience, and learning through creativity appear often. Parents have written to me saying their children repeat the lessons. Adults have said the messages help frame their mornings. This is the type of impact that reminds me why I create in the first place.

Community centered storytelling

The community fuels the narrative. Conversations at vendor shows, comments on social media, and shared coloring pages often spark new story ideas. That energy carries directly into new pages, videos, and entire seasonal arcs for Bolt Voltage.

What started as a simple cup of coffee each morning has become a lighthouse that keeps everything grounded as the creative projects scale.

The Studio: A Creative Engine in Full Motion

The studio is busier than it has ever been. Artwork fills every corner. New digital files pile up daily. Production schedules overlap. Tools upgrade. New workflows form. Ideas multiply. It is an exhilarating kind of chaos that signals growth.

Here is an overview of what has been happening inside the JDubsArts studio.

New Artwork: Holiday Drops, Coloring Pages, and Limited Editions

This season has been packed with creative output. The highlights include:

  • Christmas themed Bolt Voltage coloring pages

  • Thanksgiving stories and downloadable activity pages

  • A six page Hanukkah micro story currently in production

  • Winter themed environmental scenes from Sector 37 QS

  • High contrast line art designed for print friendly downloads

  • New Bolt Voltage character variants for upcoming merch runs

Each release has been met with incredible support. People are downloading pages, coloring them, tagging me in their posts, and sharing them with classrooms and community groups. It creates a cycle of creative participation. I design the pages. You bring them to life with color. I feature your work. More people join the fun. Community through art is a powerful thing.

Alongside the new artwork, I have been producing limited edition signed paperbacks of Bolt Voltage Out of Sync. These runs are separate from the Amazon edition and give collectors something more personal. Each book is packed and shipped directly from me to you. It has been rewarding to see how quickly they sell out, and I am preparing another small batch soon.

Studio Tools, Upgrades, and Experiments

The studio has seen major upgrades in both equipment and technique. Some of the biggest innovations include the integration of Sora for animation work. Bringing Bolt Voltage to life through motion has elevated the storytelling experience. Scenes from the book and seasonal shorts are now expanding into animated sequences that add dimension to Bolt’s emotional journey.

Recent animated experiments include:

  • Bolt entering a silent Christmas theme park

  • The abandoned Santa workshop as seen from a distance

  • Robo reindeer sequences pulling Bolt through snow

  • Post human holiday environments rebuilt in motion

  • Emotional moments translated into visual glitch effects

At the same time, I have been improving traditional workflow systems.

Current studio upgrades include:

  • Higher resolution scanning for graphite and ink drawings

  • Cleaner digital line art conversions

  • A refreshed mockup pipeline for apparel and merchandise

  • Better lighting setups for product photography

  • Expanded pastel and paint mediums

  • Early tests with claymation style render sequences

The studio is no longer just a drawing space. It is now a hybrid of art lab, story studio, and production suite.

Expanding the Bolt Voltage Universe

Bolt Voltage has evolved from a single illustrated book into a multi layered universe. The amount of content, characters, and story arcs being developed has grown significantly over the past year.

Here is what is currently shaping the Bolt Voltage world.

Seasonal mini stories

Thanksgiving, Christmas, and Hanukkah arcs have introduced short format storytelling that provides kids and families a festive way to learn about emotions, traditions, and belonging.

Activity books

These pages allow children to participate directly in the story. They color the characters, complete prompts, and interact creatively with Bolt’s world.

Emotional intelligence themes

Bolt’s journey mirrors the experiences of people of all ages who navigate change, curiosity, loneliness, discovery, and personal growth.

Animation development

Every new Sora clip brings Bolt one step closer to full cinematic expression.

New characters

Amp the robotic dog is entering the series. New mechanical companions and themed seasonal characters are beginning to take shape through early sketches and lore drafts.

Accessibility and reach

Spanish versions, simplified reading levels, and multi-format designs are helping the Bolt Voltage universe reach a wider audience.

This universe is no longer static. It is becoming a living, evolving narrative experience that grows with the seasons and with the community.

Community: The Engine Behind the Voltage

Everything happening in the studio is powered by the people who show up each day. The JDubsArts community is engaged, loyal, creative, and growing. Every comment, every coloring page submission, every handshake at a vendor fair, and every view on Coffee with Dubs fuels this journey.

Recent community highlights include:

  • Local chatter groups sharing the free holiday coloring pages

  • Parents printing Bolt pages for entire classrooms

  • Strong turnout at seasonal vendor shows

  • Positive responses to the limited edition print runs

  • Supporters following the Sora animation journey

  • People discovering JDubsArts through Bolt Voltage and staying for the story

Community is the foundation of this brand, and it continues to shape the direction of everything I create.

The Near Future: Big and Bright Plans Ahead

The next chapter of JDubsArts is already being built. The ideas are in motion, and the studio is preparing to introduce several major projects that will shape the year ahead.

Here is what is coming.

1. The 12 Days of Voltage

A multi part holiday experience that blends art, music, activities, and storytelling into a festive celebration of Bolt’s world.

2. A New Bolt Voltage Book

Centered on the theme of change. This book explores emotional growth in a simple, accessible, child friendly format that adults will also appreciate.

3. Expanded Sora animations

Longer scenes, more world building, and more emotional expression.

4. New merch collections

Book bags, notebooks, stickers, cross body bags, winter apparel, classroom sized posters, and collectible prints.

5. Weekly website articles

Launching every Monday during summer. These pieces will tie into local events, personal reflections, and deeper themes within the Bolt Voltage universe.

6. Studio livestreams

Live drawing sessions, coloring, Q and A events, and real time behind the scenes creative work.

7. Facebook subscription tier

Exclusive content for loyal supporters. The tier will include early access, private posts, special downloads, and more.

8. New community partnerships

Additional collaborations with libraries, schools, local businesses, and art clubs.

9. Audiobook production

Bolt Voltage Out of Sync is being adapted into an audio rich experience with sound design and atmospheric storytelling.

10. A collected holiday Bolt Voltage book

A compendium that gathers the Christmas, Hanukkah, and Thanksgiving stories into one festive seasonal keepsake.

These plans are only the beginning. The foundation is built. The story world is expanding. The tools are improving. The community is growing. The next year of JDubsArts will be the strongest and most creative yet.

A Final Thank You from the Studio

If you have been here since the first sketch of Bolt on a scrap of paper, thank you. If you joined this community through a coloring page, a short video, a vendor fair, or a post shared by a friend, welcome. Every part of this journey is anchored in connection. Art is better when it is shared. Stories are stronger when they are told together. Creativity is more meaningful when it builds community.

Everything happening in this studio is fueled by the people who believe in it. Your support, your comments, your shares, your encouragement, your conversations, and your participation in the Bolt Voltage universe are what keep this work alive.

I am grateful every day for the opportunity to create this world and share it with you.

The Voltage is rising. The story is expanding. And we are only getting started.

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