kybearfuzz: (Purple Tie 2014)
kybearfuzz ([personal profile] kybearfuzz) wrote2016-01-01 02:13 pm

365 Days of Toonage

A few years back, there was a "meme" of sorts going around, where users would take a photo of themselves every day for a year. Quite a number of handsome fellers did this and it was fun to watch.

On a different page, I was listening to a podcast last year that said that creative people (people who write, draw, whatever) should engage in their creativity every day, even if it's something small or quick.

Last year, I decided to combine both ideas into a meme of my own. I decided to challenge myself to draw something... anything... at least once a day, every day, for 2015. It took a lot of effort to remember to do it every day, but as of last night, I finished the last drawing for the set. You can find the whole set here on my Flickr account or click on any of the big image behind the cut.




365 Toons Part 01365 Toons Part 02365 Toons Part 03365 Toons Part 04365 Toons Part 05365 Toons Part 06365 Toons Part 07365 Toons Part 08365 Toons Part 09365 Toons Part 10365 Toons Part 11365 Toons Part 12



It's been an interesting little experiment. I didn't want to skip a day if I could avoid it. So on weeks or weekends I traveled, I had to make sure to set aside a few moments to draw something. I carried a small pad of paper with me, but also drew on napkins, scratch paper, even wooden blocks when needed. One morning I did forget to intentionally draw something, but luckily, I recalled doodling on the blotter on my desk at work when on a conference call the previous day (see Day 167 - Calendar Scribbles). Some of the cartoons were elaborate, others not so much, and some were pencils, inks, and colored pages of the Bear Patrol comic.

Keeping track of the numbers seemed to cause me issues too. I've had to re-number the set twice because I skipped a number, but not a day.

The most fun of the set is looking back and seeing reflections of my mood, of life events, of different stresses that played out during the year. It's all there really. So it's been like having a second journal of sorts.

Now that 2016 is here, I'm not going to try to make it a point to do it every day, but I'm sure I'll be drawing nearly the same amount anyway. Still, I'm glad I put myself through it. It was fun and I enjoyed the outcome.

[identity profile] notmypresident.livejournal.com 2016-01-01 07:55 pm (UTC)(link)
It's really interesting to see your works that don't necessarily feature hairy guys. I mean, I obviously like the way you draw fur, but the other pieces are great too.

And not just some unexpected appearances by some Legionnaires but also a reference to one of my favorite Roseanne Roseannadanna routines!

[identity profile] kybearfuzz.livejournal.com 2016-01-02 02:56 pm (UTC)(link)
I'm glad you like them. And inspiration came from various sources, so there was a bit of randomness in it.

[identity profile] mrdreamjeans.livejournal.com 2016-01-02 12:42 am (UTC)(link)
It really is a reflection of your year and a result of your talent! Well done!

[identity profile] kybearfuzz.livejournal.com 2016-01-02 02:57 pm (UTC)(link)
Thanks Neil :)

[identity profile] maxauburn.livejournal.com 2016-01-02 02:00 am (UTC)(link)
You're a great artist, Mark! I love those drawings! Happy New Year!

[identity profile] kybearfuzz.livejournal.com 2016-01-02 02:57 pm (UTC)(link)
Thanks! I hope you have a Happy New Year too! :)

[identity profile] dr-tectonic.livejournal.com 2016-01-02 06:27 am (UTC)(link)
Fun! I find myself surprisingly fond of your drawings of everyday objects. Battery, laundry, sock...

[identity profile] kybearfuzz.livejournal.com 2016-01-02 02:58 pm (UTC)(link)
Thanks! Sometimes inspiration came from wherever I could find it. The sock came from a suggestion from my nephew when I asked him to tell me a random object. He was folding clothes.

[identity profile] texwriterbear.livejournal.com 2016-01-02 04:40 pm (UTC)(link)
That's awesome that you did that. I'm lucky if I could do something like that! LOL

[identity profile] kybearfuzz.livejournal.com 2016-01-03 12:12 am (UTC)(link)
I kept it relatively quiet, though I say most on Flickr figured it out when the cartoons were numbered.

[identity profile] dendren.livejournal.com 2016-01-06 03:48 pm (UTC)(link)
so awesome!

[identity profile] kybearfuzz.livejournal.com 2016-01-06 08:31 pm (UTC)(link)
Thanks! It is strange to see a year's effort in one space like that.