I’ve also made a template for the graphic for others to use, link here: ko-fi.com/s/5352e7f0e8 

Also finally released a video for Year in Review: youtu.be/aq0Snh1h22c

2023 is already done?! God damn, this year felt like 3 years rolled up into one. It felt like so much happened but not a lot to remember… like a flashbang filled with spikes. It’s not a continuation of the 2020 Cinematic Universe on my side of the pond, but it’s definitely a feeling that life is changing naturally and unable to stop. While everything was going on, the art this year was better and better than before! Something that I ended up doing 6 times this year was remaking old art from late 2010s. Better shading and posting felt throughout this year and I wanted to showcase my favorites with a few extra!

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January

Drake Florian (Reference Sheet)

- Started off the year with a goddamn BANG! I wanted to do something like this for a long while but did not have the confidence to do it until this year. I also slightly adjusted Drake’s black hair so it would be more easier for shading and to not be so hidden with the lines. I’m really happy with how Drake came out overall, this ended up being super useful to both myself and other artists! For a first step forward, this was a great one!

Character belongs to CentaurWorks 

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February

[COMM] Fire Djinns - A Lover's Ring

-I kept going back and forth with this and BMV: A Sunset Caress, and I ended up just going with the Girls Love Emblem. It’s much more simple but so charming. I ended up having this real Shoujo energy with the two that I can’t help but just love so much. The more I look the more I’m sort of touched by this, it’s a sweet image that I feel like lasted so much longer with this loving feeling. 

Characters belongs to Nintendo/Intelligence Systems

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March

[COMM] Genie of the Games

-March was filled with commissions this year and even though I tried to limit the amount of commissions shown on the list, I could not omit this image. I love how the background came out and ESPECIALLY how the tail came out! I experimented with a more CRT-style tail and it came out amazing! 

Character belongs to Meris 

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April

Happy 20th Anniversary, Mermaid Melody

-This was one of those unplanned images, but I felt a mighty need to do it because it’s the 20th anniversary and Mermaid Melody is one of the reasons that I got into Art to begin with. I have a hard time remembering but I decided to do cel-shading either to pay tribute to the anime or because of time crunch reasons. This ended up being the beginning of the Cel-Shading style I would start to do more and more. I especially love how her eyes came out here, it’s honestly a pretty good recreation while fitting my style. What else can I say but Thank you again Mermaid Melody.

Character belongs to Pink Hanamori & Michiko Yokoke 

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May

Merfolk Soaked in the Rain

-So this was an artwork that I wanted to do for years but kept wondering how to go about it. Simple, 3 characters in merforms in the rain right? To me, I really wanted to make sure that the art piece came off like it was pouring, the lighting fitting the scene, and having everyone unique enough that they standout. A lot of lighting research and study of rain against people, and this ended up being a lot of people’s favorite art piece and easily the best in MerMay. Sometimes it’s good to reserve yourself before taking on a project.

Character belongs to CentaurWorks and Azura-Mermaid-Arts

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June

Zelda: Tears of the Djinn

-While late to it’s release, this was me wanting to both make some art for the new Zelda game, while also being a sequel to an art piece that pushed me to go digital. Part of the inspiration was from starting to do image remakes of my old art, and I wanted to do it here. Simply put, I absolutely love how Zelda’s eyes came out here, probably one of my best so far. I also love the background around her. It might be simple but it’s effective. This was also before we got more information on what exactly Zelda was wearing so I had to improvise and really enjoyed the outcome.

Character belongs to Nintendo  

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July

Lady is Better than the Sword

-July was a very weak Month of OCs. I was very ill-prepared and needed to do a last minute theme-swap to make everything work. In the end, I got burnt out but at least the art I created was really damn good. At this point, this was the peak of my lighting so far. The lighting felt so gentle and eye-catching. Kitami and Kevin looked so good and the background was so fitting for the mood. There are many other art pieces in this year’s Month of OCs that really pushed me, but this was my overall favorite.

Character belongs to CentaurWorks 

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August

N/A

- This month I took off due my Full Time demanding much more work than I was anticipating and burned out from Month of OCs this year. This actually was the worst month by far for me, as I got sick for about 2 weeks and pushed through it to keep working. Tho, in the end, I was laid off by my job, “company going in a different direction.” I’m at least thankful that I got the experience, as it feels so rare to get it. Time to push on.

Design belongs to CentaurWorks 

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September

Nathan's Sea Paladin form

-After that break in August, I needed to get back onto the boat. While September was planned out before even July, a lot of art featured here were much more simple ones, but the best one that month was another remake. What helped this out the most was the background and the coral. It was GREAT to finally redo Nathan’s Sea Paladin form but it was even better that the background was treated this well. This and a commissioned piece is what helped me get back on the saddle in terms of art, and I can not be happier.

Character belongs to CentaurWorks 

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October

RosaJon the Siren

-This month had one of the hardest punches to the gut outside of August, but it was also the full rejuvenation of my art. I knew I wanted to do some fanart but had a hard time choosing until I saw ProtonJon again… and then it clicked. I’ve done fanart of RosaJon in the past, why not work on as a Siren? Using the glitching effect since he’s known for his accidental glitches. Other than that, I am beyond happy with how this came out in the end and felt so fitting for the spooky month.

Character belongs to ProtonJon

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November

Misaki and Michiko Singing Together

-This was created for a VGen Discord Server contest and my god did it come out absolutely AMAZING! Where do I begin? Ok; 1. It was great to draw the Hato twins together as there hasn’t been much art of the two for a while. 2. First time I drew them singing which they used to do when they were younger. 3. Misaki came out amazing as she normally doesn’t get drawn due to favoritism but she came out amazing and wanted to draw her for a while. 4. Even Michiko and the Background came out so damn well! I did lose but I am beyond happier that I created this piece and for the two getting this good of a treatment/

Characters belongs to CentaurWorks 

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December

Preparing for Christmas Night

-This ended up being a bit ambitious not going to lie since I wanted to do the Bob Ross style trees with a lovely starry background. I won’t lie, Kenna was more a late edition since she won the OC Ballot in 2022 (hence a rather simple design). But I loved I brought back my little Basalees (the slime creatures), Payton came out so great and the fluff shading is at it’s peak here. There’s something so magical about this scene and I love it so much.

Character belongs to CentaurWorks 

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Character Of The Year:

Kenna Flamber (OC Ballot Winner of 2022)

-It’s no surprise but Kenna ended up being the one with the most images this year. It makes sense since people voted for her during the OC Ballot of 2022 and I wanted to make sure this time around to make it feel like the Ballot mattered more and in the future. It was really fun to work on this very new (at the time) character and to flesh her out more. Hopefully I can give her a bit more love overtime but right now, here’s the spotlight to the Fire Princess Knight.

Character belongs to CentaurWorks 

Designed by NewPersonaWorld

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Masterpiece Of The Year:

Claudia Vs Ego

-Have you ever created something that finally shut that negative goddamn goblin in your brain? The kind that kept putting you down until you showed it something that finally made it say YES. This, to me, is that picture. Between the the intense lighting, the posing, the storm in the distance; this ended up coming together PERFECTLY. I had this idea for years, even made a story, and it just came out perfectly. It ended up proving that I can make something amazing, something jaw-dropping, something that finally makes me want to hang it on a wall. There’s no greater feeling than slaying that goblin’s comments, knowing that you will get better.

Character belongs to CentaurWorks 

~~~

Conclusion:

    2023 has left the station, to some it’s the worst but to me it was more middle of the road than years prior. I might have that look because I’m bracing for a bad 2024 between IRL Family Issues and Financial Issues, it’s going to be rough before it gets better. But, I’m also at the point where I’m like “Let’s play it ear by ear and get through this;” outside of gaming at least. I think 2023 proves the most that if I keep pushing, I will get somewhere amazing.

   The struggle is real, it will always be real, but there is some satisfaction in knowing that I am making it work despite a lot of shit going on. I’m in the middle of planning 2024 art-wise, but it’s looking like one that’s going to test my abilities in a good way. There’s more to come, hoping to make some physical goods too. In the end, through the ups and downs, I’m glad to have made it out and I’m hopeful for what the future has to offer.

    Thank you for a great year of art! And I'll see you next year!