Flashing Back. Looking Forward.
It’s that time of year again, a moment filled with anticipation and profound introspection. For me, this period is not just a simple transition; it represents an invaluable opportunity to take a deep dive into my thoughts and goals, reflecting on the rich tapestry of experiences and invaluable lessons learned throughout the past year. As I look ahead, I do so with a sense of hope and excitement, eager to embrace the opportunities and challenges that lie ahead in the coming months. This is a time to embrace the possibilities and to harness the optimism that fuels my ambitions.
My 2025 Creative Review
If you caught my previous Merry Christmas post, you would know that I shared a few things I am incredibly grateful for, including some personal accomplishments and milestones that have significantly shaped my journey this past year. Each of these moments has contributed to my growth and resilience, reinforcing the importance of gratitude in my creative journey.
As I like to do this time of year, I enjoy reflecting on my creative projects from the past year. Part of my list includes traditional artworks and drawings, as well as digital online design, like staying up to date on this website and others.
WWWow!
Website stuff first: Thanks to my creative contributors, Bob Barnes and Frank Mallinder, the ADCook.com website shared 75 posts this year (click here for all 2025 posts).
Regular Readers know how much I love cars, so 20 of those posts were car show updates. My car show posts include dozens of photos of each show, and hundreds of great pics just over this past year. Of the more than six thousand photos posted on this site, at least a third are car pics. Catch my Car Show Timeline here.
Also, car-related, I posted regular updates on my painting, MOMENTUM, at the National Corvette Museum. Its stay just ended after nearly two years of prominent display, first as part of the LUSTER Exhibit, then later, on extended stay. Click here for the whole story.
Writer Bob Barnes contributed a dozen craft beer posts in his monthly Las Vegas Brewing News articles this year.
Bob Barnes began his food and beverage writing career in 1998 as Regional Correspondent for Celebrator Beer News and wrote the Nevada Beer Nuggets column from 1998 to 2019. He was Editorial Director of The Las Vegas Food & Beverage Professional from 2012-2021 and has covered Las Vegas for Gayot since 2010. He now writes the weekly Las Vegas Dining and Entertainment News column for FoodAndLoathing.Vegas, a monthly dining news column for The Vegas Voice, continues to contribute to Gayot, writing the Gayot Las Vegas Restaurant News and beer and spirit reviews.
And finally, Frank Mallinder contributed a selection of inspiring posts. Having and living your mission is a driving force in Frank’s life and his coaching. His mission is “To experience the joy of living on purpose, sharing what he learns with other seekers,” and for thirty years, he has been doing just that.
Online since 1996, this website now boasts 82 pages and 776 blog posts (articles).
Big Art in '25
A.D. Cook with CONTINENTAL, 36″ x 60″, acrylic on panel, 2025
Earlier, I mentioned big art, and this year’s most significant creation was CONTINENTAL, featuring a classic Lincoln Continental that measures three feet tall by five feet wide.
My larger artwork, MOMENTUM (a Corvette diptych created in 2024), measuring four feet by ten feet, wrapped up its extended stay at the National Corvette Museum in November 2025.
Appropriately titled, Momentum will continue its journey in 2026. Stay tuned for updates.
Big Ideas - Small Art
Earlier this year, I started a series of ACEO (Art Cards, Editions, and Originals) artworks, which I plan to continue further this coming year. Lately, I’m enjoying creating more miniature artworks while planning a couple of epic larger works.
My larger works are pretty ambitious, and I thrive on tackling projects that push my limits. But the thrill of creating miniatures brings a unique challenge, as they require precision, spontaneity, and creativity within a limited space. I often find that working in smaller formats encourages spontaneity, which is a crucial part of my creative process.
Over the years, my sketchbooks have gotten increasingly smaller, so small that they fit in my back pocket. This diminishing size has not hindered my creativity; instead, it has fueled a more intimate connection with my artwork. With each new sketch, I feel an urge to push the boundaries of my creativity. This impulsive habit helps me develop my artistic voice and keep my skills sharp. Because of that, I find myself drawing one thing or another, and on more than one occasion, several drawings over a session of craft beers and loud music. It’s a cathartic method of expression that allows me to channel my thoughts and feelings directly onto paper.
These spontaneous creations often reflect my daily observations and emotions. These doodles have become a sort of visual diary, chronicling my observations of everyday life. Over this past year, I’ve doodled and sketched many dozens of drawings of people I’ll never know and things for no reason other than just because. This has helped me realize the importance of community and the power of shared experiences in the artistic process.
Sharing this journey has opened my eyes to the community of artists and supporters around me. This documentation not only showcases my growth as an artist but also serves as motivation for others exploring their own creative journeys. Read my ACEO Journey here.
2026 and Beyond
Looking forward, I am excited to kick off 2026 back in the studio for a creative year of art, along with more writing and design time. One thing I’m particularly looking forward to is collaborating with fellow artists to share inspiration and ideas.
This coming year, I hope to explore new media and techniques to expand my artistic horizons. I also aim to participate in more exhibitions and showcases to connect with a broader audience and receive feedback on my work. Visit my BLOG & UPDATES section for updates.
The Last Word
This post closes out my year as my final post of 2025. Rolling into 2026, I’m eager to document and share my progress, so stay tuned for updates as I delve deeper into this creative adventure. I can’t wait to see where this creative path leads me in the upcoming months. I’m filled with anticipation for the new experiences and lessons that lie ahead.
Here's to another year of creativity and exploration!
New Year’s Hero image © 2025 Adobe Stock. Licensed for editorial.
A.D. Cook with CONTINENTAL painting, self-portrait by A.D. Cook, © 2025.
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A.D. is an artist who started drawing at a young age. Throughout his life, he has worked with different creative tools in traditional and digital art and design. His art and writings have been showcased in various publications such as Airbrush Action Magazine, Airbrush Magazine, American Art Collector, Art & Beyond, Dream To Launch, Easyriders, Las Vegas City Life, Las Vegas Weekly, L’Vegue, ModelsMania, Quick Throttle, and The Ultimate Airbrush Handbook.
