"Growing Hope"
(drawn 4/29/02 - 18 years old)

This picture is noticably brighter than the rest in my sketchbook (and the background is a brighter blue than it shows up and is mixed with a purple.) It's very calming to me...

I ask you to look at this picture, and encourage you to do some thinking stemming from it.
Life is all around you. There is beauty everywhere, but sometimes it must be looked for, and sometimes you may refuse to see it.

A challenge for you and anybody else who looks at this: come up with a list of positive things... in the world, in yourself, and in anybody that you may have a hard time seeing in a positive light. Keep these lists with you, if it would help, and add to them whenever you can think of more. Use these lists as inspiration when things are hard.

That said, enjoy my drawing and have a day filled with beauty.