I am tired of seeing my Emo deactivation post on my main page.  I don't want to delete it, because I feel I owe my watchers an explanation.  So if you are here to read anything about the recent drama and my deactivating, you can find that journal here ---> [link]

Otherwise, I am on hiatus until (the very least) after Christmas--most likely New Year.  Until then, I will try to be somewhat positive and focus on my best of the past year...



Honorable Mention - Emote Heroes Team Crest

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This isn't really mine, so it doesn't make the main list.  But I wanted to add it anyway.  First of all, I love the design of the crest.  The noir comic book cover is awesome.  Most of all, though, I love the idea and the characters.  Even though we have been pretty inactive the last couple of months, I love my emoticon team.  I love all the members and the OCs disguised as superheroes--and I think all of their designs are amazing.  Lots of love art-wise and sentimental-wise for this piece.


Number 10 - Buzzing Bee



This is my favorite chat-friendly emote.  It was a testament to how a simple minimal frame emote can be so effective.  I worked hard to get the wing movements looking good. Plus, I just think it turned out rather cute.


Number 9 - Love Stamp



This was the break-out year for me with stamps, with more than a handful hitting the front page and I got a stamp Daily Deviation (though not on this one).  As much as most think of me as an emoticonist, I'm as much or more a stamp maker.  With this stamp, I took scrolling "out-of-the-box" and I loved how it turned out.  The use of the font worked so well, too. I ended making several more stamps in this style--and will probably make a few more before I retire the design.


Number 8 - Kiriban Emote



This is one of my faves since I struggled for months to decide how to translate the idea of a kiriban into an emote.  I love the challenge of pixelling abstract concepts.  Honestly, for something as non-emotable as a kiriban, I was pretty proud of what I came up with.


Number 7 - Gasmask Emote Set



When I was approached to do a custom emote set with gasmasks for a dystopia-themed forum, I was terrified.  This was a huge challenge for me as a pixeller and I almost said "no."   I am so happy with how it turned out and equally happy with the positive feedback I got--particularly from some emoticonist superstars I admire greatly.


Number 6 - Fella Newscast



There were so many little things that went into this that I love.  It took me over a week. I worked on each segment separately and stitched it together at the end.  What I love most about it is that I tried very hard to make it look like a real newcast--and I think I succeeded.


Number 5 - PIxel Noir Font



One of my all-time personal favorite pixel fonts.  Took me forever to do (gosh I looked at so many fonts for reference), but in the end I'm so proud of it, as it turned out how I wanted it to.  I personally use this font a lot for webdesign stuff.


Number 4 - Space Pirates



Combined two of my loves.  This piece honestly isn't that stand-out pixel-wise, but it's a lot of fun and that's why I have it on my list.


Number 3 - Super Smash Joyride



Number one, I just love how the emotes came out in this. My kids are big SSB fans and they got a kick watching me do it.  This was created for a contest.  It placed 3rd against a large number of amazing entries, so I was very proud.  Plus, this piece introduced me to a couple of people who turned into good friends, so it has a special place in my heart for that.


Number 2 -  Musical Holiday Emote Lights



This is hosted on `Ravenswd's account, but it was a collab and I did all of the art on it.  Honestly, I don't know how Jim and I will ever top this.  I am most proud of the choreography.  I would sit for days, running the song through my mind and imagining how the lights would display.  To see it come out 99% of how I imagined it still floors me.  This is the one piece I can honestly say I look at and think, "my gosh, did we really do that?"


Number 1 -  Emote Calendar Meme



For me, there is no surprise this is number 1.  What started out as a small meme project has become a part of my life.  Since May, I have pixelled a synopsis of the past week in emote form.  I love the challenge of trying to squeeze the week's highlights into tiny pixels.  My kids look at it all the time, remembering the events of the past.  The entries are some of the most followed and faved pieces in my gallery, as many of my watchers like that little peek into my life--which often mirrors things many people on dA go through.  It's hard to believe the year is almost over and I'll be tying it up.  But I do plan to start a new one for 2012.



To see my picks for previous years ---> 2010 [link] - 2009 [link]