#mightysen

★ Why Johnny Joestar? // For starters: I think keeping the subject matter consistent is a really good benchmark to have from drawing to drawing. You know WHO to expect, but the shapes, colors, references and methods in which he’s drawn may vary wildly, which should be fun to watch unfold. 

It also probably goes without saying, but you have to REALLY like a character to be able to commit to something like this. I have a very difficult time explaining in words why I love Johnny without it sounding esoteric, but I assure you I love him a supreme amount and I find a great deal of inspiration in him. His sense of determination is so captivating and I see such a beautiful light in him, so I want to hone in on that and pull off my own great feat like him! Hopefully my art and hunger will show you what my words struggle to say.

★ Can I suggest an idea for a work?

// Yes!! Feel free to send ideas to my Tumblr inbox, the only requirement is that it must feature Johnny Joestar; though you can suggest characters he interacts with! Prompts, poses, expressions, tools, are all open to suggestion.

Keep in mind, I am under zero obligation to do any request, and some of them might be difficult if not impossible to pull off if I don’t have the specified conditions available, but who knows, you might spark something in me! If your idea is used, it will be credited.

(I’m gonna mention this preemptively: I have not started reading Jojolion yet. So I politely ask that no prompts involve anything beyond part 7, as I'm trying to avoid spoilers. I will edit this section once I have finished part 8.)

★ Why are you doing this?

// Despite the fact that I am posting these publicly, this is something purely for me. My greatest expectation with this devotional is to have a death of the audience moment with these pieces, not caring if the art I’m making is “good” or will be “well received”, simply that it comes from the Heart; that is why this practice was founded.

My own personal struggles with my art in recent years have come from an anxiety of trying to fit some kind of standard that was self imposed by my own expectations of what I thought others wanted of me, stifling my creative spark by chasing after dollar signs and being a Presentable Brand™. I forgot art was fun. I forgot who I am. This daily practice is how I remember. This is my form of prayer, hence why I’m calling this landing place a “shrine”.

Admittingly, the timing is very ripe to do this in 2025. Steel Ball Run’s manga is finally releasing in English, and the Steel Ball Run anime was announced on JoJo Day in April. The hype for these things isn’t something for me to cash in on, more like it fuels me and inspires me. I’ve had moments in my life where it felt very hard to go on, but having something to look forward to in the future would always reframe things. I want to keep living and doing my best so I can hold each hardcover manga volume in my hands and be there when the anime finally drops because this story and its characters mean the world to me!

★ Why do this daily?

// I have done a few private daily drawing and meditation challenges before, and it’s a rewarding feeling to have done a little something each day that adds to your growth. I’m also a bit of a recovering perfectionist, and I fear that if I gave myself a challenge that required more time (let’s say, a Johnny once a week) it might make me lean into my perfectionistic tendencies. I’m already well aware I can sit my ass down for 20+ hours and make something nice, I don’t need to keep proving that. I’m trying to do the opposite: I want to be able to loosen up with my drawing, make peace with making mistakes, be a little bit more vulnerable and sloppy and silly with my soul’s expression. My hope is that by the end of 2025, the vessel of all the collective art will take me into a greater understanding of myself and the world.

★ Why post these publicly if it’s something just for you?

// I feel like the last few years of my life, I’ve kept myself rather obscured and tucked away parts of myself that felt too authentic and vulnerable. But it’s 2025 now, I think it’s time we unlearn shame and do as we please. I asked myself in earnest what I wanted to do in the new year, and he replied “I just wanna draw pictures of Johnny. :D”, so who am I to ignore that request? I have so much love in my heart for Johnny and my art that it'd be a shame not to share them with the world; in fact, I don't think I even could, and so I must share.

★ Do you have any alternative goals to do anything with the works produced here?

// I have a secret personal project that I require a lot of still images of Johnny for. I also think collecting everything into a book may be fun, whether it be for sale or just for myself. I've always dreamed of holding a book of my art in my own hands! No concrete plans on that just yet, however.

★ Have you considered selling merch or selling off originals?

// I have in fact made some merch already! You can check out my store if you'd like to support me.

Ideally though, I’m really trying to approach this act of devotion as “expression first, outcome second”. My hope is that if merch does arise, it’s mostly a happy accident that it ended up that way or something that my heart wants.

I am open to the idea of selling originals. Feel free to message me to discuss.

★ Can I make my own devotional challenge like yours for Johnny/another character? // If you feel inspired by what I’m doing, feel free! This idea is as free as it makes you feel.

★ Will you continue this beyond 2025?