Here we are again, then. I don’t think it’s particularly bold to say that 2024 has been an extremely exhausting year, to put it gently. The near future doesn’t exactly look bright, but it’s important in times of adversity to stand tall, square your shoulders, and face them head-on. 2025 will be what we make it, and I hope we’re able to find strength in ourselves and in each other to carry on.
Lots has happened this year, both good and bad. I imagine that there are stories you all could tell that would make mine pale in comparison! Finally graduating college was perhaps one of my biggest accomplishments, and the search for employment has brought me many opportunities to learn humility and patience. I’ve been blessed with a life filled with light and love, for which I am unspeakably thankful. I cannot thank all of you enough for giving me what I have. Hopefully I can express it and pay it back in kind!
How about we go over some art from over the course of the year? These are my personal favorites, in no particular order—it’s important keep an eye on the past, it’ll help you see how far you’ve come as you step into the future. Be sure to let me know what your favorite art from me was this year, I’m interested to hear what you say!
#1 - Kissmas
Recency bias at its finest. I’ve drawn my OCs here and there, but have long since been lacking in terms of defining who they are here in Newgrounds. Finally drawing Zack and Valerie together helps legitimize who they are so much more. It’s gotten me excited to do more character work and visual storytelling in the days to come! Plus, Christmas is the perfect time for warm, lovey-dovey type art.
#2 - Graduation
Nothing super deep here. A bit self-serving, maybe, but it was my way of celebrating my graduation from college and making an artistic landmark for myself. I’ve been feeling less fear about the future than I was even a few weeks ago, and I’m more determined to make the best of it than anything. I hope that I find it, and that all of you do as well.
This piece was the one I had the most fun making this year, by far. Finding the right balance between making it funny without making it silly—and taking it seriously without making it joyless—led to it becoming a bit of a labor of love. It’s also the last time you’ll ever see me draw Harley Quinn (with how much she’s been degraded from an actual character to an embarrassingly scuffed Deadpool ripoff), so it’s nice to have this be my swan song in that regard. Going out on a high note, I like to think.
#4 - Crystal Lake Creeps and Heartist Halloween 2024
By far some of my best works this year, both for Halloween—very on-brand for me. Seeing the time and effort I put into them get recognized was incredibly rewarding; I do my best to put a little extra care into ‘event’ pieces (like holidays), and these two feel like some of my best yet. Getting input from my friends on both also helps them feel even more special to me.
This piece popped off, my most popular art of the year by a significant margin. I made this one in my off-time during classes, on a whim, so even now I’m thoroughly surprised by how much of an impact it made. I’m pretty happy with all the DBZ-related art I made this year, but this one in particular holds a special place of honor. Cell really do be ballin’.
#6 - Break the Bat and Fake the Bat
Knightfall was a pretty big part of my year, constantly popping up and sticking in the folds of my brain. The story and characters have grown on me significantly over time, especially in discussions with friends about it all. Both of these were tributes to the art from the books, as well as tributes to some of those previously-mentioned friends. In terms of cleanliness and rendering, I think they’re some of my best art yet.
God help us, I’ll need to actually make good on my threats to make a Bane video essay.
#7 - Ronin Rain and Overshadow Poster
These two share a spot by virtue of having the same mission: getting how Ronin/Zack looks and feels in my mind’s eye out of my head and tangible as an image. Ronin Rain is an image that I’ve been picturing for a long time now, and even now keeps coming back—there’s a pretty solid chance that I’ll be remastering it (since Ronin’s armor has been refined), but I wonder about the necessity of making that an entirely new upload. We’ll have to see how it goes, and in the meantime I’ll bask again in the relief of finally having these two completed.
Deepest of gratitudes to some special creators in particular:
Thank you all for what you have done and continue to do. You provide an endless source of inspiration to me, and I cannot express my thanks enough for it.
May this coming year bring safety, satisfaction, and success to us all. Keep on keeping on, and know you’ve got me in your corner.
See you, space cowboys.
NorBeBlue
Happy New Years, Heartist. To an even brighter future!
HeartisttheArtist
And to you too, Blue!