"What's in the Middle," peeking through the fun vibrant pink of the funnel represents the unknown of where our tax dollars go. Exactly what determines the cost per student in public education? What is that equation? How much is funnelled into other third parties and so on.
"I can," represents the parents' moto on the parent brigade fund raising funnel. We are taking action to support our schools.
"Math about me," represents my frustration with a hint of snarkiness. I feel that as a parent, we are constantly pouring funds into our kids' educational experience. 
the tiny scissors... yeah, this is for all the little cuts here and there that add up to massive budget slashings.
And I circled the areas in pink...
To the right of the sign, also tying into how public schools used to be, is the phrase, "they went to music". This represents the cut backs in our art and music programs, and how some schools have lost them completely.
"I am a good student," represents the kids who have not been given the chance to succeed.
This is Michael... he plays these incredible hand carved violins across from my mural painting. Notice his display? It looks like a music sheet, and the violins look like music notes! How awesome is that?
This is Brian...
This is Shaun...
Finished.
Final touches :-) I had to clean up some of the kids and add the little pools of water 
I'm not sure if you noticed, but I repainted the diver. Yep. After sitting through countless mornings, sipping coffee, it finally hit me. The diver was diving away from the pool occupied by her colleagues. Now, it looks like she's facing us a little more :-). I'm sure my neighbor had a good laugh watching me stand (and wobble) on top of a slide in my swimsuit acting this out. 
Good afternoon blogging peeps! Today I'm going to share another before and after. This one illustrates the high ranking officials not feeling the pinch (or should I say drought) as a result of budget cuts. Here, you will notice one of the characters jumping into the hot tub, cannonball style. The issue (besides the greed factor), I was not thrilled with the size nor the rendering. So what did I do?
So, I pulled the water up, covered his toes, giving the illusion of plunging in. I like it!
Good afternoon blogging peeps! Here's my latest and greatest, only a few weeks left until ArtPrize -yikes!!
Good morning blogger peeps, I thought I would post before breakfast this morning. Who am I kidding, my three cups of coffee count as my breakfast! 
Build yourself a pool out of paper.
Then go back, and repaint.
Much better :-). Not sure if you noticed, but a few more kiddos joined the pool party!
First of all, yes, I'm aware I posted yesterday and am not due for another week. I feel like there is something you should know about my ArtPrize entry, and I'm waiting for my coffee.
Good morning, I thought I would post early. I normally wake up around 6:30, sit down in front of my Mural with a cup of coffee, and go over my plan for the day while the day is quiet. It's the only time I can hear myself think. 
Good evening! I'm wrapping things up for the day on my ArtPrize entry and onto banging out a couple 4x6 inch illustrations to sell at a book sale tomorrow:-) I will be using the funds to help offset travel and lodging expenses at ArtPrize. But before I go, I just wanted to share with you what I have worked on this week. I wanted to start adding more detail to the families lining up to leave. I can relate to the kids' faces, and their disappointment of having to leave the water park too soon. 
Good morning😃
Okay, I'm going to be completely honest... I never show my work while it's in progress. Never. This is a first for me. 
One of the problems I ran into was that these kids were out of proportion to the other side of the mural, and so I repainted and enlarged them.
