Book review : The Art of Kelogsloops - From Sketch to Finish

Expectation vs. Reality

The memory that shapes expectation

In my memory, an artbook was the ultimate kind of treasure, almost unreachable.

The very first time I saw one was just before summer break during my 7th school year in Vietnam (roughly the equivalent of 7th grade in the US or Year 8 in the UK), back in the early 2000s.

It was one of the Tsubasa artbooks by CLAMP, with a hardcover binding, vibrant full-color illustrations stretched across double A3 pages, and that crisp scent of glossy paper…

At the time, the word “artbook” was nearly unheard of in my home country. It only circulated in very specific circles, mainly among otakus (Japanese manga fans). To get your hands on one back then, before internet was a household norm, you either had to travel to Japan, or hope that one day, the only manga merch shop in all of Hanoi would receive a copy. Then, you’d have to save up what amounted to a full month of both my parents’ salaries to afford it (after factoring in yen-to-dong conversions, import fees, and reseller markups).

So when the richest girl in my class showed up at school one day with a brand-new CLAMP artbook, it was a full-blown event.

As a drawing-obsessed teenager, I savored every second spent flipping through that rare object. I burned it into my memory as a benchmark: an artbook wasn’t just a book (especially coming from the creators of CLAMP’s already breathtaking manga volumes). It was a defining milestone in an artist’s life.

A milestone from one of my favorite artists

Fast forward to 2024, when Hieu Nguyen—better known as Kelogsloops —announced the release of his very first artbook.

I had been following his work for almost ten years, ten years of admiring his watercolor worlds suspended between dream and reality. I adored his delicate compositions filled with gentleness, detail, and a dreamy atmosphere.

But what I loved even more was the energy in his YouTube videos: humble, grounded, uplifting ; and paired with the similarities in our journeys, it made him a deep source of inspiration over my past decade : Vietnamese roots, a drive to pursue art despite family expectations, watercolorist.

So, when he announced the creation of this book, an important chapter in his artistic path (and since I’ve long stopped needing my parents’ salaries to buy books 😄), I pre-ordered it while it was still in development.

The moment of truth

I had built up some serious expectations. First, because I still remembered that very first artbook I once held as a teenager, a forbidden treasure.

And now I live in France, a country where beautifully crafted books are revered. Here, an artbook isn’t just an object, it’s an artistic rite of passage, often magnificent, always meticulous.

And yet… I was surprised by what I felt in spring 2025, when Hieu / Kelogsloops’ book finally arrived at my door.

The Art of Kelogsloops – From Sketch to Finish moved me.

I expected to be awed by the beauty of the images. But instead, my heart raced, my eyes welled up, and my chest filled with a radiant sense of pride… along with an unstoppable, urgent desire to create, right now.

So much so that I couldn’t help myself: I had to write. I had to share.

The Book-Object: The Look of the Artbook

I have to start with the appearance, because it’s the first thing that comes to mind when we talk about an artbook, and especially because this one is, quite simply, stunning.

Even the packaging breathes care, good taste, and attention to detail. The inked version of the artwork featured on the book cover is printed directly onto the shipping box. The packaging was designed down to the millimeter to protect the book and the goodies gifted to the backers of its Kickstarter campaign.

Though everything was beautiful, for the sake of this review, I’ll focus only on the book itself.

The Exterior of the Artbook

The artbook is even more beautiful in person than it appeared in the photos and mockups shared during the Kickstarter campaign. It’s hefty, neat, hardbound, with gold-edged pages.

The cover exudes elegance. Naturally, it features a piece by Hieu / Kelogsloops: Hide and Seek, from his exhibition The Dream. The title remains subtle, almost shy, letting the image speak for itself.

But it’s the details that amazed me: flocked, embossed butterflies that catch and reflect the light at certain angles, a refined, precious touch. It’s also a lovely nod to what Hieu shares in the book about his discovery of gold leaf:

[…] It was so fun watching how people interacted with the work, moving back and forth, left and right, and up and down to see how light hit the gold from different angle […]

The Art of Kelogsloops, p. 110

The Interior of the Artbook

The inside lives up to the promise of its exterior.

The paper is thick and glossy, the colors vibrant. It’s simply gorgeous.

And surprise: some pages are printed on translucent vellum, showing only the line art of certain pieces.

When you turn the page, it’s like a veil lifting, revealing the finished artwork underneath.

And when you leave the vellum page layered beside the final piece, you can see, side by side, the sketch and its transformation—true to the book’s title: From Sketch to Finish.

The Content: Much More Than a Catalogue of Beautiful Artworks

But beyond being a beautiful object, it’s the content that truly surprised me.

The book is 254 pages long. I thought I’d browse through it in an evening. But even reading quickly, it took me two whole evenings, there’s so much richness in the stories, the process notes, and the personal insights.

Kelogsloops could have been content with a compilation of his finished works, which stand on their own in terms of aesthetics. But he doesn’t. He gives us much more.

The promise made during the Kickstarter campaign is absolutely fulfilled:

« Inside the book, you’ll learn all about my creative journey, from the first face I ever drew (spoiler alert: it was Sailor Moon) to experimenting with watercolours, to exhibiting in art galleries around the world. […] and I will walk you through my entire art process using multiple in-depth tutorials.

[…] When I learned about inspiring artists who turned their own dreams into careers, it paved the way for me to do the same. It would mean the world to me to be able to do that for someone else. Someone much like my younger self. »

A Delicate Balance

What struck me most was the subtle balance between luminous, contemplative illustrated pages and those filled with rich, often very technical content.

I particularly appreciated how well the book navigates between personal insights and the evolution of Hieu’s artistic process. He shares just enough for us to understand his path, his influences, and the reasons behind his choices, without ever slipping into the realm of oversharing or voyeurism, like a tabloid.

He speaks with sincerity about difficult conversations with his mother about their differing views on the artist’s path, about his Vietnamese roots, and about his friendships.

His humility and authenticity shine through, just as they did in his YouTube videos.

The beginning… right from the start

It’s quite striking that, right after the introduction, the book opens with his earliest childhood drawings : awkward, unbalanced, drawn in wildly different styles.

It’s moving and refreshing to see that the beginning of such a beautiful book isn’t designed to dazzle, but rather to honor where Hieu began, before he became Kelogsloops.

These first pages remind us that even with a talent like his, it took time, practice and a long road to get where he is.

I loved reading the detailed account of every step that led to his current career. Some moments were pure chance, others were proactive choices, and yes, there was luck. But most of all, we see Hieu’s deep capacity to be present, to stay ready, and to honor the luck that came his way.

Behind the Scenes – From Sketch to Finish

As an illustrator myself, you’ve probably guessed, this is my favorite part.

The processes Hieu shares are incredibly honest and surprisingly detailed.

The last time he went this in-depth about the behind-the-scenes of an exhibition was a four-part video series on YouTube, back when he was still working… from his bedroom.

In this book, we’re offered an updated, deeper, and incredibly generous version of that creative process.

For example, from pages 148 to 171, we follow the making of a single piece: Someday This Dream Will End. But it’s not just a list of steps, it’s an immersive dive into his thought process, his reasoning, the emotional states he experienced, the doubts he navigated, and the logic behind each decision.

On his YouTube channel, we’re already familiar with his voice-over sharing his inspirations and mindset while coloring his stunning illustrations.

But here, we get to see everything that happens before color even touches the paper: sometimes visually unflattering stages, but deeply comforting to witness. It’s a powerful reminder that nothing comes together in a snap, not even at his level of mastery.

It’s equally inspiring to see that artists like Hieu, and even Agnes Cecile, who wrote the book’s foreword, still experiment, still explore, still strive to grow, and above all, remain curious.

On Instagram, we might assume that Hieu’s style is already fully mature. But by reading the book, we gain a clearer understanding of the many phases in his creative evolution: for instance, when he predominantly used red and navy blue, before moving toward a more “dreamy” aesthetic, experimenting with metallic clouds, textured skies, and new ways of creating backgrounds…

In earlier works, I used watercolor as a means of adding abstract and surreal elements to the piece, such as these vibrant explosions of colour in subject’s hair.

The Art of Kelogsloops, p. 63

I was no longer experimenting with bright yellows purples, reds and aquas, trading them in for golds, deep blues and warm skin tones.

The Art of Kelogsloops, p. 78

I knew I wanted the color palette to be soft and dreamy… I landed on a palette that involved mostly pastel tones: soft pinks, warm yellows, muted orange, and subtle blues.

The Art of Kelogsloops, p. 156

The Art of Kelogsloops : Be Sincere, Not Serious

What stayed with me after finishing the book is how perfectly it embodies the idea: “Be sincere, but don’t take yourself too seriously.”

Even though you can feel Hieu’s deep respect for art and his profession throughout the pages, there’s also a joyful, flexible, and profoundly human approach that runs through it all.

What struck me the most was the presence of his friends, woven throughout the entire book. You can feel how well-supported he is—not just by other artists, but by friends who clearly mean a lot to him. He gives them real space in his narrative, and their presence adds warmth and depth to the whole book:

I’d always wants my own studio space, so in 2021, my friend and I rented one together.

The Art of Kelogsloops, p.242

My friend and I both screamed and jumped around the room.

The Art of Kelogsloops, p.110

I usually ask for my physiotherapy friends for an anatomic check […] I have three friends who I usually ask to help model and pose for these photos…

The Art of Kelogsloops, p.154

And yes—we finally find out where his pseudonym “Kelogsloops” comes from. (Let’s just say… it’s as random as it gets! 😂), a name he himself calls “childish and unprofessional.”

But when you see the quality of his work, it’s clear that it doesn’t matter at all: the name has become a true signature, unique and unforgettable.

Fun fact: On page 103, in a little text box where he talks about whether or not to change his pseudonym, his name is actually misspelled! It made me smile—a Freudian slip, maybe? 😁

A reminder to us, fellow artists starting out: our name, brand name, or pseudonym doesn’t have to be perfect, even if it’s random, hard to spell, or makes no sense… what matters is what we create!

Closing the pages of this beautiful artbook…

What worked incredibly well

I had set the bar very high, shaped by my own perception of what an artbook should be. And honestly, I was blown away.

Despite its polish and professional finish, this book remains deeply sincere, positive, and approachable.

The writing is clear and simple, never pretentious, but still packed with technical insights that will resonate with illustrators, artists, and anyone curious about the “how” behind the art.

 (A very relative) weak point

For me—and probably for many other artists—this book is a gem. It’s clearly aimed at us.

However, for people who don’t practice visual art or aren’t particularly interested in behind-the-scenes creative processes, some parts might feel overly technical.

But that’s a deliberate and conscious choice made by Hieu and 3dtotal Publishing.

Another small note: sometimes the artworks aren’t labeled, or there’s no visual table of contents to help navigate to specific pieces. That can make finding a particular work a bit tricky.

An artbook that makes you want to create—again and again …

Toward the end of the book, after taking in all of Hieu’s stunning artwork, just as I was starting to think “I’ll never reach that level”, this one sentence hit like a balm to the heart:

As a young artist, there’s a very fine line between feeling inspired by the incredible artists you look up to and intimidated by their great work. […]
Keep on running! And that person running in front of you? Keep running with them !

The Art of Kelogsloops, p.237

This book moved me so deeply that I felt an urgent need to write a blog post about it, despite the fact that I had put the blog on hold to focus fully on producing the documentary Behind the Dream.

More than anything, I just want to hand this book to my teenage self, back in the summer before 7th grade, and say:

Keep creating!

Tu Ha An

Right now, with Behind the Dream in post-production, I don’t have the time or energy to return to twice-monthly blog writing as I once did.

So instead, I share my most personal reflections—those I’m not quite ready to put out on social media—through Creati’letter, my monthly newsletter. It includes a “Creative Lesson of the Month,” behind-the-scenes peeks into my work, and updates on my creative projects.

If you feel like it, here’s the link to sign up:

Creati’letter en française : https://tuhaan.com/accueil-fr/#fr-creatiletter

Creati’letter in English: https://tuhaan.com/en/home/#en-creatiletter

Creati’letter tiếng Việt: https://tuhaan.com/vi/trang-chu/#vn-creatiletter

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