This week, in celebration of the end of this seemingly endless year, The Beachcomber offers a special front page, with full-color artwork by Steffon Moody.

Since June, Moody’s work has graced our opinion pages, bringing reflection to some, chuckles to others, and most likely, minor outrage to at least a few. That’s what the best editorial cartoonists do, and Moody is the best.

Except, of course, Moody’s work really can’t be defined by the word “cartoon.” His artworks for The Beachcomber are meticulous drawings, with a distinctly Vashon flair.

Moody began his career as a visual artist at the age of 16, working as a theatrical set painter at the Muny Opera in St. Louis. He learned the craft of set painting from his father, Robert Moody, and a crew of 14 painters. Their weekly task was to paint the scenery for an entire musical on one of the largest stages in the United States. Paint, literally, flew.

Moody now teaches drawing and design at DigiPen School of Technology. His website, steffonmoody.com, showcases his prolific work in the 2D mediums of oil paint, ink, graphite and charcoal.

A deeply creative and multi-talented person, Moody has also had a decades-long career as a performer, first with Vashon’s UMO Ensemble and then with his own company, Chameleon Performance. He lives on Maury Island with his wife, Arlette, his daughter, Louisa, and his son, Giacomo.

We are proud to showcase Moody’s inspired, imaginative artwork in The Beachcomber. We cannot thank him enough for his contribution to our newspaper during this time.

— Elizabeth Shepherd and Paul Rowley, Reporters