This is the self portrait that won me 2nd place, a bronze medal, and $100 at the self portrait contest on Saturday. My family was so proud of me (prouder than I was of myself, as usual), and all four entries from my town stole the spotlight (Best in show, 2nd place, 2 honorable mentions).

Here's the description I had posted under it;
My purpose was to not only demonstrate what kind of images I like to create, but to show that I feel there is a necessary balance in art. There can’t be “good” pieces without “bad” pieces. Light is meaningless where there is no dark. In short, there is a Yin Yang system that works its magic to some degree in every piece. For this particular one, I bordered the portrait with benevolent and malevolent beings, both of which fight each other and attempt to seize the book and owls. This represents the struggle between the two forces in order to have a greater dominance over the creativity and inspiration of art; this, in turn, allows them to control the final product, which is what influences the viewers of the piece.
The opposite forces are also represented by the hourglasses in the bottom corners, one being full to represent optimism, health, and beginnings, the other being empty as a symbol of desperation, illness, and endings. Maidens, such as the mermaid woman, tend to be symbols of purity, while lizards, dragons, and other fanged hard-skinned creatures are the general images of evil and pain.
Besides being a representation of my belief in balancing the elements in art, this piece represents my love of fantasy art, the good, the bad, and the turmoil of daydreams that make up my mind.

Everything (c) me, original sold to my family.