This is my latest Spirit Animal. What makes this one different is that I have been terrified of alligators all my life. They are horribly scary to me. Some people are afraid of bugs, or dogs, even birds, but I think there is nothing on Earth as scary as an alligator. I’ve even dreamed of them dragging a victim down to their death while I watched helpless in that weird paralyzed state that happens in dreams.

It took me a long time to pick an image I thought looked cheery. The individual I’m drawing the portrait for probably thinks I’m a nut when I shared how this drawing makes me feel. I’m facing my greatest fear. I had to try to draw a happy alligator. My last drawing was so dark and gloomy.

The day after I began to lay color down on the paper, a lady in Florida was dragged into a swamp and eaten by a 12-foot alligator. How’s that for timing? I had to avoid my drawing for almost two whole days.

As with many of my drawings, I’m moving in slowly, trying to get the background down and the sections I think are easier before I tackle the head.