January 1st was the starting date for JSVB, back in 2010. Now I have eight years' worth of material to peruse. Each year in the matrix above is represented by a column of coloured squares and bits. Each square is a JSVB post. Last year, Google changed their archive format, so the rightmost two columns look a little different from the others.
2017 represents the very first year I've ever managed to produce more than the year before, by a margin of four posts. I'll admit: 2017 was a struggle. My health and stress level aren't great, but then I'm no different from everyone else in that department. There were some wide gaps where I didn't post, as JSVB has dropped a little as a priority for me.
Even so, I managed to create some pieces that I am proud of that people liked. Here are some favourites of mine from the past year:
JSVB Post #1338 Of Chimps And Villains - A nice little bit of cartoon foolishness, inspired by my friend Earl.
JSVB Post #1357 Vote For Jeff - 2017 was heavy with April Fool's pranks. One was a political flyer that does everything wrong in a political flyer: a grinning picture in a suit, a six-point plan (should be five) of platitudes and empty phrases, meaningless illustrations and an endorsement that was not legitimate. Also awful fonts like Comic Sans and Papyrus. The final sin: a picture of a check mark in a voting box. These are the things that candidates do when they don't know they will lose. Still, I do have the promise of two votes I can count on, and not from my wife, friends, or family - just my vote and a guy in Winnipeg. Others have responded to my political ambitions by sending me the end bit of Apocalypse Now where Colonel Kurtz whispers in agony: the horror... the horror...
JSVB Post #1362 Destroy Planet - A Photoshopped illustration with a hand-drawn Death that seems to capture the feeling of 2017.
JSVB Post #1371 Mayor TV Podium People - I did a number of these small banners for my friend Greg Moore's Facebook page, advertising his MayorTV show. Mayor Moore plans to retire in 2018.
JSVB Post #1379 The Girl With The Gerbera Daisy - This is my personal favourite from 2017. It was something I saw in real life which I took the time to copy into my sketchbook and then rendered out as an illustration. A really, really good illustration, that probably only I care for, but at least I know how good it is. I nailed it!
JSVB Post #1382 Happy Birthday To Me (8) - I like doing these Happy Birthday posts because I get to satisfy my own weird ideas. This time, I accompanied James Bond/Maurice Binder imagery with Shirley Bassey style lyrics. "Goldenass" (JSVB Post #1283) was a helpful early version of this artwork.
JSVB Post #1384 BBQ'AN - I made myself into a tribute to the movie poster for Logan, which was an absolutely terrific show. Photoshop made me look good.
JSVB Post #1388 Crow With A Croissant - This has proved to be a favourite with JSVB viewers.
JSVB Post #1400 Sean Bruises His Shin - This was my blockbuster post for 2017, a wacky combination of Japanese woodcut art in the manner of master Hokusai melded with the Internet meme of my friend Sean bruising his shin while his cat watches. And I even wrote a haiku to make the whole thing work.
JSVB Post #1404 Illuminating Girl - I only had four JSVB posts in August, but this Art Nouveau themed line art carried the entire month. This little illustration turned out amazingly well.
I am grateful to the JSVB readers who purchased artwork, and I do enjoy having people follow my blog, as cranky and oddly-fashioned as it and I can be. Let's look back on the past with wisdom and forward to the future with keen anticipation!
Respectfully,
JEFF SHYLUK
Posts
