My 2006 New Year’s resolution was to make 2007 a breakout year for me, to get my name and work known to some extent in the local art scene here in Portland and possibly beyond. It was a year of work for me, and very little else, often times at the expense of things like my social life (and possibly my health (see 2008 section)), however, looking back I’m very happy how 2007 ended up in the record books for me.

2007 Accomplishments:

• I started 2007 with a comic strip appearing in the Portland Mercury. I finished the year doing semi-regular illustration work for the paper, something I am happier and feel more suited doing.
• Had my first solo art show, “Spoke Up,” in January.
• Finished my second and third (of six) semesters at Pacific NW College of Art, on my way to a BFA in Illustration.
• Started booking monthly art shows at the Acorn Cafe, giving me the ability to feature the art of up and coming local artists.
• Used freelance work, painting and comic sales to pay a huge chunk of my monthly bills for a good portion of the year.
• Formed the Robopocalypse Comics Collective, a group of friends and local comic artists. We have since released two group anthologies, ten solo books, and attended four shows under the RCC banner.
• Finally started work on The Life and Times of Baby Otto Zeplin, a project that had been in my mind since late 2005.
• Baby Otto: Volume 1 being nominated for “Outstanding Publication Design” at the Stumptown Comics Fest.
• Helped organize and run Oregon’s only public 24 Hour Comics Day event, while still managing to finish a comic I’m happy with.
• Started work to organize PNCA’s third annual comics anthology.
• Learned new skills such as etching and bookbinding and a new love of painting in gouache, and I built my own ukulele.

A lot of the projects I was involved in throughout 2007 were, to my mind, to the advantage of many other artists and people besides myself, and while I’m all for good deeds, I feel as though in a few situations, the work that I put in far outweighed my payback, whether that be financially or just in sheer enjoyment. I took on nearly every opportunity offered to me, and even created some large ones of my own when the times got slow, and by the end of the year was left an overworked husk, burnt out on the whole “creative” thing. So I’ve decided that 2008 will go down as the year of Selfish BT. Now, I don’t mean I’m going to go around being a dick to everyone, that’s not my style, just that it’s time to cash in on some of the connections I’ve made in 2007, time to work on more personal projects, and to leave some of the organizational duties to others with the ability and see where things go when I’m not behind the wheel, as it were.

2008 Goals/Resolutions:

• Six words: Baby Otto, Baby Otto, Baby Otto. This is the one project above all in my life right now, even though it may not publicly appear that way due to my lack of work on it since Volume 1’s release. I have been in talks with some teachers about making the entire Baby Otto project my thesis for graduation. This means a deadline of May 2009 for the entire series, but I want to get as much done as I can this year.
• Other comic-related projects: Even with Otto taking up a big chunk of my time, I have a lot of other ideas that I want to get started on, some quickies, some that could become a continuing thing. Also, continued and greater recognition for the RCC, more shows, more anthologies, really pushing each other to create some of the best work we can.
• Extend my freelance work beyond the Portland area. I did some of this last year, but it’s time to really push my work out there. I’ve been coming at illustration from new angles lately and I’m proud of what I’m creating.
• Second solo art show for the Imaginary Friends paintings I was showing the last few weeks.
• A LOT more life drawing.
• Get healthy/stay healthy: I haven’t posted about it here, but it sort of explains why I haven’t been quite as productive lately. Since November, I have: sprained a ligament in my lower back while getting off my bike, fell down some stairs and sprained my ankle, caught a cold that made me cough so much I re-aggravated my back, contracted Iliotibial Band Syndrome (probably from the weak back and the fall) causing crippling pain in my left thigh, re-aggravated my back a second time putting leftover ham back in the fridge the day after Christmas, and the resulting days of sciatica pain each time my back got injured. I finished 2007 mostly lying on my back, in pain, and it really wore on me mentally, and creatively. Things are finally getting better, only a slightly aching back and some sciatica left, but I realized that a lot of my problems probably stemmed from the fact that 95% of my waking hours are spent hunched over a laptop or drawing table, leaving my back a weakened mess.
• Re-up my fashion abilities. I barely bought any new clothes last year. I need a little bit of an update, and if I can’t find what I want, maybe I’ll just have to make it.
• Focus more on what makes me happy and realize how important those things are to my well-being.
• Lastly, FUN GOAL: I need to work with my sewing machine more, so ONE PLUSH A MONTH!

Thank you for reading, I hope your 2008 goes as well as I hope mine goes.