It's December 2016. (long reflection haha)

I was looking through my gallery and realised how much digital art (and full-blown illustrations at that, not sketches) I've done this year. No wonder I was so burnt out. JUST LOOK AT THIS (INCOMING HUGE WALL OF IMAGES)

( +more unfinished lineart of fanart which I'm not gonna reveal because people might trace/colour without my permission >:C )

It was mostly for school, but I've also done more personal digital art than I usually do as well (both Big Swan related and real life related). I drew when I had to for school (the most energy-sucking I'd say), I drew when I wanted to vent how emotionless I felt during my burn out, I drew when I felt confused/depressed about relationships, I drew when I wanted to develop Big Swan stuff, I drew out of curiousity, I drew to practice new stuff... 

Laying out my work like this makes me feel a bit better about my burnout for the first half of 2016 lol. I guess I could say I my output this year shot up beyond what I was used to. Most of the work was school work, and of existing figures too (e.g. World War 2 heroes, real sports people, local stories) so I had little room for self-expression and creativity with storytelling or character design. That's my main gripe of being a graphic design student - even in the Illustration major, I only illustrate worldly stuff and nothing imaginative/fictitious like an animation student would. That really suppresses my creativity a lot, and I guess was part of the reason why I felt so burnt out. //rant

Sure it's no 365 daily drawings or the output of a full-time professional, but I'd dare say this years' finished art output is like 2014 and 2015 combined. Also yay, I seem to have broken away from fanart (at least the trashy kind) to focus on portfolio stuff But still need a lot more observational drawings if I wanna beef up my portfolio for DigiPen.

I did a lot of sketches on paper in 2015, but not enough digital art. Conversely, I did a lot of full-blown digital art but not enough sketches in 2016. In 2015 I was like "nngh digital art rustyyy" and now I'm like "nngh fundamentals are rustyyy". To quote one of my most admired artists , "It's more harmful to do full works without practicing and learning! Sketchbooking keeps me accountable for that". Hope to strike a balance someday!

Well I did draw on paper too, but not as much as I hope D: Here are some scans, there's still a bunch unscanned in my sketchbooks cos' they're vent art or fanart doodles not worth looking at.

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Outside of art, my highlights of 2016 were:

• Watching Gravity Falls with my brother!! It's been a DECADE since we enjoyed a cartoon together! (March-April)
  
• 1st anniversary of my relationship with I'm so glad you've put up with my burn out nonsense earlier this year, and now we understand each other more than ever!
  
• Getting baptised on Mothers' Day! (8th May) Had to go through a pre-baptism course too. (1 month). After my baptism, I felt this... great inner peace and clarity that nothing else, not my art goals or anything mattered as much as time with God and living to be the best disciple I can be in my actions, both inwardly (lifestyle, taking care of self) and outwardly to people. Admittedly, this caused me to slack on art, but I think it was a much-needed period of reflection on what I really needed/wanted in life, and how much I wanted to push or sacrifice my art goals to be a more well-rounded person emotionally.
  
• Getting into Overwatch as my gang's main game other than Team Fortress 2! I'm now a pro decent Lucio main! Need to spend less time on it to focus on art though. (May)
  
• INTERNSHIP AT A LOCAL INDIE GAME COMPANY FOR 3 MONTHS despite coming from a graphic design background! This was a ... game-changer HUEHUE SEE WHAT I DID THERE 8D I learnt a lot about workflow and the state of the local industry. Also talked to other local devs at Gamestart Asia this year, my first time talking to industry people ahailsfjdbasfdga eeek
• Exercising more. Not a regular schedule, but I tried to move around more! Pokemon Go with friends helped too. (Late Aug - Mid Nov)
  
• Speaking of friends, yes, I also spent more time socialising with both my online and real-life friends (more to the real-life side now, that's progress haha). Feel like I'm closer to my online clique and school clique than ever. *Friendship improvement +1* Plus making two new friends - an internship co-worker who's almost a decade older than me but opened up to me on personal issues on my last day of internship lol. And a coursemate who was as awkward as me  
  
• Family-wise, things have been getting real chaotic and noisy at home because of ... things which I shall not mention here. Just keep working, just keep being the best daughter/sister I can.
  
• ...basically plunged into an tired, emotionless burnout-depression and pulled myself out back to normal, that's a 2016 achievement in itself I'd say!

Overall, I feel less engrossed in art as I used to be and spread my time over so many different life changes... yet still managed to produce a substantial amount of work! Also actually procrastinated less to fight for enough sleep Worth it. I feel healthier and more clear-minded Screw that "Sleep is for the weak" mantra in design school. Sleep is for those who fight for it >:U Hope I can keep this lifestyle and art output up, maybe improve even! I definitely feel like I beat myself up on art less - I'm satisfied, but not complacent with where I am now.

Okay I've spent too much time writing this instead of rushing for an important FYP presentation tomorrow >:UUUU
If you've read this far, I salute you. Shout "AYYYY" in the comments if you did :U


Will compile a 2016 Art Summary when things are less busy.

As for the remainder of 2016, it'll be dedicated to portfolio work for DigiPen and Lasalle (as a backup to DigiPen), another internship application test (yes I decided to return to it after they confirmed the dates), and FYP progress.

Need to spend less time thinking/planning/worrying and just do the things I need/want to do!

How was 2016 for you guys?