Sometimes the best way to see how far you've come is to put everything together in one place. Paws, Petals & Possibilities is my 2026 art collage, bringing together artwork I created from October 2019 through July 2026. Looking across the finished image is almost like looking through a visual timeline of nearly seven years of my creative journey.

This project includes a huge variety of subjects I've explored over the years. Naturally, dogs have a major presence, but they're joined by flowers, landscapes, fantasy artwork, characters, family-history illustrations, abstract pieces, art challenge creations, and plenty of other experiments and ideas.

The individual pieces were created using many of the traditional and digital materials that have become part of my artistic process, including Procreate, watercolor, acrylic, India ink, colored pencil, charcoal, alcohol marker, fineliner pen, and mixed media.

Once I had the artwork ready, I used GIMP to bring the individual pieces together and arrange them into the massive finished collage.

Why I Called It Paws, Petals & Possibilities

Choosing a title that represented such a wide-ranging collection wasn't easy. Eventually, I settled on Paws, Petals & Possibilities because each part of the name represents something about my artistic journey.

Paws represents my dog and animal artwork. Dogs have become one of the most recognizable parts of my work as The Artistic Shepherd, and you'll find many breeds, styles, projects, and individual dog drawings throughout the collage.

Petals represents my flower and botanical artwork. Flowers have become another increasingly important subject in my portfolio, especially through the different floral projects and art challenges I've completed.

Then there are the Possibilities.

That's where everything else belongs—the landscapes, fantasy artwork, characters, family-history illustrations, abstract experiments, art challenges, and all of the unexpected directions my creativity has taken over the years.

More importantly, “Possibilities” isn't only about the artwork I've already created. It represents all the artwork I haven't made yet.

Some of This Artwork Has Never Been Online Before

Most of the artwork in the collage has appeared somewhere online over the years, but there are a few exceptions.

The collage includes some pieces that I never previously uploaded online, primarily artwork I created during Dogust 2024. That means Paws, Petals & Possibilities isn't simply a collection of artwork that has already appeared on my website and social media. There are a few pieces tucked inside that haven't previously been part of my online portfolio.

I like that aspect of the collage. With so many images packed together, there's a sense of discovery as you move from one section to another.

Building the Collage in GIMP

Although the individual pieces span years and were created using many different materials, the final collage itself was assembled digitally using GIMP.

I gradually added and arranged the artwork until years of individual creations became one enormous image. One of the challenges was fitting so many different artworks together while still allowing the collage to feel like a single piece.

I also incorporated several of my logos into the composition. Having them surrounded by artwork from different periods seemed fitting, since the collage isn't only about individual drawings—it's also about the development of my creative identity over the years.

Once everything was finally in place, I had something very different from any single artwork I've made before. Instead of capturing one subject or idea, the finished piece captures an entire period of my life as an artist.

Watch Paws, Petals & Possibilities Come Together

I also created a YouTube Short showing the progress of the collage.

Rather than only showing the finished image, I made a slideshow featuring the drawings and artwork as they were added. It gives you a chance to see the collection grow before reaching the completed Paws, Petals & Possibilities collage.

Watch the Paws, Petals & Possibilities slideshow on YouTube

Turning the Collage Into My Social Media Banners

After finishing the main collage, I wanted to find another way to use it beyond displaying the complete image.

I cropped different portions of Paws, Petals & Possibilities and turned them into new social media banners. Those banners are now up across my profiles.

I especially like the idea that someone might first encounter one cropped section as a banner and then later see the full collage and realize just how much artwork surrounds that small portion.

Paws, Petals & Possibilities Prints

I've also made Paws, Petals & Possibilities available through The Artistic Shepherd as artwork. A print provides an opportunity to explore the many individual drawings that make up the larger composition and see how years of artwork fit together.

Because this piece contains so much of my artistic history, it's very different from purchasing a print based around one dog, flower, landscape, or character. Instead, it's a collection of many different moments from my creative journey brought together as one artwork.

Bringing the Collage to the Paws, Petals & Possibilities Collection

I didn't want to stop with the artwork itself. I've also created a growing Paws, Petals & Possibilities merchandise collection, adapting the collage to products that let the artwork be displayed, used, worn, played with, or carried.

One of my favorites for this particular artwork is the Puzzle. Since the original collage is already made from so many individual artworks, turning the image into hundreds of individual puzzle pieces feels especially appropriate. It's available in 110, 252, 520, and 1014-piece versions.

Shop the Paws, Petals & Possibilities Puzzle

For something much larger, I created a Woven Blanket. The larger format gives the collage room to become a decorative textile while showcasing artwork from throughout the years.

Shop the Paws, Petals & Possibilities Woven Blanket

The LED RGB Gaming Mouse Pad with Wireless Charger takes the collage in a completely different direction. Its wide format turns years of artwork into a desktop display while combining the design with RGB lighting and wireless charging functionality.

Shop the Paws, Petals & Possibilities LED Gaming Mouse Pad

I also created a Hardcover Journal, which has an especially nice connection to the “Possibilities” portion of the title. The cover represents years of my ideas becoming finished artwork, while the journal provides a place for someone else to write down ideas of their own.

Shop the Paws, Petals & Possibilities Hardcover Journal

The collage is even available on a deck of Playing Cards, turning the retrospective into something that can become part of game night.

Shop the Paws, Petals & Possibilities Playing Cards

Take the Artwork With You

Several products were designed around carrying a piece of the collage into everyday life.

The Laptop Sleeve turns the artwork into a protective computer accessory:

Shop the Paws, Petals & Possibilities Laptop Sleeve

There's also a Tote Bag for carrying books, art supplies, shopping, and everyday essentials:

Shop the Paws, Petals & Possibilities Tote Bag

And for an especially small piece of the collection, I created a Metal Bookmark, bringing artwork from the collage between the pages of your current read:

Shop the Paws, Petals & Possibilities Metal Bookmark

Art for Your Home, Desk, and Everyday Life

I also adapted the collage to several smaller products.

The 11 oz Ceramic Mug wraps the artwork around an everyday drinkware design:

Shop the Paws, Petals & Possibilities 11 oz Ceramic Mug

The Cork-Back Coaster brings a smaller piece of the collage to a desk, coffee table, or other surface:

Shop the Paws, Petals & Possibilities Cork-Back Coaster

For home décor, I created a Square Pillow, giving the collage another larger surface where many of the individual pieces can be discovered:

Shop the Paws, Petals & Possibilities Square Pillow

There's even a Bluetooth Speaker, combining the visual artwork with something designed for enjoying music, podcasts, audiobooks, and other audio:

Shop the Paws, Petals & Possibilities Bluetooth Speaker

Wear and Share the Artwork

For something a little different, Paws, Petals & Possibilities is also available as a Necktie, transforming the collage into wearable art:

Shop the Paws, Petals & Possibilities Necktie

I also created a Holographic Sticker, adding a reflective holographic effect to the artwork:

Shop the Paws, Petals & Possibilities Holographic Sticker

And, Of Course, Something for the Paws

With a title like Paws, Petals & Possibilities—and with dogs playing such a large role in The Artistic Shepherd—it only seemed appropriate to include products specifically for pets.

The Pet Bandana lets a dog wear a design filled with years of my dog artwork and other creations:

Shop the Paws, Petals & Possibilities Pet Bandana

I also created a Pet Tank Top, giving the “Paws” side of the collection another wearable option:

Shop the Paws, Petals & Possibilities Pet Tank Top

Looking Back—and Looking Ahead

One of my favorite things about Paws, Petals & Possibilities is that it isn't meant to suggest my artistic journey is finished.

It's the opposite.

The collage captures a particular window—from October 2019 through July 2026. It lets me look back at the dogs I've drawn, flowers I've studied, worlds and characters I've imagined, family stories I've illustrated, challenges I've attempted, materials I've experimented with, and projects that have helped shape The Artistic Shepherd.

Some pieces represent major projects. Others are smaller experiments. Some were shared extensively online, while a handful—particularly some of my Dogust 2024 artwork—weren't previously uploaded at all.

Put together, they tell a much bigger story than any one drawing could.

That's ultimately what the title means to me.

There have been plenty of paws.

There have been plenty of petals.

And after nearly seven years of artwork represented in this collage, there are still plenty of possibilities ahead.

The Artistic Shepherd — Barks of Inspiration