Few characters, like Arthur Morgan from Red Dead Redemption 2, have left a lasting impact in gaming. His journal, filled with raw emotions, sketches, and personal thoughts, played a huge role in making the game feel more immersive. Now, one dedicated artist has taken their love for the game to a whole new level by recreating Arthur Morgan’s journal from scratch—a project that took an astonishing seven months to complete.
Instagram user kunstundso_05 took six months to build this work of Red Dead fan fiction in real life. It’s not a quick DIY knockoff but a lesson in fan-made perfectionism. Every page is painstakingly constructed, each letter handwritten with devotion to emulate Arthur’s handwriting, each drawing with the same rough, expressive personality seen in the game. There’s a level of detail that’s almost astonishing, and one can almost imagine one could have removed it from a level in a level in the Van der Linde camp in-game.
What makes it even more extraordinary is its purpose. The creator revealed that the journal was a birthday gift for her boyfriend, a fellow Red Dead Redemption 2 fan. The heart in the background, a recurring theme in most fan works, touched many fans’ hearts and became even more meaningful.
For those who have played through Red Dead Redemption 2, Arthur Morgan’s journal isn’t a run-of-the-mill in-game collectible but a window into his psyche. As Arthur tells through sketched illustrations, writings, and reflective passages, he logs his in-game journey through the life of the title over its long span. As he takes down observations regarding life in general as an outlaw and sketches out Western panoramas, Arthur’s journal is a significant narrative tool that informs and enriches our comprehension of him.
Recreating such an intricate piece of in-game lore wasn’t just about artistic skill—it required patience, dedication, and an almost obsessive commitment to authenticity. Here’s how kunstundso_05 pulled it off:
🔹 Using In-Game References – Every page was closely analyzed, with in-game screenshots guiding to replicate Arthur’s sketches and writings with eerie accuracy.
🔹 Mastering the Handwriting – The artist carefully transferred these references onto tracing paper before replicating Arthur’s distinct cursive style, ensuring every word looked as if the outlaw himself had penned it.
🔹 Authentic Materials, No Shortcuts – Aged, veg-tanned leather gave the journal a rugged, 19th-century feel, while textured paper mimicked the wear and tear of a well-traveled notebook. Ink and charcoal mirror the crude but expressive nature of Arthur’s illustrations.
🔹 Handcrafting with Precision – From the stitching of the binding to the way the pages were weathered, every inch of this journal was built to feel like an object that truly belonged in the Red Dead world.
Bringing this artifact to life wasn’t a case of reading a blueprint but a case of becoming a part of the universe of Red Dead Redemption 2 and putting its soul onto a page. That kind of dedication comes through in smudges of the pen, rougher pencil work, and in each one, a sensation of a part of Arthur Morgan’s journey has gone off track. It’s a fandom that takes on a simple challenge and turns it into magic work.
When the completed work was at long last shared with their boyfriend, the reaction was worth its weight in gold. And when social media reached out, Red Dead fanatics all over the planet were no less infatuated. The journal soon developed a following, with fanboys and girls in awe at the skill and dedication that had gone into recreating such a gaming icon.
For many, it was a nostalgic trip down memories of riding through the outback, grappling with Arthur’s fate, and getting lost in Rockstar’s mastery of creating a universe.
Even years later, Red Dead Redemption 2 continues to leave its mark on its devotees. That one in-game artifact—one, moreover, a humble journal—should garner such devotion as a tribute to the power of video-game narrative. Rockstar’s success has moved offscreen, and productions like this one only reiterate Red Dead Redemption 2’s place in gaming’s canon of high and lasting achievement.
With Grand Theft Auto 6 in development and anticipation in limbo, everyone waits with bated breath to see what comes out of Rockstar Games’ hands next. Until then, painstakingly crafted in its wake is a reminder of how deep, immersive, and emotionally strong video games can become. Arthur Morgan’s journey is finished, but its impact—and its fan base’s dedication—remains.