I just want to send a general "Thank You" to everyone who has visited my gallery and left comments, favorited my art, featured me in their journal, or sent me notes. It makes me happy when I check my messages and I have dozens of new messages. I especially love getting comments; it is nice to know that others do appreciate my art. Even though I am not popular, and don't get very many pageviews, I appreciate each and every single one of those pageviews, those people that stop by and admire my art, add a piece to their favorites, or even go so far as to add a comment or two. For me, the art is not about the popularity. I don't do this professionally, or for the recognition. I don't compare myself to other artists and feel bad. Instead, I am grateful for the handful of people that do appreciate my art.

I draw what I love; of course most people do. But I do not draw the kinds of things that are popular here. Anime, animals, anthropomorphic creatures, seem to be very popular here. I had lost interest in anime many years ago, and I do not draw anthro stuff like I used to all the time. I was rather lost, both as an artist and in life. I did not feel like I belonged on this planet, could not really connect with people, had a hard time just being myself.

That is until recently; I had an "Epiphany", of sorts, a spiritual awakening, about two years ago, which is reflected in my art. My old drawings, I would sit there and draw a picture of a wolf or a leopard, because, well, I like wolves and leopards. I would doodle tons of anthro wolves, and I even had my own alter ego and original characters, and a world for them. But all of that is gone. I have found myself in my art and I have become a more enlightened person in my everyday life as well. The pictures I draw, for the most part, have deep significance to me, and I draw them because I get an inspiration, a vision, the images just pop into my head and my hand has to get them down onto paper.

I have gained more of a center in myself, more balance, I feel more at ease with the world, more willing to accept and understand rather than criticize, try to be happy about what I have rather than depressed about what I don't. To become a more positive person. To find the meaning, through my work, my art, my connections with people, and to see what was there all along but was blind to. My mind had opened up and I was willing to just let it flow. To truly discover my own spirituality and be at peace. People can see whatever they want in my art, but for me it is truly a reflection of myself for the first time. It is a meditation for me, a release, a way to express myself in a way I felt I could not before.

I have truly found myself and for that I am grateful. And I am grateful that other people recognize that profundity in my art, because I put so much more of myself into my newest pieces, I didn't realize until I put up my gallery here just how many people can see that, too. I am still incredibly humble; I do not think I am better or worse than anyone else here, just different. Humility is important, but should not self-degrade, because then what was the point? We are all different and I think it is great that this community allows so many different people here to express themselves as they see fit, and that diversity is celebrated.

Anyway, enough rambling. I could go on for hours!

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