Drawing that took the longest yet!

Edit: I’ve gotten accused of Ai so here’s my Timelapses, layers and handcam https://www.reddit.com/r/ArtProgressPics/s/tF8dab7r0f + more commissions n etc works on https://crepe.cm/ko/@lanslide !

I’ve drawn a cardinal (almost) every year during my winter break for the past 11 years. First one was ~9 years old.

(I always love seeing them all laid out lol. 2017 was when I first got my Prismacolor pencils… needless to say the reds are hanging on for dear life at this point)

my sister told me it looks like she’s aged through the years. i think it’s nice :)

I had finished this in 2023, but earlier this year I painted over it since I wasn't happy with it.

I redraw Delores every year to mark my progress, I've posted previous years on this sub before but I deleted my previous reddit account In late 2024 so 2025 was never posted, anyways happy new year and I hope y'all have a 2026 full of personal and artistic growth!

I just realized that i drew an evolved version of her in my new style. This could be a yearly thing 🤔 wyt?

What do you guys think I did different?
Edit: I can not BELIEVE you guys prefer the first one. If my 2024 self would have had these positive compliments I wouldn’t have bothered changing my style so much. Thank you but now I have a bittersweet feeling because I’m no longer into that particular style LOL 💕

Six years of drawing and I still can’t believe that every year I make some sort of progress. I was already happy with my 2024 drawing, and just believed I had plateaued in ability after that, but I guess this is a sign to myself that improvement is always possible.

Found a very old sketchbook today

Disclaimer: Just like in my previous posts here, the 2024 versions were just quick 1hr drawings turned into stickers for an expo. It doesn't entirely represent my art in that year.

I started learning portraits back in December, still not anything great but definitely making progress!

There were a lot of times where I looked up at the DA greats of that time thinking I'd never get better. It took a long time, but I think kid me would be happy.