Each year I give myself a creative challenge. In 2015 it was draw a monkey (one of Cecil’s Minions) each day. This has led me to my greatest challenge yet- a year of Wombats!
OK just kidding… This years challenge is a bit cerebral. This year I’d like to to accomplish three things on the creative front. 1. Take all the MINIon Badges I’ve done and create a book with all of them (thank you Chris for giving me that idea). 2. Finally get the game I designed for my students years ago into a playable format. It deals with the rock cycle and helps them to remember what it takes to make igneous, sedimentary, and metamorphic rocks. Not as scientifically accurate as it could be, it at least is a start for elementary kids. 3. Gizmo Girl. I’ve got a story or two, I’ve done character designs, so get a finished issue (24 pages) ready for printing by the end of the year. In the mean time I’d also like to start doing My Geek Odyssey a little more regularly since I’m not drawing monkeys every day. This isn’t a challenge (although it kinda sorta is) more like an ambiguous goal. Basically, I’d like to have more comic strips posted that I did in 2015.
So that’s going to be my 2016 on the creative front. I hope you’ll stick around to see if I actually accomplish anything. 
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A Year in Wombats- Lackey #2016
Each year I give myself a creative challenge. In 2015 it was draw a monkey (one of Cecil’s Minions) each day. This has led me to my greatest challenge yet- a year of Wombats!
OK just kidding… This years challenge is a bit cerebral. This year I’d like to to accomplish three things on the creative front. 1. Take all the MINIon Badges I’ve done and create a book with all of them (thank you Chris for giving me that idea). 2. Finally get the game I designed for my students years ago into a playable format. It deals with the rock cycle and helps them to remember what it takes to make igneous, sedimentary, and metamorphic rocks. Not as scientifically accurate as it could be, it at least is a start for elementary kids. 3. Gizmo Girl. I’ve got a story or two, I’ve done character designs, so get a finished issue (24 pages) ready for printing by the end of the year. In the mean time I’d also like to start doing My Geek Odyssey a little more regularly since I’m not drawing monkeys every day. This isn’t a challenge (although it kinda sorta is) more like an ambiguous goal. Basically, I’d like to have more comic strips posted that I did in 2015.
So that’s going to be my 2016 on the creative front. I hope you’ll stick around to see if I actually accomplish anything. A Year in MINIons- MINIon #1159
and so it ends, not with a “bang” but with an “ook!”
365 days ago I started down this path. “I’m going to post a Minion a day for the entire year!” I thought- “this is going to be easy” around the 200th MINIon it started to get more and more difficult. I thank all the crazy holidays that we have for helping me out on some of those really tough days. Did I miss a day? Yes, when I was away for my God daughter’s baptism, and when I was at my Grandmother’s funeral. I still drew but didn’t have the tech with me to post. Those were posted for the most part in one lump sum as sketches. They may not have been finished, but they were drawn and posted.
Did I make a mistake or two? Yes, the one I know of- there is one badge number that I drew two different MINIons for- the funny thing about that one is I drew two different MINIons, but they were based on the same character! I don’t even know if I like one better than the other. SO do I remember each one? I would say I do, but after discovering that mistake I think it would be better to say kinda sorta, maybe. I have yet to do a formal accounting or have it checked by an accounting firm (if I pay them enough they’ll say whatever I want). So if I discover I just completely spaced a day- I’m sorry. You try to do something like this and see how long it is before you go a little bit insane. here’s the funny thing- except for MINIons that were drawn for specific people, the number actually has something to do with the drawing. For some it may just be the date I posted (wasn’t feeling too creative) for others it’s now up to you to figure out how the number is related… Today’s is pretty simple- 11:59 the last minute of 2015. So see how smart you are or how good you are at searching the interwebs.
I’m expecting to take a little break from everything for at least a few days… Then figure out what this year’s challenge will be (not drawing monkeys). You’ll be the first to know since I will post it here.
I wish you all a safe & prosperous New Year!
-Bruce A Year in MINIons- MINIon #0333
I’m kinda ending this adventure the way it began, with a MINI Cooper friend. As most of you should remember I started this project making personal badges for some of the people I drive cross country with every two years. They put up with me, and the monkey- they get some custom artwork for their MINI. It started with my thinking that I’ll just draw a monkey with a fez, (Cecil’s Minions from this comic) and that will be it. Each person gave me a number that they wanted, and some of the numbers spoke to me. 0042, 0666… and I began drawing monkeys that went with the number. Once I started I couldn’t really stop, it wouldn’t be fair that only a few people got special ones- so this yearlong challenge began. 365 monkeys, a monkey a day. With one day to go, we have returned to our roots and – MINIon #0333. Could you guess this person owns pugs? Tomorrow will finish it and I’ll move on to a different annual challenge- that will NOT entail drawing monkeys every day. 🙂 A Year in MINIons- MINIon #7001
“Watch me pull a rabbit out of my hat!” For those who are wondering- Yes, this MINIon is dressed up Zatanna from DC Comics. Unfortunately the fishnet stockings aren’t visible in this picture, and we should be glad of that.
A Year in MINIons- MINIon #2812
I’m horrible about writing thank you notes… While many people were forced to write a nice note to each relative who gave them something, my family didn’t believe in it. It was their belief that if you said “thank you” either in person or over the phone, that was enough. Not saying they didn’t try to get us to, but since I don’t recall seeing them every write a thank you note they didn’t model the importance. Now as an adult, I do like getting them. It tells me that the gift actually arrived. It’s also nice to hear about what’s going on. I’m still horrible at it. My current excuse is I don’t have any notecards to write on. I’m thinking of using “no stamps” next. A Year in MINIons- MINIon #2712
Here’s to making snowflakes instead of shoveling them! I’m not going to make any comments about the weather, Winter just started and I know things will change. A Year in MINIons- MINIon #2612
I really
have no idea why anyone would have a holiday just for one sport. I admit, in the US, “Superbowl Sunday” is basically a holiday, all that’s missing is for the NFL to payoff enough congressmen and I could see it happening. We really need to stop this trend or soon every day could be a holiday! Soon you’ll have holidays for Basketball Day (Nov. 6), Baseball Day, even Cribbage Day. Jai-Alai Day? Cornhole Day (the last Saturday in June)?
Hmm… would it be regional or national. I know there are many days the banks and federal offices are closed, but schools aren’t. Would people protest that their state didn’t honor National Bocce Ball Day. It would improve the economy with companies selling curriculum packets about each holiday. Soon people will start saying that we aren’t teaching the story of tiddlywinks in a historically accurate manner. Textbooks would have to change… Ouch, my head is hurting.
have no idea why anyone would have a holiday just for one sport. I admit, in the US, “Superbowl Sunday” is basically a holiday, all that’s missing is for the NFL to payoff enough congressmen and I could see it happening. We really need to stop this trend or soon every day could be a holiday! Soon you’ll have holidays for Basketball Day (Nov. 6), Baseball Day, even Cribbage Day. Jai-Alai Day? Cornhole Day (the last Saturday in June)?
Hmm… would it be regional or national. I know there are many days the banks and federal offices are closed, but schools aren’t. Would people protest that their state didn’t honor National Bocce Ball Day. It would improve the economy with companies selling curriculum packets about each holiday. Soon people will start saying that we aren’t teaching the story of tiddlywinks in a historically accurate manner. Textbooks would have to change… Ouch, my head is hurting. A Year in MINIons- MINIon # 2512
Just remember if someone buys you socks (when you really wanted a BB-8) this from Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone after Harry asks Dumbledore what he sees in the Mirror of Erised, a mirror that shows you what you desire the most, Dumbledore answers– “I? I see myself holding a pair of thick, woolen socks.” Harry stared.
“One can never have enough socks,” said Dumbledore. “Another Christmas has come and gone and I didn’t get a single pair…”
I am lucky that Sue is always knitting me new pairs each is rather unique, and I like it that way.
Merry Christmas! A Year In MINIons- MINIon #2412
Don’t forget to put out the milk, and banana bread (or gingerbread) for Mr. Claus. A Year in MINIons- MINIon #1670
I’m pretty much out of words… I’ve seen candy canes being made, it is an interesting process. Schimpff’s Confectionery in Jefferson, Indiana still makes candy the old fashioned way. If you time your visit just right, you can watch them making red hots, lemon drops, or candy canes. It’s a great place and their hard candy is wonderful (except the horehound- it’s an acquired taste).