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2017: Year in Review
8 years ago
Safe to say that 2017 has been nothing but an absolute mental rollercoaster for me.
After having a pretty good 2016 (which most people seems to disagree), but even so as a personal year it was great. I haven't been able to say that about a year for quite a long time in my life. But what happened in my life this year has certainly reminded me that the worse years come along with them.
The very start of the year was actually good. I went to 
Confurgence as I usually do each year, seems it's my home con (and the only one I can afford to attend). Bit different to how I usually spent my time there, because I was an art dealer there and I also hosted the art panel. So most of my time was devoted to talking with people about my art, some being potential customers. I finally had started to build a fan base of some sort in my own country, which is cool I guess. The rest of the time I mainly spent hanging out with my friends either in the hotel room or eating out somewhere nice. Meet some new friends, some who are now my closest friends in the fandom. It was just a really good con in general. Next years one should be great, which I'm going to be a sponsor attendee next year.
Only a week after I had gotten back was when things took a massive turn around for the worse. I found out from my dad that he couldn't afford to keep the house anymore, and we had to evacuate within two weeks. Very fortunately, my uncle took us into his place to stay.
Then maybe about 2 weeks after that, my best friend let me know that he was going to be living overseas for a year, with not much notice or much time before he left. Just a short round-up, me and my best friend are super tight. We always keep each other mentally intact to be honest. Whenever I'm in some state of unhappiness, I usually turn to him to help, and vice versa whenever he's in a bad spot. More than anything though he actually helps me learn to socialize a lot better. He probably doesn't know, but he does help me a lot. I knew it was going to be really tough with him being gone. But I knew for him, this was to help him get better (as he was going to be with his girlfriend after being on the opposite ends of the globe for over a year).
So over the next few months, my depression, anxiety and stress problems had slithered down to a very bad low. I didn't go out see any of my friends, I had lost passion for anything I loved doing, particularly drawing and music, which cause me to have a huge backlog in my commission queue (which I'm still completing to this day). I barely ever even came out of my bedroom to socialize with my own family.
My mental health had not been as low as it had been for quite some time. I've been in worse positions, but this was still pretty bad and not too far away from my worst. The main problem was, I kept blaming myself too much and I did nothing about it.
When the situation was at it's worst, I just felt like giving up everything. In fact (for those who remember) I had made a journal on here about how I was thinking of quitting drawing, quitting the fandom, quitting speaking with people. I was dead serious about that too at the time. Thankfully I had a few people to talk with who really helped me out. A particular shout out I'd have to give out to my good friend 
VicJohansen who opened my eyes to a lot of what I had been doing to myself. I was very close to ignoring his requests to help me out when he noticed I needed it, because of how bad I was. He persisted on helping me and talking to me, and in the end I'm really glad he did and that I finally gave into receiving his help. Had he not have been there, it may have taken much, much longer for me to snap out of it if I would've been able to. So for that Vic, thank you so much man. Even though you don't like people thanking you, I'm giving you this thanks and you're going to take it XP Because you deserve it, and as a friend I really feel I need to do this.
Around July, I had made a goal to myself to stop complaining to myself and to self loathe. Also made a goal to get back to being consistent with getting art done, which I'm still in progress with trying to achieve. I must do this with patience anyway, I can't expect to get back to it straight away, but I'm slowly attempting to get there.
Around August/September was when things starting going alright for me. My birthday came around, and my dad surprised me with giving me money to get a new laptop. A good one at that. For those who have followed me for a while, you'll know that I've had laptop problems going back to about two years ago. Glitching and blue screening because of a potential hardware failure deep within it's scrap and metal. But my little warrior continued to still fight on wounded after all these years. My new laptop which I use now is sooooo good. Better processor and better graphics.
September was busy as hell (for all the good reasons). Visited my mum for the first time since my breakdown and also went to my close friend's 21st while I was down. That trip was highly needed for me just to get away from things and to take a breather getting myself turned around.
Also got my vlogging channel back up and running, which was another breath of fresh air for me. Gave me a reason to explore a bit of myself.
More than anything, September was a huge month for me in sports. Don't mention it much, but I am a massive sports guy. In the third week I attend the Sandown 500, which is a motorsport racing festival. Got to see some awesome car expos, met some awesome drivers and saw Ford win 1-2-3 in the main race.
But if there's one sport I love, it's Aussie rules football. Before I got into art or music, footy was my life as a young kid. I studied a lot in primary school through books I could access in the library. Anything I could get my hands on that was footy, I got it with real intent. Not a crazed as fan like I was back then, but my love hasn't diminished. I saw my team the Richmond Tigers win the Premiership Cup for the first time in almost 40 years. Went to every single final, which costed about $500 altogether. But worth it to see my Tiges win!
Also my rugby league team the Melbourne Storm won their Grand Final too. Went to the first two finals for that, but not the Grand Final as that was in Sydney. But September was a fantastic month!
A lot of October I had spent looking over my plans for art in the future. I explored some new areas for me to focus on. Nothing too busy, but it's fine. November was pretty much the same. Spent a fair bit of time working on some large, more detailed pieces.
December was pretty good, particularly around Christmas. Went down to my mum's for Christmas, because it will be my last Christmas with her before she moves overseas next year. Really lovely to spend Christmas with family and friends this year. I needed the company and it's put me in a really good mood for when the start of the new year comes along.
So next year will have some definite positives to hopefully see.
Me and dad will be finding a new place. My uncle is looking to move fairly soon, so we'll have to look for a place even sooner. At least this will be more organized and expected when the time comes.
My best friend comes back early next year. Unfortunately he comes back on the first night of Confurgence, so I won't be able to see him come in at the airport.
Speaking of which, Confurgence will be something to definitely look forward too. I won't be dealing this year, this will be more a chill con for me. I usually like to keep a low profile at cons, as I don't really like being seen as a popufur and I don't really need or want that kind of attention.
I will be looking to continue on with my studies next year. Hopefully will start my Diploma of Graphic Design, so I can take my skills to a whole new level.
May be looking to start getting fit. Looking to go the UFC Fit Gym to, more than anything, gain some more mental and physical motivation.
There is much I could say, but I'm not wanting to look too far ahead of myself. If this year has taught me anything, it's to not expect things to go as you've planned.
I'd like to give a vote of thanks to some people.
First off, to the people who commissioned me this year. Without you guys, I'd be more poor than I was before (this would make a ripper of a rap lyric). I really appreciate your support you've given me. Also thanks to the people who have pledged to my Patreon tip jar thing so far. Never hurts to get a bit of extra coin here and there.
Thank you to my friends who have really lifted my spirits this year. You have walked with me through some pretty dark times and helped out of them. Without you, as corny as it may sound, I probably wouldn't still be here.
Special shoutouts to some awesome cobbers who's friendships really stood out this year (and please don't feel left out if I haven't mentioned you): Sevren2112 Pyndan Kly VorktheArtist Santanni Crimes RhettHutchinson VicJohansen Runa216 WhiteWolfSev Hige10 Graceful_K9 BaltoWolfStar and FURtitude
Lastly, thanks to all of you guys! I appreciate you lot still sticking with me after all that has happened this year. All the highs and lows, the delays, the breakdowns. You still put up with my nonsense this silly Kishu serves out, and I never thank you all enough for it. I honestly appreciate the support. I wouldn't be doing art commissions as a full (more like casual) time job, if it had not been for your support in the first place.
To end off this journal I want to give you all a piece of advice. To some it may be a very obvious piece of advice, but nonetheless important in my eyes.
There will ALWAYS be trials in your life. Life is like a never-ending hurdle race. The track is the main path set for you, and the hurdles are those trials that stand in the middle of it. Some hurdles are set higher, some are set lower. Some you will undoubtedly hit, but if you do not prepare yourself to jump over each hurdle or you don't expect the hurdle to be there, then it's going to hit you hard and you'll fall over just as hard as you hit it. Whenever you do fall, please keep in mind that you are always able to get back up and try again at the next hurdle. When you learn from it and prepare better, you'll find it easier to get up after the next hurdle you hit. Before you know it you'll begin to grow a steady balance, and soon enough you'll come to realize those hurdles are will only be like sticks and stones. Keep on running along that track guys.
Here's to welcoming a new year coming upon us! 
Confurgence
VicJohansenCurrent Working List - 30th of January, 2022
Art Queue
Awaiting Art From..
KlausD - Trade piece/2016
Anthropornorphic - Commission/2016
Telegram Art Channel
KlausD
Anthropornorphic
Thankies for the shout-out too, it means a ton. You know I'll always be around if ya need to chat about anything or about the arty stuff too. Take it easy mate ^^ *Huggos*
Oh and btw, expect to see Richmond go back to the 9th spot where they belong :P :P