Danamo: That was my intention with the swell of the ocean. Looked at practically, everything on this island would have washed away after the first waves hit it, let alone a storm. Yet the island stands, the man survives. Everyone: I'll definitely tweak the big tree, the size of the leaves IS distracting and does need to be reduced. I also like several other suggestions and will incorporate them into the final pic. If you'll all allow me to bore you with a little personal revelation: I created this image differently from my usual process. Usually I come up with an idea first, then go about creating it. This image was more stream of consciousness in its creation. I started working on it like this: "I'll make a terrain and shape and texture it." Then I added more terrains in a separate session. Then later the big tree. Then later the house. And so on, a piece at a time, almost every day a new piece to the puzzle. Finally it all began to tell a story. All in all, a fun way to create an image! Now after sleeping on it and reading all these wonderful comments and suggestions, it occurred to me that this image is truly a product of my subconscious. Here's how: The man is me. Although I don't have a cat, I do have a dog, my only pet. I live alone, a lifelong bachelor at 50, so the island definitely represents my personal isolation. The grave marker represents the death of my Aunt Lennie last year. When she died she left me her home, which is the home in the pic (it doesn't resemble the one in the pic, though) where I now live. The ocean is part of the theme of isolation, but also represents the outside world, full of beauty but also a source of danger, the UNKNOWN. I know, too much information, but I thought someone might find it interesting how much of myself I put in this image without being conscious of it. Just something to think about when you're looking at your own work. Think, "What of myself goes into my art without even being conscious of it at the time?" John

This is not my "second childhood". I'm not finished with the first one yet.

Time flies like an arrow; fruit flies like a banana.

"I'd like to die peacefully in my sleep like my grandfather....not screaming in terror like the passengers on his bus." - Jack Handy