Embracing New Beginnings: Why I Chose to Start This Blog

Hi, My name is Nicholas LeDoux, but you can call me Nick. Recently, I have been feeling very stuck in life. I work a job that is unfulfilling, my relationship status is nothing less than an enigma, and my mental block is at an all time high. So, yeah, right now life seems kind of shitty. So, instead of sitting around wondering when my life is going to get better, I figured I would put that time and energy someplace new and productive. So here I am, writing this post at 12:46am on a Friday, doing the damn thing!

Now, when I first decided to do this, a whole twenty-four hours ago, I had to decide what this blog was going to be about. I could sit here and say that I came up with some mind boggling niche that would really set me apart from other creators, but that is not what happened. Instead, I sat and thought “what can I write about that would fill my cup and stay true to the things that I love?” That is when it hit me, Art.

Art has been a passion of mine since my early years. I started drawing at the age of nine, mostly focusing on things like video game characters, cartoons, and sometimes landscapes. Now, at the ripe age of twenty-four, you would think “Oh, I wonder what niche they grew into as they got older and their art matured?” Well, I am happy to tell you that nothing has changed! While yes, my art has definitely improved over the years, I have stuck to creating the same things I enjoyed as a kid. It is the the thing that has consistently made me happy and brought me comfort.

This outlet has helped me through some of the toughest times in my life, and I am beyond thankful to have carried it along with me to this day. Now, I am going to get a little dark here for a minute, but just bare with me.

Unfortunately, I have battled mental illness for a long time. I have been in some of the darkest places I never would have imagined. This came to an all time high when I was sixteen when I decided I wanted to take my own life. I remember that day very clearly, the day I decided would be my last. I will spare you the details, but ultimately, I did not go through with it. I have my friend to thank for that. The universe told me that it was not my time to go yet when I received a phone call from her. I had so many gifts to share, people to meet, and places to go.

I say all of this to say, after this experience, I turned my focus back to my creative outlet as a way to pull me from the darkness and keep me centered. I eventually began to learn new forms art, such as photography, photoshop, and digital art. In a way, art saved me.

Ok, now that we got THAT out of the way (sorry to get so depressing, YIKES), let’s talk about what I want this blog to become!

Softpop Studio represents my approach to art—blending soft aesthetics with inspiration from pop culture media. With this platform, I hope to connect people with my art content and the stories behind them. Additionally, I want to create content around my creative process and what that looks like. I also may throw in a few tips and tricks here and there. Who knows where this will go! That is the beauty of it. Like art, this blog does not have to be linear. As I continue to evolve as an artist and a writer, this blog will evolve along side me.

If you managed to read this all the way through, congratulations! You now know what my friends have to endure on a daily basis. In all seriousness, thank you for joining me on this journey. I am excited to get started!

With Love,

Nick ❤