Greetings,

Today is a somewhat contemplative and reflective day for me. You could say that it is my one year anniversary of joining the fandom. It was one year ago, almost to the minute of posting this, that I registered on FA after a long period of lurking in the shadows and admiring from afar. This is actually a big thing for me because I don't usually register for sites unless I have to. I prefer to not have any links like that back to me, nor do I like to put info out onto the web. It is even more strange that I started posting.

For the last month I have been thinking about how the single year has seemed to be so much longer. Some brief statistics are that I have posted 80 submissions, welcomed the support of 149 watchers (some bots, some crazy people following on multiple sites) and many, many favourites. For the last two, I owe many people. It always brings me a smile to see a familiar name or icon show up in my notices and I am incredibly grateful for all of your support. I see support like this as something that must be continuously earned and needing of a promise to strive for better.

Over this past year I have been able to increase my own skills. That is part of the reason it feels like I have been here for much longer. I have experimented, I have done commissions, I have had work featured and I have done some pieces that I am rather proud of. I do however, plan to do more and part of reflection for me involves planning where to go from here. In terms of style, I plan on broadening more. Up to now I have mostly done more realistic, so I might learn more toony styles or stuff like that and focus on my line work. I would also like to experiment with more styles of digital paintings, seeing what can be done with older styles and techniques used in traditional. I would be interesting in hearing what people would like to see me try as a challenge. I am not someone who likes to take baby steps, so I want something to dive into and push me. For skill, I want to get much better. I am pleased with what I can do, but that only really says that I can, and want, to do better. During and between classes I have been drawing and had almost forgotten how good pencil on paper feels and notice that I can produce better lines and forms than digital. This means that I will be trying to get better at my digital and that I will be doing more traditional as well.

So, in conclusion: Thank you everyone. This place that I have landed in is full of wonderful people who have been more than welcoming and encouraging. I have seen great people here who do more for the world than I think it sometimes deserves and they have earned my deepest respect. I will work to repay that welcome and support by constantly moving forward and giving what I can back. I plan on being here for much longer and hope never to disappoint.

ClockworkWolf