This piece seems to say something different to everyone. Some think it’s scary, some think it’s inspiring. I have always felt that the closer you get to a goal, particularly an internal goal, the more you become aware of what takes you away from that which you are striving for. So it becomes a balancing act – your focus needs to be pinpoint sharp so that you are not distracted from what you want. Yet, when it’s something you really want, it’s not a chore – it becomes a labor of love. And the feeling of constant balancing, constantly adjusting yourself to your goal, becomes a joy.

One of my favorites. Originally published January 1, 2007.

Shameless Plug Warning: This cartoon is also available on T-shirts, mugs, etc. at my CafePress shop! Check link in the blogroll!

My take on a long-haired dachshund who just wants to put her nose in your face and wag herself into your lap. I don’t think you can find those particular markings in nature, but they were fun to play with.

Drawn in March 2005 for a class and an example for a potential client. Originally published December 10, 2006 on my first blog.

This originally was just an exercise in colored pencil, but the image always gave me a feeling of hope, and as I have discovered, hope and peace are not very far apart. When you feel hope, peace is not far behind. And when you are in peace, how can there not be hope?

Originally published December 27, 2006.

I wasn’t sure, and they weren’t about to tell me!

Originally published March 5, 2007, also created for Illustration Friday.

This illustration I did for Illustration Friday, for the word “Might.” Below is the original text.

One day a merchant came into a small village and a crowd gathered to look at his wares. He demonstrated on one of the village women a powder that would clean even the most discolored teeth. It worked like a charm, and her teeth were white as snow. The villagers excitedly crowded around to buy the powder, which cost only two coins for a bottle. One man, however, stayed at the back of the crowd. He had very discolored teeth, and he had the two coins to buy the powder. But he hesitated, thinking, “Should I, or shouldn’t I?” while rubbing the coins together in his hand. Then there was only one bottle left. The man ran forward, thrusting the coins toward the merchant to buy the bottle. The merchant took the coins, and said to the man, “I have been watching you, at the back, going back and forth. In your indecision, you have rubbed the faces off these coins, and they are worthless.” And the merchant sold the last bottle to someone who had good coins.

Sitting on the fence is a painful place to be. Not recommended. It’s important to know what you want.