As one year ends and another begins, there’s often a moment of stillness tucked between the noise and celebration—a pause where reflection quietly takes hold. New Year 2026 was created to capture that exact feeling.

This artwork features a Swiss Shepherd standing beneath a midnight sky as fireworks bloom overhead. Rather than focusing on the chaos of celebration, the scene leans into calm presence—light emerging from darkness, and a steady figure welcoming what comes next.

A Mixed-Media Process Rooted in Contrast

This piece began traditionally on black paper, allowing light to be drawn out rather than placed on top. I used a mechanical pencil and kneaded eraser to shape highlights, gradually building form through subtraction. From there, colored pencil and acrylic paint pen were layered in to add warmth, glow, and definition—especially in the fireworks and rim lighting.

Once the physical drawing was complete, the artwork was refined digitally using Procreate and Snapseed, preserving the texture of the original while enhancing clarity and contrast. The final result blends analog depth with subtle digital polish.

Symbolism in the Stillness

The Swiss Shepherd is often associated with loyalty, calm strength, and watchfulness—qualities that felt especially fitting for a New Year piece. Positioned beneath the fireworks rather than within them, the dog becomes a quiet observer, representing steadiness amid transition.

Drawing on black paper reinforces that symbolism: light doesn’t overpower the darkness—it emerges from it.

Available as a Fine Art Print

New Year 2026 is available as a high-quality fine art print through my Art Storefronts gallery. Prints are produced to preserve the contrast, detail, and luminous highlights of the original mixed-media drawing.

👉 View the print here

Watch the Drawing Process

Want to see how this piece came together?

I recorded the drawing process as a short time-lapse video, showing the artwork as it develops from black paper to finished mixed-media illustration.

🎥 Watch the YouTube Short here

Seeing the layers build—mechanical pencil, kneaded eraser highlights, colored pencil, acrylic paint pen, and digital refinement—offers a closer look at how light is pulled from darkness in this piece.

This piece is well-suited for:

• Thoughtful New Year or winter décor

• Dog lovers and Swiss Shepherd fans

• Gifts centered on reflection and encouragement

• Collectors of narrative, process-driven artwork

Thank You for Being Here

Each artwork I create is part of an ongoing journey—one that blends storytelling, symbolism, and a love for dogs into moments meant to be lived with. Thank you for supporting my work and for taking a moment to pause beneath the fireworks with me.

— Justyn Simon
The Artistic Shepherd