Well, what a strange trip 2011 has been. I joined the site in 2005 and was a lurker, faving stuff every now and then. At the time, I didn't have any inkling of posting artwork. I had a lot of...um...personal issues that prevented me from doing so. Also, I didn't really draw at all. Towards the end of the decade, I decided to start learning to draw. I primarily read about drawing around 2009-10 and started to invest in sketchbooks and eventually got me a tablet. From 09 to around late 2010, it was a time of experimentation. I had some ideas floating around in my head for awhile, so I did some original stuff every now and then. For the most part, I drew stuff on paper as I wasn't yet warm to drawing with a tablet. Needless to say the small Intuos4 I invested gathered dust. (I was drawing in an 8x11 paper sketchbook and on a much smaller tablet. I couldn't get used to it.) Coupled with my anxiety over doing artwork in public and no direction, I didn't create much in 2010.

Forward to 2011. I began to "reboot" my approach to drawing. I invested in things that I would actually use. I sold the intuos4 small and got me a Bamboo which was larger and suited my drawing style. I went away from using Sketchbook Pro to Photoshop CS 5 for my primary work (I still use SBP from time to time for some sketching). I also started to work on making more original characters (some which aren't "ready" yet, see my scraps), drew a LOT in my paper sketchbooks and dabbed in some Fan Art.

Speaking of fan art, as you all know, Ponies are cool these days. My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic is awesome and you should watch it. My date of friendship infection was in February and never looked back. I eventually met some "bronies" in the flesh this May in NYC and saw it turn from a small gathering of animation/video game nerds who happen to like cute ponies to a growing convention where the people involved in the show are now attending. My social life online and off has never been this 20% cooler. Much of my views and faves this year comes primarily from my MLP:FIM artwork. While I have a strong preference towards my own original art and wish it had a little more exposure, people are going to gravitate towards what they want for better or for worse.

These are the 12 pieces of art that I feel are my best in 2011. Feel free to take a look at them and don't be afraid to comment. After all, I'm still learning to draw.

I'm just getting started.

Gallery featuring all 12 artwork. [link]

You can create your OWN 2011 year in review too!