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Description
Wow, who would believe another year has already passed by.... No, seriously, I can't believe it.
I don't know if it's because I have been more busy than ever or for any other mystical reason, but this year really raced by me, especially the latter half. One day it was June, the summer was ahead of me and since I don't really do summer vacation, I was having my hopes to complete so many things until its end.... and the other day it is suddenly December and I'm summarizing the year. And it seems like I haven't done all so much during that year.... though admittedly, a lot of the work I have been doing simply doesn't yield an artwork or a writing.... There has been a lot of work that had its reflection upon people, rather than sheets of paper....

But enough of that. We're here to talk about art. So let's talk about art. Here's the art that I've chosen to speak about this year for me:

January - The Black Rose - As if it was only yesterday that this scoundrel came around with his entire crazy story, he absorbed all of my attention for a few weeks, then he was gone as the wind. It was quite memorable and his story and left me both excited and shaken, so that's why he gets January, even if there are other pieces that also compete. But don't worry. He is still at the back of my mind, standing on the rooftop in the night, waiting for the time to tell his tale.
February - Full of Life - I've always been mesmerized by Maned Wolves and always thought it'd be nice to draw one, but it only got ever more so when one of them is now my dear friend. It was such a pleasure indeed to draw this gift for him.
March - The tender face of strength - I remember when I first saw the reference sheet Jayme did for Rose, I was completely astonished, the tender beauty that inspired me so much I couldn't resist the urge to draw her. But it was really knowing about her strength that made this into a meaningful artwork personally for me, and one with spirit. Now this memory is bittersweet.... but I won't let anyone take away from me the love and beauty that I made it with. To this day, this remains one of my most beautiful and favourite portraits I've ever made, and no matter what anyone else is trying to tell me, I can never draw something like that if I don't genuinely feel for it. That's the simple truth.
April - Purging Flames - Ah, the controversial glory born of troubled times. This year had a lot of enemy-generated hardships for me, they began at its birth and by April they threatened to come to a terrible peak. The things I knew, things I saw that the public never knew about came together in a rough time, a tide that I thought would swallow me. Then, this happened. It may be terrible of me, but I don't remotely care. That day Chaos, the essence of Nature, struck at the very heart of the tyranny, and I celebrated with all my fellows. A truly inspiring night I managed to recreate in art with my deep conviction when the castles and towers of spiritual slavery crumble and melt into ashes, destruction is simply beautiful.
May - Embrace of the Flame - The next few artworks denote a time that was quite dominated by siderians. Jayme visited me and we embarked on adventures together, but first - there was something warm yet powerful for us to share.
June - Warmth within - Made with the previous one really, but this took a longer time and quite dedicated work as it was the biggest black paper drawing I've done so far. Even if black paper facilitates such dark, spiritual artworks quite well and they come together much more quickly, the details, challenging lighting and features of the (lizard) faces needed a lot of work. One of my deeply spiritual drawings of the year, one I was really proud of.
July - Reborn - As I remember, this came as my support for Håkan, my way to stand at his side against the lies of vile traitors. In the end, the truth prevails and the true spirit stands proud and powerful. That's what the enemy can never have.
August - Goddess Bastet - Haagenti - Hahah, it seems like August is the month of Bastet, yet again she takes possession of it, but this time with one of the most detail and spectacular portraits I've made. I'm truly proud of this one, and happily devote it to her, as my tribute for her help and support, and all the care that she gives to our dear little feline friends. Hail Goddess Bastet-Haagenti.
September - Hyperion - Probably having spent a lot of my artistic energy back in the early months of the year - and in May - the latter part was a bit quieter. There were still a few nice artworks (some pretty epic), but in the mean time, a few more fantasy biology illustrations spawned. They are really chill to draw, something I can do while I am generally too tired and/or busy to delve in a more serious project, yet they are surprisingly rewarding. I love doing them so there will be more.
October - The Spirit of Winter - A month of many things, the Snow Leopard huddled inbetween. I've been wishing to draw a portrait like this for a long time, and it was a nice opportunity to practice a new pencil technique.
November - Andras The Wolfkin - I used to draw primarily in graphite with only sometimes a bit of simple color as accent, and the true reason for this is that while I am obsessed with realism, achieving realism with color was something I didn't know how to even approach. I tend to think in simple colors: blue, green, red.... and yes, I am aware of hues and that colors can mix, but for the most part in my mind red combines with only other reds and that somehow magically yields all the different rich shades.... right? Hahah, wrong, of course. Maybe because I never studied colors. But in the recent times I begin to understand them better and thus gain the boldness to experiment and the insight to know how to achieve the exact hues that I want. So with practice, with some imagination, the aforementioned new (for me) pencil technique, I can now delve in colorful realism.... and I tell you, I am really, really proud to have achieved that, on my own.
December - Lapis del'Eryth - Last but not least, I have been going back into memories lately, reminiscing things that came to me so many years ago as well as discovering so much more anew. Thus came the enticing idea to draw portraits of my del'Eryth family, and for me this is a memorable event.... so December is definitely reserved for that. Yes, in case you wonder, this actually is my past life, my memories, my family, my one true self. What you read there is based on real events.

Finally - The Four Riders of The Apocalypse - I take the liberty to add a 13th piece (how fitting is that really, hehe) and summarize the year with the glory of The Apocalypse Project, and for several reasons: for one thing, because it deserves a spot (yet the piece for December is also very personal and significant for me and I wanted to have it), for another because it marks quite important progress in my life, not to mention it really combines my artistic skills and brings them together in a way I had never really done before; and finally, it can stand as the piece of the passing 2019 as both the most significant and the one that has taken by far the longest time, stretching from planning to completion pretty much throughout the year. Besides, the running horses have a lot of the "ON TO!" feeling to them, don't they

So then, this is my this-year's summary of art. I also gotta say why there's only one of it this year, after last year I had two: both traditional and digital. I did try to go with that at first and until about April I had at least one artwork of both kinds for every month. However, then guests began to arrive, we were going on adventures, and I began to stall.... Then I realized I am pushing myself quite hard to do art just for the completion of that "norm", and this is not how art should be made. Art should be made of loooove, not duty. It also takes away from my desire to do art and art itself suffers from that. So I decided it isn't worth it and I should return to a more natural approach and let it come when it wants to. Therefore my digital works from April on have been fewer, but a lot better and more inspired than they would have been otherwise.

I also don't wish to think that withdrawal is caused by less inspiration than last year. True, last year really smashed through the ceiling, the roof and hit the clouds above, but this year hasn't been bad either. Compared to 2018 it was indeed quieter (though mostly where art is regarded) and less productive (again, mostly art-wise), but compared to other years before it was still an awesome, really inspired one. Besides, I have been doing so many other things. Did I mention I have never been as busy as I am now? Admittedly, sometimes that results in less art because I also have a capacity. Who knows, maybe one day I will do a twin-summary again.... when I retire (hahaha, nice joke). Nope.

Description
Wow, who would believe another year has already passed by.... No, seriously, I can't believe it.
I don't know if it's because I have been more busy than ever or for any other mystical reason, but this year really raced by me, especially the latter half. One day it was June, the summer was ahead of me and since I don't really do summer vacation, I was having my hopes to complete so many things until its end.... and the other day it is suddenly December and I'm summarizing the year. And it seems like I haven't done all so much during that year.... though admittedly, a lot of the work I have been doing simply doesn't yield an artwork or a writing.... There has been a lot of work that had its reflection upon people, rather than sheets of paper....

But enough of that. We're here to talk about art. So let's talk about art. Here's the art that I've chosen to speak about this year for me:

January - The Black Rose - As if it was only yesterday that this scoundrel came around with his entire crazy story, he absorbed all of my attention for a few weeks, then he was gone as the wind. It was quite memorable and his story and left me both excited and shaken, so that's why he gets January, even if there are other pieces that also compete. But don't worry. He is still at the back of my mind, standing on the rooftop in the night, waiting for the time to tell his tale.
February - Full of Life - I've always been mesmerized by Maned Wolves and always thought it'd be nice to draw one, but it only got ever more so when one of them is now my dear friend. It was such a pleasure indeed to draw this gift for him.
March - The tender face of strength - I remember when I first saw the reference sheet Jayme did for Rose, I was completely astonished, the tender beauty that inspired me so much I couldn't resist the urge to draw her. But it was really knowing about her strength that made this into a meaningful artwork personally for me, and one with spirit. Now this memory is bittersweet.... but I won't let anyone take away from me the love and beauty that I made it with. To this day, this remains one of my most beautiful and favourite portraits I've ever made, and no matter what anyone else is trying to tell me, I can never draw something like that if I don't genuinely feel for it. That's the simple truth.
April - Purging Flames - Ah, the controversial glory born of troubled times. This year had a lot of enemy-generated hardships for me, they began at its birth and by April they threatened to come to a terrible peak. The things I knew, things I saw that the public never knew about came together in a rough time, a tide that I thought would swallow me. Then, this happened. It may be terrible of me, but I don't remotely care. That day Chaos, the essence of Nature, struck at the very heart of the tyranny, and I celebrated with all my fellows. A truly inspiring night I managed to recreate in art with my deep conviction when the castles and towers of spiritual slavery crumble and melt into ashes, destruction is simply beautiful.
May - Embrace of the Flame - The next few artworks denote a time that was quite dominated by siderians. Jayme visited me and we embarked on adventures together, but first - there was something warm yet powerful for us to share.
June - Warmth within - Made with the previous one really, but this took a longer time and quite dedicated work as it was the biggest black paper drawing I've done so far. Even if black paper facilitates such dark, spiritual artworks quite well and they come together much more quickly, the details, challenging lighting and features of the (lizard) faces needed a lot of work. One of my deeply spiritual drawings of the year, one I was really proud of.
July - Reborn - As I remember, this came as my support for Håkan, my way to stand at his side against the lies of vile traitors. In the end, the truth prevails and the true spirit stands proud and powerful. That's what the enemy can never have.
August - Goddess Bastet - Haagenti - Hahah, it seems like August is the month of Bastet, yet again she takes possession of it, but this time with one of the most detail and spectacular portraits I've made. I'm truly proud of this one, and happily devote it to her, as my tribute for her help and support, and all the care that she gives to our dear little feline friends. Hail Goddess Bastet-Haagenti.
September - Hyperion - Probably having spent a lot of my artistic energy back in the early months of the year - and in May - the latter part was a bit quieter. There were still a few nice artworks (some pretty epic), but in the mean time, a few more fantasy biology illustrations spawned. They are really chill to draw, something I can do while I am generally too tired and/or busy to delve in a more serious project, yet they are surprisingly rewarding. I love doing them so there will be more.
October - The Spirit of Winter - A month of many things, the Snow Leopard huddled inbetween. I've been wishing to draw a portrait like this for a long time, and it was a nice opportunity to practice a new pencil technique.
November - Andras The Wolfkin - I used to draw primarily in graphite with only sometimes a bit of simple color as accent, and the true reason for this is that while I am obsessed with realism, achieving realism with color was something I didn't know how to even approach. I tend to think in simple colors: blue, green, red.... and yes, I am aware of hues and that colors can mix, but for the most part in my mind red combines with only other reds and that somehow magically yields all the different rich shades.... right? Hahah, wrong, of course. Maybe because I never studied colors. But in the recent times I begin to understand them better and thus gain the boldness to experiment and the insight to know how to achieve the exact hues that I want. So with practice, with some imagination, the aforementioned new (for me) pencil technique, I can now delve in colorful realism.... and I tell you, I am really, really proud to have achieved that, on my own.
December - Lapis del'Eryth - Last but not least, I have been going back into memories lately, reminiscing things that came to me so many years ago as well as discovering so much more anew. Thus came the enticing idea to draw portraits of my del'Eryth family, and for me this is a memorable event.... so December is definitely reserved for that. Yes, in case you wonder, this actually is my past life, my memories, my family, my one true self. What you read there is based on real events.

Finally - The Four Riders of The Apocalypse - I take the liberty to add a 13th piece (how fitting is that really, hehe) and summarize the year with the glory of The Apocalypse Project, and for several reasons: for one thing, because it deserves a spot (yet the piece for December is also very personal and significant for me and I wanted to have it), for another because it marks quite important progress in my life, not to mention it really combines my artistic skills and brings them together in a way I had never really done before; and finally, it can stand as the piece of the passing 2019 as both the most significant and the one that has taken by far the longest time, stretching from planning to completion pretty much throughout the year. Besides, the running horses have a lot of the "ON TO!" feeling to them, don't they

So then, this is my this-year's summary of art. I also gotta say why there's only one of it this year, after last year I had two: both traditional and digital. I did try to go with that at first and until about April I had at least one artwork of both kinds for every month. However, then guests began to arrive, we were going on adventures, and I began to stall.... Then I realized I am pushing myself quite hard to do art just for the completion of that "norm", and this is not how art should be made. Art should be made of loooove, not duty. It also takes away from my desire to do art and art itself suffers from that. So I decided it isn't worth it and I should return to a more natural approach and let it come when it wants to. Therefore my digital works from April on have been fewer, but a lot better and more inspired than they would have been otherwise.

I also don't wish to think that withdrawal is caused by less inspiration than last year. True, last year really smashed through the ceiling, the roof and hit the clouds above, but this year hasn't been bad either. Compared to 2018 it was indeed quieter (though mostly where art is regarded) and less productive (again, mostly art-wise), but compared to other years before it was still an awesome, really inspired one. Besides, I have been doing so many other things. Did I mention I have never been as busy as I am now? Admittedly, sometimes that results in less art because I also have a capacity. Who knows, maybe one day I will do a twin-summary again.... when I retire (hahaha, nice joke). Nope.