Behind the Cover Art: January, 2026

For this month’s cover, I aimed for a simple yet elegant design to reflect the New Year. The prominent “Happy New Year” message and the year 2026 were essential elements. To make the numbers stand out, I chose a three-dimensional, golden style with flares and sparklers, rather than a flat design. While fireworks were considered, I opted for sparklers to avoid a Fourth of July theme. To complete the composition, I included references to January’s key events—the 3rd Annual Chili Cook-Off and the Chinese New Year Super Happy2Hours. Finally, festive New Year’s Eve hats were added to fill the remaining space and bring the design together.