Framed black-and-white illustration by Pops K. Ümlang titled “Dept. of Mystic Resources,” featuring whimsical directional signs and symbolic typography arranged like a road signpost, shown in a neutral wood frame against a white wall.

dept. of mystic resources

This spiritual offshoot of Artist at Work extends the visual language of caution and wayfinding into something more cosmic. Here, bureaucratic order bends toward curiosity — a tongue-in-cheek department devoted to the soft infrastructure of creativity itself. This piece maps the thresholds between exhaustion and renewal, reminding us that rest, repair, and rediscovery are all part of the work.

Early draft sketch by Pops K. Ümlang for Dept. of Mystic Resources, featuring hand-drawn caution and direction signs labeled “Scenic Route,” “Very Lost,” and “Out of Whack,” arranged loosely on white paper.
Process sketch by Pops K. Ümlang for Dept. of Mystic Resources, showing early layout concepts with directional motifs, chevrons, and a “World of Whim” emblem at the base.
Color study swatches by Pops K. Ümlang for Dept. of Mystic Resources, showing grouped paint and marker samples in lilac, pink, mint, teal, and chartreuse tones tested on textured paper.
Cropped framed print mockup of Pops K. Ümlang’s Dept. of Mystic Resources illustration, showing a close-up section of the design styled in a softly lit interior with draped fabric and greenery.
Color-treated version of Pops K. Ümlang’s Dept. of Mystic Resources illustration, with added lilac and chartreuse details on textured paper.
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a field guide to signs and signals