Did you notice that Callum never sketched once in S4? He had his sketchbook with him on their journey but never pulled it out or used it. At first I thought eh, maybe they just didn’t have time to include that with everything else going on this season. But then I began to think that this choice may be intrinsically connected to Callum emotionally repressing himself. Drawing has always been a way for him to express his big feelings and his ability to love deeply. But instead, he’s been focusing all his energies on being a mage instead, because he links his self worth entirely to his magical abilities. AND THEN, my brain started going to big picture things like Callum the Mage vs Callum the Artist, and which is is ultimately going to be beneficial for him and who he is in the end. I dunno where I’m going with this, but I just wanted to throw out this observation and hear your thoughts.
I thought at first that he was sketching at some point in the Drakewood but you're right! He's just skimming his book
We didn't see Callum draw on screen at all in S3 either, too consumed by the journey and mission and honestly his feelings for Rayla. However, we do know that Callum draws in S3 because he draws Rayla's parents and shows it to her.
On the one hand, having his sketchbook mostly be a spellbook is just very practical and he uses it all the time this season. On the other hand, we also know that drawing is something Callum genuinely loves to do - and something he does to process his emotions
He draws Sarai in 1x07 to process his feelings of loss, which he shares with Ezran
C: When you were under the ice, I was so scared. I thought I was going to lose you like we lost her.
We see him draw like that again in 2x07 when he's worried over Rayla, but he doesn't say anything to Ezran. He's tight lipped, he's angry, he's conflicted. He throws his sketchbook, a gift from Harrow that he cared enough to have stitched up by the time S4 comes along, on the ground because he's so pissed off at feeling helpless and worried
So I don't think him drawing per se is like, a big thing in S4 just because he draws so sparingly in season three, but we do know that 1) Callum is very emotionally shut down in S4 overall and 2) he is not actually processing the bulk of his emotions, either purposefully distracting himself from them, trying to, or having them over ruled by other more recent trauma. For example, Callum only gets one (1) day to process Rayla's return before the very next immediate night, Aaravos possesses him. Give this poor kid a break
I do think there's something to be said for High Mage Callum vs Prince Callum vs regular Callum identity wise though. You have Callum's role to his brother ultimately as the prince, something he's more comfortable in, and defining himself as a big brother is something and his family has always done: he takes his role as the older sibling very seriously, shown in how he looks out for and somewhat parentifies himself around Ezran, and even including Harrow's last words to him: "Take care of your brother."
Then you have his role as the high mage and as a mage in general, which leaves him vulnerable to Aaravos and uncertain of himself; probably why he ultimately can't give up the cube ("If I'm not a mage, then who am I?" from Callum's Spellbook) but also something he's struggling with because of Rayla (who inspired him to become a mage in the first place) and Viren (a shadowy predecessor looming over him).
Then there's 'regular' Callum, who we see most prominently to me in 2x04: curious, determined, searching, reckless, desperate, as he goes out into the storm and finds Rayla waiting for him. He's magic-less, a little bit hopeless, down on himself. He feels like he's nothing; Rayla sees otherwise, "magic or no magic."
After all, Rayla doesn't mention his magic once to Sol Regem when she lists all the reasons he's wonderful and amazing -- because he always was, and she's always known it
