Journals10
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Seeking community on DA
1 min read
In the years I have been a Deviantart member, I have been quick to "watch" the galleries of artists whose art, photography or modeling I admire. I had accumulated a watch list of hundreds. But among those, only a few dozen have taken time to respond to my comments, reciprocate interest by looking at my own gallery, or interact in some way. I much prefer being part of a responsive community, rather than an anonymous spectator for someone who is disinterested in even looking at my work. That's why I have rebooted and rebuilt my unwieldy Watch list to a few dozen people whose names I recognize from their interaction with me, and some particular favorites. In doing so, I hope to be a more attentive community member myself among these special people. I hope to further rebuild my Watch list as I discover more people who are interested in a community, as I am!
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Thanks for a New Beginning
2 min read
Thank you, everyone who has supported and rallied around me this year as I strive to fulfill a dream and build a new career as an artist. I wasn't sure what to do for a time after being laid off last year from my 27-year job at the newspaper, but in February I realized that maybe there is still time in my life to do what I WISHED I had done -- to make money with my only innate talent, and thereby make people happy and make the world a more beautiful place. Since then, a phalanx of family and friends (old and new) have helped me move forward. First is my wife Suzanne. I absolutely could not and cannot do it without you. I thank Brandy Busbee, whose positive reaction to my portrait of her made me realize that maybe I COULD do art. I thank Bill Perkins, who was my first portrait client. I thank the people who believed in me enough to commission artwork from me -- Carol Farrington, Clay White, Ed Williams, Cynde Levine Baumann, Holly Paraganosia, Christa Jenkins, Lee Williams, David Kinnaird, my parents Dave and Norma, Jason Crowson, Patty Mosely, Kenneth Carter and Victoria Zucco. Tiffany Gwin invited me to contribute art for a charity auction, and Stan Daniels has welcomed me to the community of local artists at Kingdom Comics.
I thank my artist mentors for encouragement and advice, especially Terese Nielsen, Sophi Weltman, Mark Martin, Janet Hinton, Charles Urbach, Andy Gray and Geoffrey Gwin.
I thank the many, many people who have supported me with kind words of encouragement, Likes and Shares online, and by enjoying my art. People such as Robert Phillips and Nikki Gwin help keep me going. Thank you to all my models who inspired me, including Albert Marsh, Nicole Nu, Tom Wofford, Christie Vozniak, Scott Graves, Lauren Castor, Cricket Strom, Angie Brown and many more.
And thanks to my crew, whose company and friendship helps keep me young at heart: Matthew Crowson, Dylan McMeans, Carter Rowell, Dwight Kennedy, Riley Smith and Krysta Mitchell.
Despite its struggles, this has been one of the best years of my life.
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Magic City Art Connection
1 min read
I attended the Magic City Art Connection art show in Birmingham today and enjoyed it immensely! (www.facebook.com/magiccityartc…)
At Birmingham photographer Leo Ticheli's booth, I recognized model Carlotta Champagne's face in several of his prints. I discovered her here on deviantart.com and became a fan of her modeling. Leo's pictures of her are so great, I couldn't decide between my four favorites, and ended up buying all four of them!
You can see Leo's work at his gallery, including some fabulous images of Carlotta: leoticheli.com/
At Birmingham photographer Leo Ticheli's booth, I recognized model Carlotta Champagne's face in several of his prints. I discovered her here on deviantart.com and became a fan of her modeling. Leo's pictures of her are so great, I couldn't decide between my four favorites, and ended up buying all four of them!
You can see Leo's work at his gallery, including some fabulous images of Carlotta: leoticheli.com/
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On Beauty and the Divine
1 min read
"It is our capacity to respond to beauty that proves the Divine spark, I think; and in beauty lies the key to how to redeem the world." -- Anne Rice, today on Facebook.
Well said!
Well said!
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The Rainbow has gone Dark
1 min read
First Frank Frazetta, and now Ronnie James Dio has passed away. Heaven has the metal.
Nothing will ever match the thunderous angst and elation of the Black Sabbath Heaven and Hell album, and Dio was its voice.
The Heaven and Hell album was a refuge for me in college, and Children of the Sea and Heaven and Hell were my favorites. Those songs are like the heart of metal. There is anger and lament, but never without hope and joy. I grieve for Dio, because he sang for me and what I felt.
"We made the mountains shake with laughter as we played,
Hiding in our corner of the world.
Then we did the demon dance and rushed to nevermore,
Threw away the key and locked the door. ..."
Rest in Peace, Ronnie James Dio.
Nothing will ever match the thunderous angst and elation of the Black Sabbath Heaven and Hell album, and Dio was its voice.
The Heaven and Hell album was a refuge for me in college, and Children of the Sea and Heaven and Hell were my favorites. Those songs are like the heart of metal. There is anger and lament, but never without hope and joy. I grieve for Dio, because he sang for me and what I felt.
"We made the mountains shake with laughter as we played,
Hiding in our corner of the world.
Then we did the demon dance and rushed to nevermore,
Threw away the key and locked the door. ..."
Rest in Peace, Ronnie James Dio.
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