Kings Journal: Annual review 2020 (Patreon)

In this Journal I will summarize some thoughts about the year 2020.
Things I am proud of and things that annoyed me.
There will be a long Corona part and after that one I will focus on my artistic work in 2020.
You will also be confronted with my sarcasm and cynicism in the Coron part.
If you like sarcasm and cynicism you might have a good time while reading.
If you don't like it – have mercy with me. Please don't feel offended.

Alternately you could skip the whole Corona part and read the artistic part only.
I will mark the Corona part and the Artistic part for easy navigation while reading.

Let's begin with something nice. At least in my opinion.
My christmas tree which is decorated traditionally this year with electric candles (because I don't want to set my home on fire), paper, pearls, straw and wooden decorations. I stayed at home at christmas and took a short break from work. 

Why did I stay at home? Because of the Corona virus.

CORONA PART

And there it is: A topic that might have affected many people around the world: Corona.
The story of the virus in Europe begins in Germany's evil twin also known as Austria.
In Austria the virus spread among retarded ski tourists who never went there for skiing, but for shameless parties with terrible music and once they moved their shameless asses back home they carried the virus to Germany, Spain, France, UK, Ireland, Czech Republik, Poland, Russia and so on. Well done Austria! For a bit of tourist's cash you ruined Europes economies. You would have done better, if that corrupt, drunk right wing politician would have sold your nation to Russia.

Well Corona spreaded and we had several lockdowns. Many hospitals reached their limit and patients from Italy and France for example were lucky, because German hospitals took care of them.
Germans: the good ones since 1945.

Speaking of the end of World War 2 I would like to explain my opinion about the Corona virus. Most lockdowns all around the world tried to protect old people, those who were young back in 1945 and rebuilt our countries later. Staying at home (if possible) is a sign of respect for a generation that fought for our freedom against the Nazi terror and who rebuilt our cities. In my opinion it is deeply disrespecful to party with friends, being selfish and spreading the virus just for having fun, when it hits those the hardest who made the fun time possible.
I know this argument probably doesn't work for all countries around the world.
But I think some might understand.

(Berlin 1945)

Considering that I have electricity, hot water and a home, which is still no standard for all people around the globe, I see no reason to complain, when I have to stay at home.
I am grateful, that I can stay at home, because doctors, nurses, supermarket employees and many others can't and work non-stop to keep a basic of daily life intact.
I have no understanding for spoiled people who risk their health and become crybabies while they sit at home surrounded by a certain amount of luxury: TV, Internet, Smartphone and so on. Use the digital world to meet friends.
If those fools would have had a bit of discipline the virus would have had little chances to spread.
Do old people stay at home to protect themselves? No, they don't!
My whole argument above becomes kinda invalid, because there are enough old people who just don't care about anything, because the Reaper could get them any day.
Those mummies want to have fun and probably gonna go skiing in Austria.
Let's face it: Most of mankind is retarded.

And it is time to summarize all those dramatic media reports about Corona side effects:
- Violence at home: Your family/relationship has been a mess before Corona showed up.
- Alcohol: You have been a drunk before Corona, but the virus is an excuse.
- Boredom: You lack real hobbies. Learn drawing, tailoring, knitting, carving, write poems/a novel, tinkering, workout, dance, make music, sing, gardening, videogames... there is so much to do alone. Just find a purpose in your life.
- Poverty: Dear politicians you gave a shit about poor people before Corona and now you pretend it would all be the virus fault?! Don't make me laugh you hypocrites.
- Mental diseases: People with depression and other stuff need professional mental support to be able to manage their lifes. Closing all offers was and is a mistake.
- No Tourism: It is a miracle that Venice hasn't sunk in the lagoon under the pressure of mass tourism. Sure tourism can be nice, but it shouldn't be so much that locals must leave their homes and sell their souls in souvenir shops. There must be a different way to handle tourism in the future.

Phew I think we made it through the Corona part which dominated 2020.
Oh wait I gonna activate my whiny mode: Oh poor me, my income decreased by about 400 USD per month since June. Complain, complain, complain.
Yes it is unfortunate and it doesn't make me happy, but I have to deal with it.
I am actually worried about the patrons who had to leave, because 2, 8 or 15 USD were not affordable for them anymore.

As terrible as the Corona virus is, it also shows the weaknesses of our countries and ourselves. If limitless consume is the only purpose in people's life and they transform into maniacs, when shitty, trash fashion stores are closed, I can hardly believe that those people have a had a common sense before Covid-19 hit us.
The virus made problems visible – more visible than usual.
The vaccine against Corona won't heal or erase the problems we had before.

ARTISTIC PART

At the beginning of 2020 I asked you about your wishes for the year. Some of the results were: Draw more complete bodies (full view) and regular Furry content.
To check these wishes I created an overview of all released Artpacks of 2020 and I marked the Furry art in green and the full view artworks in blue. Some artworks are both: full view and Furry marked with green frames and blue dots.

At first an overview of all Artpacks in general.

And now the marked version.

(December Artpack preview)

Right after I received your wishes I tried my best to include them into my artistic work each month. I guaranteed Furry content each month and I kept my promise. I also drew many full view artworks.
You can see for yourself that most artworks are either marked green, blue or both.

This year I simplified several things: My introduction text for example on Patreon, I also edited my header and some preview artworks. But I also considered my schedule realisticly. The past years my ambition was bigger than any day has hours to offer.

In 2020 I improved my schedule. I focused on Artpack artworks. That means I knew what was supposed to become a reward before I started sketching it.
I combined creativity with proper organization.
In this context I acted a bit like a machine sometimes. I remember a few friends considered my behaviour too „cold“. Well I admit, that I have problems with writing emotional stuff in general or I don't know what I should write below an artwork in progress sometimes. I am very focused during work. I am hardly having any fantasy going on while working. When I would get lost in wet day dreams I wouldn't finish any artwork at all.
So I try to express my ideas for new artworks with short background stories, which are the origin of my pictures. I have a fantasy and that fantasy is alive. Characters interact, have emotions and move and talk - and in my mind I pause a moment of the action and then I draw the scene. All this happens before and I while sketching. After the sketching, which is the hardest part in my opinion my mind switches from the imagination of the emotions and sexy fantasy into another mode. In that mode I draw the linearts and in the same mode I also colour my artworks. My brain switches between these modes to be efficient.
This technique grew much more prominent this year. It is very helpful.
The „bad“ part is, that I am deeply into work mode sometimes and I can't switch into fantasy/emotion mode that easily. So it can happen, that I act like a robot sometimes.
Anyway I am glad, that I was able to optimize my schedule.

In 2020 I also created an opera stage for „Till Eulenspiegel“ an opera for children.
I worked on the project from January until the premiere in September. I also wrote a Journal about this experience. The opera stage is among my highlights of 2020, because I enjoyed the variety. 

Just think about the contrast: The fairy-tale opera stage and my main profession where I draw gay art with big muscles and more. I like this diversity.
Nevertheless an opera stage is like a detailed background for an artwork or a comic page, so I can also see a connection to my regular work.

Well, this year was very busy for me. I also did art commissions, when I actually had no time for doing so. But I did, because my income decreased.
I did not forget a poll where I wanted to create a new OC afterwards. Some viking-science-fiction daddy. Unfortunately I lacked time to work on this idea in 2020.
I will keep the project in mind, but I do not dare to promise something for 2021.
Among my biggest lessons of 2020 is something I actually learned in 2019:
Do not plan to much. Do not promise too much. Do not announce unrealistic goals.
I followed my own warning this year and it was so much more relaxing to not announce each and every idea I have, because after a single day I might change my mind and regret what I said earlier.

I have a perfect example: I am so glad, that I drew two AC Valhalla artworks with Eivor (the rations artwork and the AC Allstars) before the game released, because I stopped playing this game after 50 wasted hours without experiencing anything worth mentioning. It is pure meaningless boredom with the lamest cast of characters I have seen in a long time.
I lost any interest in drawing Eivor.

And this thought leads me to the AC Allstars project.
Since February 2020 I drew almost all main characters of the Assassin's Creed franchise.
After a few months I requested your feedback considering your interest for the project and you voted for a continuation.
The current status is that all characters are drawn including the basic colours and I will continue with the completition of the AC Allstars in 2021.
I intended to finish the project in 2020, but it did not match with my Artpack composition.

In 2020 I edited the Artpack composition, too. I strengthened the role of my original characters by putting two new comic pages in each Artpack instead of one.
Considering the joy I have with drawing comic pages I might strenghten my OC content in the future more.
Another good idea of 2020 was the improvement of the Commission Chance. In the past the CC was delayed: I created the poll, but drew the winner one month later. Since February 2020 I draw the CC winner in the same month and the winners are always Artpack content. The CC has a clear value now.

Regarding the CC I will participate in the Commission Chance in the future. I won't vote in the poll, but I will make a suggestion. For transparency I will mark my suggestion with my avatar icon.

(example)

I will participate for a few months as an experiment and then I will create a poll where you can either vote me out or keep me in.
The intention of my participation is simple. I want to encourage Werewolf patrons to let go of mainstream fanart to suggest their true desires. I think we made a big progress in the CC this year. There were many rarely drawn characters suggested. I am proud of you.
I am serious. Existing as an artist aside the trending art hypes isn't easy and I can not not deny, that I also draw trending characters sometimes based on personal interest, but it is a joy when there are rarely drawn characters in the CC with a chance for the spotlight.

Well, I don't know what else I could write about 2020. I stayed at home a lot. I always stay at home a lot, because I am not a party person and I dislike crowds, but this year I stayed even more at home than usual.
I think I am lucky, that I made it through 2020. I am a freelancing artist and I made it.
Actually it wasn't pure luck. I have savings for difficult times and I have a considered mind (roboter me) that helps me to get through challenging times.
And I have you. And I am very grateful for each patron who supports me. Thank you.
I really appreciate it.
2020 was so strange, but with your support I was able to release a new Artpack each month and that felt like one of the few reliable things in 2020.

And one last thing: The website that copied and extracted my Patreon archive is finally offline.

Well, I won't miss 2020. It would be nice if the Olympic games would take place next year. I want to watch some athletes in tight speedos. For artistic reasons of course. Bulge-studies. xD

Thanks for reading.

If you want to share your opinion/feelings or your best part of 2020 with me, write me a comment.