Original Artwork by Jim Groat, also known as  rabbi-tom

This portrait dates from the old Texas FurCon back in 2004, when I had the luck to meet Jim Groat and commission a portrait of me as my character, Kabbalist. The Rabbi works quickly, but with great skill, as you can see. I was glancing over to the side at some of the shenanigans going on further down the Dealer's Den, and couldn't help but get that lopsided smile.

This picture is one of my long-time favorites for its eerily good blending of my actual features with those of my fursona, at least as they stood in 2004. Things have changed a little since then: I've lost some weight and the mustache and goatee are long gone. I'm considering growing them back now that my facial hair has thickened up (Mr. Groat was charitable in making things a little less scraggly). It didn't look too bad on me back then, so I'm fairly certain I'd be pleased with it now if I could find a week or two in which it would be acceptable for me to look a bit scruffy while it grew in. Of course, the near-Afro hair is still there to one degree or another, depending on how long it's been since my last haircut.

I really need to get an updated version next time I see him.