I wasn't going to do this, but since I'm feeling extremely down and this meme is meant to help you re-focus on why you do your art, I figured I'd give it a go.

I modified this meme template to a size between the original meme by `fox-orian and `Synfull's pixel-art version.

This will be verbose, but I'm getting this written-out for myself more than anything (since that is what the true nature of this meme is). I decided to number them for ease of identification:

1. My Family - They are my greatest inspiration and the main reason I keep my artwork all-ages friendly.

2. Mazeguy & Koloboks - Mazeguy smilies were *the* main source of inspiration when I began seriously creating smilies. I loved the Kolobok style of smilies even before I knew they had an official name. I wanted to emulate it and my first full-length animation was in this style.

3. LAD - The smiley was part of a online shop I started which had an "angels" theme. It was opening that business which created the need for graphics and the reason I started doing digital art in the first place.

4. Online Pixel Artists - There are so many wonderful (non-dA) pixel artists whom I have admired over the last 12 years. They truly inspired me to do my own artwork when I couldn't find the pieces I needed. Pictured art by Vikimouse, GraphicGarden, GrammaGeorge, and Cottontail Graphics.

5. My Fans - From the members of my forums who post lovely words about a seasonal icon, to comments on my webcomic, to lovely gifts made by friends here at dA...the support and encouragement of my fans is so important and inspiring to me. Support sign by ~moohug4

6. My Writing - I have written fiction since I was 12 years old. So much of what I pixels comes from those written ideas.

7. My faith - I'm a religious person, but it's not something I push on people and it's quietly personal to me. However, I'm a firm believer that we should not waste the talents given to us and that has pushed me to continue many times when I wanted to quit. Image by Christian Woman Graphics.

8. My online friends - Not just gals, but many a male friend, too. Their encouragement has oftentimes been the only thing to keep me going. Image by Pollyanna Graphics.

9. Ravenswood Forums - A threaded message board system my husband created. For many years, it was the sole reason I made emotes on a regular basis. We still use a variation of it and I still create smileys for it.

10. Batman/Comics - This ties into my writing, but my fan-fiction and DC role-playing has provided me with artistic inspiration for many years.

11. My webcomic - The main reason I have had to continually create pixel art on a daily/weekly basis for the last 3 years, giving me the practice that has made me a much better artist.

12. My websites - Being a webmaster has given me the desire to create specific things which I know my users will like. 90% of my art is created with a mind toward that useage, and thus it's an amazing inspiration. Image created with Elouai Dollmaker

*** Pieces that are not my art are all purchased pieces and/or free-use, non-commercial art which I have a right to use with credit and not claiming as my own. ***