{inspiration}

She vowed to protect him from anything that could cause harm...

*

*

{the guardian}

*

...even if it was a monster disguised as a perfect starry night.

I have been sitting with this illustration for quite some time.  I had originally inked it in late spring, but ended up putting it in my "I'm not really happy with you so I am just going to set you aside" pile.  Something made me pick it up and work on it today. Perhaps a hidden urge to work on something outside of the melancholy portraits I am used to?  This illustration feels a little sweeter to me...still a little sinister, but in a gentler sort of way.

After bringing it out of my misfits pile, I sat down and got to work. Usually, when I am working I will listen to music or the occasional podcast, however, since about 4:45 pm yesterday I have been obsessed with lectures on ted.com.  Now, I have listened to the occasional one or two from time to time, but right now I am addicted. {Sitting with my journal, I kept myself up until well after midnight last night listening to one right after the other~ writing down ideas and other things that came to mind.} These lectures have become a terrific substitute for the staleness I have felt with my music lately. 

Anyway, the point of my one paragraph ramble above is that I had on an incredible talk {his last lecture} from Randy Pausch while coloring this piece. I want to share it with you.  For me, it was truly worth the hour and fifteen minutes.