New Year 2026 — A Quiet Moment Beneath the Fireworks

This mixed-media artwork captures a calm, reflective moment as one year transitions into the next. A Swiss Shepherd stands beneath a midnight sky, illuminated by fireworks that symbolize light, renewal, and hope rather than noise and chaos.

The original piece was created on black paper, allowing highlights to emerge from darkness. I used mechanical pencil and a kneaded eraser to shape light, followed by colored pencil and acrylic paint pen to add glow and contrast. The artwork was then refined digitally using Procreate and Snapseed, preserving the traditional texture while enhancing clarity.

Tools & Mediums

Mechanical pencil

Kneaded eraser

Colored pencil

Acrylic paint pen

Black paper

Procreate

Snapseed

Links

📝 Blog post (story + process):
https://www.theartisticshepherdart.com/blog/blog_posts/new-year-2026-a-quiet-moment-beneath-the-fireworks

🎥 Drawing time-lapse video:
https://youtube.com/shorts/mn1OM67uGBg?si=Zi0GTowy8pY9WzZ8

🖼️ Fine art print available here:
https://www.theartisticshepherdart.com/warehouse-open-edition-prints/art_print_products/new-year-2026?product_gallery=406955&product_id=8574873