FAQ including stock usage terms
Visit the BlockBusters Chatroom to work out those artist blockages, burnouts and frustrations. Come talk about your problems or just hang out and have fun! Everyone is welcome and sometimes just goofing off releases some of the stress.

icon by `lyastri

Thanks to everyone for the advice and the sweet and funny comments about my boys.  I'm really sad to report that Lamarck died today from his injuries.  He tried his best to survive and we tried our best to give him every chance but... it wasn't enough.  I didn't think it would hit me so hard but I've been in tears all day.  I feel like I really let him down.  I know baby birds are fragile and nature is harsh but even so, I thought we could save him.  Please-- no comments on "birdie heaven" or any of that fluff.  Just wanted to let you know he's gone.
Newton is still doing well and his eyes are open even more today.  Also I think he'll lose his feather sheath thingies in the next day or so.

THE BACK STORY:
My husband-- the sweetest guy I know-- found two baby birds whose nest had blown out of a tree (apparently) and who were the only survivors of a clutch of five.  (One other survivor got run over before ~Cobweb-stock could pull over and rescue it.)  They're bald, ugly, wobbly and I love 'em already.  We don't know what species of bird they are, only that they are insectivores (beak shape) and gonna be fairly big (feet size.)  We're hand-feeding them baby bird formula and keeping them warm and clean so hopefully they won't die.  We named one "Newton" and the other "Lamarck" (as in Isaac Newton and Jean-Baptise Lamarck.)  I'll take photos when they're more birdly in appearance.  And we're making a video diary of our efforts.  They seem pretty tough so I'm hopeful they'll thrive.

In other news... eh.  There is no other news.  I need sleep.  Hopefully tonight I won't be waking up every hour on the hour to see if it's time to feed them.  Unlike human babies, birds aren't wired for nighttime feedings, but at the first light of day.... "peep! peep! peep!"  

Cute little critters!

Bird themed art using my stock:

    
:thumb53796270:  
  
  
  

FAQ including stock usage terms
Visit the BlockBusters Chatroom to work out those artist blockages, burnouts and frustrations. Come talk about your problems or just hang out and have fun! Everyone is welcome and sometimes just goofing off releases some of the stress.

icon by `lyastri

Check out Chilling Effects, a website that covers just about every imaginable topic on internet copyrights.  (go to the FAQ page for a list of topics.  Some of you have had your copyrights violated while others have been accused of violating the copyrights of others.  Bookmark that site and use it for your edification.

Today's gallery features a variety of works that all use traditional media.  Thanks to ~zeldyn for the suggestion!

  
  (WIP)
  
  :thumb43467747:
  
  
  
  
  :thumb28702922:
  
  :thumb49901541:
  :thumb31704967:

Man, so much good stuff, it's hard to limit myself just to this handful.  You guys are ace!

FAQ including stock usage terms
Visit the BlockBusters Chatroom to work out those artist blockages, burnouts and frustrations. Come talk about your problems or just hang out and have fun! Everyone is welcome and sometimes just goofing off releases some of the stress.

icon by `lyastri

When I was a kid, I knew no shame.  I used to load up my little wagon with props and costumes and go around my neighborhood with my "talent show."  I'd sing and dance and act.  There wasn't anything I couldn't do. (Well, my neighbors might have a different recollection of my skills but... )  It never even occurred to me that I wasn't just amazingly entertaining.

I wanted to be a singer when I grew up.  But my mom told me I couldn't carry a tune and it was too hard for people to become successful singers.  I became self-conscious in my teens and although I still dreamed the dream, I no longer believed in myself.  The seeds of anxiety had been sown and as I grew, I lost that fearless joy of performing.  I developed horrible stage fright that kept me from joining the drama department or trying out for choir.  Instead I turned to writing and drawing -- art forms that could be polished and perfected before being shown to the world.  I wrote stacks of stories (both prose and comic-book) and for a while I dreamed of being a writer or an artist.  But I never really believed in myself and I let that slip away from me too.  Failure is so easy as to be comforting.

When I was about 18 or 19, I decided I would take voice lessons in college.  It was a nightmare.  I could sing just fine in class, but when I had to perform in front of all the other (really GOOD) vocal students, I totally crashed.  It was awful.  Humiliating.  I dropped it.  I decided I'd just stick to singing alone, when no one else was around.

Then, for some reason a few years later I decided to take private lessons.  I'd been sort of teaching myself with what I remembered from class and my voice had gotten stronger.  So I found a guy who taught music (mostly instrumental) from his home and although he wasn't strictly speaking a voice coach, he could at least help me a bit, I figured.  And at the worst, he'd tell me what I already knew: I had no talent.

For my "audition" I sang Faure's Requiem Opus 40 (if I recall the opus correctly.)  And I KICKED IT'S ASS!!!!  Hell yeah!  Even my mother was surprised.  "When did you learn how to sing?" she asked in genuine surprise.

Now, I'm not going to tell you I have a silver-sweet voice.  Some of you have already heard me sing here: [link] and there's weakness and missed notes you can hear.  And it still terrifies me to get up in front of anyone, even Tim, and sing.  But I DO it.  And it makes me happy.

And some of you -- a LOT of you-- have been told "You can't be an artist."  Maybe your family or friends have told you how impossible it is to make it as an artist.  All I can say is, don't give up.  Don't let THEIR doubts infect YOUR mind.  You are the one with the dream and the talent.  It's on YOU to succeed or quit, and your choice how much you are willing to fight, cry, bleed and pay for it.  Don't lose your childlike trust in the world. "Rage against the dying of the light," so to speak.

I believe in you.  Look around and you'll find others who believe in you too.  People are more than happy to reach out a hand to pick you up.  Encourage each other.  Lift each other up.  When you hear someone saying that their parents or lover or anyone else is telling them "You're wasting your time" or "Give it up and get a REAL job," I want you to jump in there and tell them "I got your back.  You keep doing what your doing."  Stand up for your dreams.  Stand up for all artists, all dreamers.  

And if you feel as strongly as I do about helping others fight for their dreams, hop on into the chat [link] and lend an ear or the voice of experience or just kindness.  And if you NEED some support, don't hesitate to ask for it.  

This post inspired by [link] give her some dA love!  I think she's got talent in spades!

FAQ including stock usage terms
Visit the BlockBusters Chatroom to work out those artist blockages, burnouts and frustrations. Come talk about your problems or just hang out and have fun! Everyone is welcome and sometimes just goofing off releases some of the stress.

So, there's been some drama lately because of a stock artist who has offered some exclusive stocks which you can either buy (for just $5) or win via contests.  She's got LOADS of free stock in her gallery and it's all quite good.  Her free stock pack enraged a photomanipulation artist who says that it's not right to charge artists to make art.

What do you think about it?  Most stock sites charge and even on sxc.hu there are certain images where you must contact the photographer first before getting the full size image.  

Is it better for a stock photographer to just ask for donations in general rather than offer free stock in exchange for those donations?  

Or do you feel that unless the stock photographer considers him/herself "self-employed" as a stock artist, they can't earn any revenue from their work?  Do you consider stock photography "work" at all?  If they do receive payment for stock, should that be taxable?  

And would you want exclusive stock for yourself?  Does it bother you to do a work of art and see the same image used in a hundred other pieces?  Does it "cheapen" the work?   Technically speaking, someone can take all of the same stock images as another artist and recreate the exact image and still claim it as their own.  Exclusive stock certainly makes that harder to do.

So what is your opinion on exclusive stock?






Get your own valentinr

FAQ including stock usage terms
Visit the BlockBusters Chatroom to work out those artist blockages, burnouts and frustrations. Come talk about your problems or just hang out and have fun! Everyone is welcome and sometimes just goofing off releases some of the stress.

First, thanks to everyone who's passed along the journal entry here: [link]
By the way, I didn't write that (and I said so at the top of the page) so no kudos to me for the great article.  

Now that brings up a sticking point for a lot of beginning (and not so beginning) artists: getting paid for your work, and asking for a decent fee.  

First I'll ask those of you who DO make a living or side income as artists, how do you price your works?  Do you use something like [link] The Graphic Artists Guild Handbook?  

Second, it can be very awkward and embarrassing for a new artist to put a price on his or her work.  What would you suggest?  

My own suggestion is to find a reliable friend or relative to act as your agent when it comes to accepting offers and asking for payment.  Of course they would confer with you FIRST before accepting any commissions, but they would be the ones to say "All right, the cost for that is _____ and any changes to the commission will cost more."   Or "Sorry but my client does not work for free."   Or if that seems too pretentious, just come up with a written price list based on what you WANT to be paid, not what you think you can get or would be willing to settle for, and don't let them haggle you.  (Or you can just do what the car dealerships do and quote a really high price that you know will get haggled down to something still pretty decent.)  

Pricing your art realistically

Here are some links from the Graphic Artists Guild.  Take a look!
On estimating prices
How to negotiate a contract
Although these are for graphic artists, it does give some good guidelines for all artists to consider.

Robert Genn's Ten Commandments of Art Pricing

Thou shalt start out cheap.
Thou shalt publish thy prices.
Thou shalt raise thy prices regularly and a little.
Thou shalt not lower thy prices.
Thou shalt not have one price for Sam and another for Joe.
Thou shalt not price by talent or time taken, but by size.
Thou shalt not easily discount thy prices.
Thou shalt lay control on thy agents and dealers.
Thou shalt deal with those who will honour thee.
Thou shalt end up expensive.

Ten Rules according to someone else: [link] (too long to post here)

So... what do YOU think?

FAQ including stock usage terms
Visit the BlockBusters Chatroom to work out those artist blockages, burnouts and frustrations. Come talk about your problems or just hang out and have fun! Everyone is welcome and sometimes just goofing off releases some of the stress.

I've seen this in quite a few journals today, and what it says is true, and so please take time to read this if you haven't already.  (Original author ???)


Every day, there are more and more Craigs List posts seeking "artists" for everything from auto graphics to comic books to corporate logo designs. More people are finding themselves in need of some form of illustrative service.

But what they're NOT doing, unfortunately, is realizing how rare someone with these particular talents can be.

To those who are "seeking artists", let me ask you; How many people do you know, personally, with the talent and skill to perform the services you need? A dozen? Five? One? …none?

More than likely, you don't know any. Otherwise, you wouldn't be posting on craigslist to find them.

And this is not really a surprise.

In this country, there are almost twice as many neurosurgeons as there are professional illustrators. There are eleven times as many certified mechanics. There are SEVENTY times as many people in the IT field.

So, given that they are less rare, and therefore less in demand, would it make sense to ask your mechanic to work on your car for free? Would you look him in the eye, with a straight face, and tell him that his compensation would be the ability to have his work shown to others as you drive down the street?

Would you offer a neurosurgeon the "opportunity" to add your name to his resume as payment for removing that pesky tumor? (Maybe you could offer him "a few bucks" for "materials". What a deal!)

Would you be able to seriously even CONSIDER offering your web hosting service the chance to have people see their work, by viewing your website, as their payment for hosting you?

If you answered "yes" to ANY of the above, you're obviously insane. If you answered "no", then kudos to you for living in the real world.

But then tell me… why would you think it is okay to live out the same, delusional, ridiculous fantasy when seeking someone whose abilities are even less in supply than these folks?

Graphic artists, illustrators, painters, etc., are skilled tradesmen. As such, to consider them as, or deal with them as, anything less than professionals fully deserving of your respect is both insulting and a bad reflection on you as a sane, reasonable person. In short, it makes you look like a twit.

A few things you need to know;

1. It is not a "great opportunity" for an artist to have his work seen on your car/'zine/website/bedroom wall, etc. It IS a "great opportunity" for YOU to have their work there.

2. It is not clever to seek a "student" or "beginner" in an attempt to get work for free. It's ignorant and insulting. They may be "students", but that does not mean they don't deserve to be paid for their hard work. You were a "student" once, too. Would you have taken that job at McDonalds with no pay, because you were learning essential job skills for the real world? Yes, your proposition it JUST as stupid.

3. The chance to have their name on something that is going to be seen by other people, whether it's one or one million, is NOT a valid enticement. Neither is the right to add that work to their "portfolio". They get to do those things ANYWAY, after being paid as they should. It's not compensation. It's their right, and it's a given.

4. Stop thinking that you're giving them some great chance to work. Once they skip over your silly ad, as they should, the next ad is usually for someone who lives in the real world, and as such, will pay them. There are far more jobs needing these skills than there are people who possess these skills.

5. Students DO need "experience". But they do NOT need to get it by giving their work away. In fact, this does not even offer them the experience they need. Anyone who will not/can not pay them is obviously the type of person or business they should be ashamed to have on their resume anyway. Do you think professional contractors list the "experience" they got while nailing down a loose step at their grandmother's house when they were seventeen?

If you your company or gig was worth listing as desired experience, it would be able to pay for the services it received. The only experience they will get doing free work for you is a lesson learned in what kinds of scrubs they should not lower themselves to deal with.

6. (This one is FOR the artists out there, please pay attention.) Some will ask you to "submit work for consideration". They may even be posing as some sort of "contest". These are almost always scams. They will take the work submitted by many artists seeking to win the "contest", or be "chosen" for the gig, and find what they like most. They will then usually have someone who works for them, or someone who works incredibly cheap because they have no originality or talent of their own, reproduce that same work, or even just make slight modifications to it, and claim it as their own. You will NOT be paid, you will NOT win the contest. The only people who win, here, are the underhanded folks who run these ads. This is speculative, or "spec", work. It's risky at best, and a complete scam at worst. I urge you to avoid it, completely. For more information on this subject, please visit [link]

So to artists/designers/illustrators looking for work, do everyone a favor, ESPECIALLY yourselves, and avoid people who do not intend to pay you. Whether they are "spec" gigs, or just some guy who wants a free mural on his living room walls. They need you. You do NOT need them. Say NO to free art.

And for those who are looking for someone to do work for free…please wake up and join the real world. The only thing you're accomplishing is to insult those with the skills you need. Get a clue.

If you agree with the above important information, please pass it along. The more people know, the faster we can correct this problem.

FAQ including stock usage terms
On why I don't comment to every submission

Due to notes of support and interest, the chatroom BlockBusters is now open.  If you are interested in moderating and have a calm, patient moderator personality, note me.  I'll be there from time to time but definitely would love to have someone with experience and understanding of creative block, burnout, depression and so on who will be there more often.  Note me!

It's been suggested by many researchers that creativity and depression are often coexistant in many individuals.  Some say there is a biochemical factor, while others point to the fact that the areas of the brain that are most active during creative processes are also the areas most active during depressive episodes.  Whether the emotional instability spurs the creativity or vice-versa is not certain, but what is certain is that there are many, many of you artists who suffer from manic-depression, schizophrenia, crippling depression and paralyzing burnout.  

Someone very near and dear to me is suffering greatly from the inability to draw, which is how this person earns a living.  What used to be a joy is now terrifying and where once they could spend 16 hours a day happily creating art, they find themself shaking and in tears at the very thought of picking up a pencil.  It's surely the stress of having to please art editors and the critical public, but what I want to ask you all is this: are there any of you who also experience this?  If so, what do you do?  How do you get past the self-doubt and anxiety attacks to become prolific again?  When all inspiration is gone, how do you push yourself through?

I hope some of you will post some of your own wisdom of experience.  And I hope that any of you suffering this right now will find some comfort and guidance.  I hope this can open a discourse on burnout, depression, and work-related problems.  And finally, if anyone wants to open a chatroom (or join one if I open it) focusing on support for the seriously depressed (not just emo.  I'm talking clinically depressed) then post a note here.  I can't fix my friend.  I don't have the experience to fully understand.  So please help.



Articles of interest:
Brain Regions May Sap or Spur Creativity
Eccentric Artists and Mad Scientists
Defining Mental Illness
Creativity and Burnout
Anxiety Disorder

As anyone who's paid any attention to my ramblings or comments might have surmised, I am beyond devoted to my husband of nine years, the delightful Tim aka ~Cobweb-stock aka ~RazorGeisha aka various silly petnames.  He's the light of my life and the pickle on my joy sandwich.  
Well, he's got another account on DA which I haven't really mentioned to anyone, not because I am embarrassed or ashamed but because I am really freaking protective of him and I would have to rain down some hate on anyone who picked on him.  But I trust you guys -- my "regular crowd" who actually read my journals, not just look at the nekkid pictures, so I'm going to point you all over in the direction of his other account, ~Onnagata-stock  We work on those shots together, since there in a lot of makeup, hairstyling and body-morphing that goes on.  I'm totally cool with his dressing up, as long as he does it well and listens to my fashion/hair/makeup advice.   
If you've got any questions about it, I'd be glad to answer, or you can ask Tim.  No, he's not bi.  It's not a sex thing, it's a dress-up and look groovy thing.  Let's face it: girls get all the fun in looking flash.  Guys, unless they look like Johnny Depp or Gackt, pretty much are expected to do the jeans and jacket thing.  It's about the look.  Eddie Izzard fans will get this.  
Anyway, there's a reason I'm bringing this up and you'll figure that out in a day or two from now.  In the meantime, if you want to go leave a joy pickle of your own on his ~Onnagata-stock page, please do so.  If it's not  your cup of tea, just stay away and find something that you like somewhere else.  

Thanks for your time!
--Sophie

MY HEROES:

If you are one of my guardian angels who helped me out in my time of need, please let me know if it is all right to add your icon to this list.
Got a question about my stock? Go HERE and read my FAQ entry.
Want to print or publish a work using my stock? Great! Just let me know where, please!

PROUD MEMBER OF
HOST OF
Featured at

My Sweet Baboos:

No, it's true!  No matter how great you think you are or how good you try to be, you are an asshole in someone else's opinion.

If you eat meat, vegetarians think you are an asshole.
If you smoke, non-smokers think you are an asshole.
If you support use of animals in medical research, PETA thinks you are an asshole.
If you are an atheist, everyone thinks you are an asshole.
If you are rich, poor people think you're an asshole.
If you drive an SUV, Al Gore thinks you are an asshole.
If you are gay, Fundies think you are a pervert and an asshole.
If you are Republican, Democrats think you are an asshole.
If you are Democrat, Republicans think you are an asshole.
If you vote 3rd party, the above two parties think you are a fool and an asshole.
If you don't have kids, parents of kids think you are a selfish asshole.
Ir you are an immigrant, the natives think you are a lazy asshole.
If you are a white male, it's perfectly acceptable to consider you an asshole.
If you are American, the rest of the world thinks you are an asshole.


I'm sure you all can think of other categories, and yes I know I am making very broad generalizations and no, you don't have to say "I don't hate smokers" or defend yourselves in any way to this pointless journal.  Really this is just my thinking out loud.  Am I an asshole?  You bet!  Sometimes intentionally, sometimes as a matter of circumstance, but I fall into several of the above-mentioned categories and it's good to remember that you can't be wonderful to everyone, nor should you strive to be.  Life is short, so relax.  Live your life, don't hurt anyone, and let others live theirs.

MY HEROES:

If you are one of my guardian angels who helped me out in my time of need, please let me know if it is all right to add your icon to this list.
Got a question about my stock? Go HERE and read my FAQ entry.
Want to print or publish a work using my stock? Great! Just let me know where, please!

PROUD MEMBER OF
HOST OF
Featured at

My Sweet Baboos:

Today's journal is going to be all about my wonderful husband of nine years, Tim Collier, aka ~RazorGeisha aka ~Cobweb-stock  

I can't remember what year we met, I would guess around 1992 or so.  I was living in Oklahoma City and went to Scarborough Faire in Waxahachie, Texas with some friends of mine.  My friends were meeting up with some of their friends who they knew via a Saint Seiya apa.  (Does anyone even do apas anymore or know what they are?)
At any rate, my friends finally met up with their friends and then along came this guy whom they introduced as their friend Talin.  I said "hi."  He said "hi" and that was it.  Neither one of us really noticed the other.

However, our respective social circles began to converge like colliding galaxies, merging into a bi-state group of musicians and artists.  They attended cons in OKC and since I too was attending those cons, "Talin" and I got to hang out a little bit more.  Sadly, he was dating someone else at the time, but it didn't stop me from getting a huge-ass crush on him.  At the end of the weekend of SoonerCon 199X, we all ended up at a Denny's and I shamelessly saved the chair next to me for Tim.  (His girlfriend wasn't there that weekend.  WOOT!)  Before they all headed off to Texas, he put his arms around me and I thought he was going to kiss me but instead he hugged me, lifting me off my feet.  But no kiss.  That was that.

It was during a visit to Texas, (the friends of friends' house) that we admitted we liked each other more than a bit.  He was still with his girlfriend so nothing sexy happened, but it was nice to know he liked me too.  I didn't pursue the matter and didn't expect anything to come of it.

But one day, I don't even recall when, I received a letter from him, telling me he loved me, that his now EX-girlfriend had been lying to him and left him for a married guy (hmmm), and that he'd like to get to know me better.   This was pre-email, so I have a HUGE folder full of all of the love letters, poems, songs, drawings etc that followed over the next two years.   Some of them still have the scented oils emenating from the thick, handmade paper.  And wow, they still make me blush and grin like a fool.  His poems especially are so amazing.  At least to a love-sick girl.  lol

We were engaged for about 2 years before we finally got married on Nov 8, 1997.  There was no honeymoon; we were too poor, and our first house was practically falling inward on itself.  And those first years were really rough, financially and emotionally.  There were more than a few times when it looked like we might call it quits, but we stuck it out.  To quote Bonnie Tyler:

"There were times when we fought like tigers,
There were times we were damn good liars."

We both had a lot of maturing to do, me moreso than him, I admit.  We wore the jagged edges off of each other until the pieces began to fit.  Nine years later, we are still individuals, not two halves of anything, but we fit together comfortably and I think that's the secret to happiness in a relationship.  You have to be a complete person-- no one else is going to complete you.  All you can hope to do is find that person who makes you a better human being, who helps you grow and who believes in you.  

Anyway, it's better now than it has ever been.  Thank you, Schmoopie, for sticking with me, for loving me unconditionally, and for making me so happy.  You are my best friend.  

Happy anniversary.



MY HEROES:

If you are one of my guardian angels who helped me out in my time of need, please let me know if it is all right to add your icon to this list.
Got a question about my stock? Go HERE and read my FAQ entry.
Want to print or publish a work using my stock? Great! Just let me know where, please!

PROUD MEMBER OF
HOST OF
Featured at

My Sweet Baboos:

I hereby grant all DeviantArtists permission to use my stock in any and all Deviant Prints without restriction.
You don't need me to email prints-permissions anymore!  For prints outside of DA, please ask first.  And read my FAQs for other important info.


F.A.Q.

Q: Can I make a print/t-shirt/mousepad/dartboard using your stock?

A: Yes, absolutely. You no longer need my individual permission. I have given all DeviantArtists permission to use my stock in any and all DA prints.
Once you have created an piece of art using my stock (and I don't mean just changing the tones or adding a filter) that image is YOUR original artwork.  Therefore, you have the right to publish it in any format you like: as part of a magazine article, as the cover to a CD, as part of your personal website/gallery, in a book of art, on the cover of a novel, on cafepress items, promotional materials (for your artwork or for another artist/musician.)  

I only ask that no one use the raw or unaltered (or barely altered) images in any of the above.  I can't actually stop anyone from doing that, but I do appeal to your integrity to grant me that one request.   Also, I ask as a favor that you let me know how/where my stock is being published, so I can buy the books/magazines/CDs etc.  I'm not going to have any grandkids to show, but I will be able to look back when I'm an old lady and say "Well, lookie there.  I was a muse, wasn't I?"  



Q: I have been invited to display my art in a gallery/coffee house/school exhibition. Can I use images I created with your stock?

A: Yes (see above), and best wishes to you! Have a good show!


Q: Do you take requests?
A: Nope.  I only do this when I feel inspired.  Requests = work.  I will, however, welcome suggestions and ideas.


Q: Can I post my images in which I've used your stock on my personal website?

A: Yes.  If you like, I'll even add your site to my "links" page of my website.


Q: I want to use your stock to make something potentially offensive. Do you care?

A: Not really. If that's what you do, then knock yourself out.  Just don't be hurt if I don't add it to my favorites.


Q: I'm a photographer. Would you model for me?

A: Only if a/ you live in the DFW area: b/ are not creepy c/I feel like it.  So, that's a big "maybe."


Q: Some stock models get really upset if the artist only changes the saturation/sharpness/contrast and then posts it. Do you care?

A: If you're doing the best you can do and creating something you are proud of, then I'm not going to complain. But I prefer that those images be confined to DA or personal art galleries only.  Everyone has to start out by experimenting and trying out new things, and that's fine.

Q: Are you married? Your husband lets you do this?

A: Yes, for 10+ years now. My husband is an artist, so nude models are not particularly scandalous to him.  Even if one is his wife.


Q: Can I use your stock to draw from? I just need pose reference.

A: Of course!  I am here to serve.  


Q: How old are you? How tall?

A: My D.O.B is June 13, 1970, which at the time of writing this makes me 37. I'm 5'8" (or 176 cm) give or take an inch for posture and spinal compression.


Q: Why do you do this?

A: I've answered this a few times already. It may sound corny or stupid, but it's the truth: Even as a little kid, I loved classic art, especially paintings and sculptures of pretty women. Ingres' "Odalisque," Dicksee's "La Belle Dame Sans Merci," any Waterhouse, Leighton or Bouguereau femme-- I would look at pictures of those paintings for hours, admiring the skill of the artist but the beauty of the models as well. And I wanted not only to be able to paint like those masters but I also wanted to BE those women. It's vanity, surely. But I wanted to inspire that sort of genius and be part of something that would last for ages.
It makes me feel pretty.
It makes me feel useful.
It makes me feel a part of creation.
I enjoy being both an artist and a muse. I just wish I had started younger, because I know it's not going to last a whole lot longer. And I'm sincerely grateful to each and every artist who has chosen me to express his or her ideas. I get far more than I give. Thank you.




Here are a few places where artists have published/printed artwork containing my stock:
EXOTIQUE Page 132 "Xaea" by ~saiaii and page139 "Her Valentine" by $zilla774

HEARTWORK the art of Ian Field-Richards aka $zilla774 which is sadly no longer available at the moment.  

The July issue of "ImagineFX" contained EVIL QUEEN by ~thegryph

Who am I missing?

MY HEROES:

If you are one of my guardian angels who helped me out in my time of need, please let me know if it is all right to add your icon to this list.
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My Sweet Baboos:

I just saw this in the sig of another deviant, and it is food for thought:



The internet gives us a feeling of being one big community and it's easy to forget that there are still cultural and religious issues and taboos to be aware of.  

It reminds me of something that happened at work a few months ago.  On weekends, we have a Storytime Hour for the kids and once in a while we get in costumes of popular characters.  On this particular day, we had the pig from the story "If You Give a Pig a Pancake."  The children listened to the story and then at the end, one of the employees came out in the costume and the kids got to get their photos taken with him.  

But one mother was overheard gently telling her child "We don't pose with pigs."  I'm not sure what her religion is: our community is largely Indian and Saudi Arabian, but there is a bit of everything, really.  She wasn't rude or angry, but it was something that none of us even thought about.  

I notice a lot of religious taglines to some deviants' comments- mostly Christian or Pagan/Wiccan.  I don't know if that means that most Deviants are of those religions or if it means that people of those religions are more likely to point out their beliefs than say, Hindus or Buddhists.  (For that matter, I have only ever seen Christian and Pagan/Wiccan bumper stickers... )  Being that most people don't advertise their religion, it can be easy to offend with the most innocuous of gestures (like a hug emote.)  

There's no easy or perfect way to avoid cultural blunders in a blended community like this.  All we can do is let others know when we're uncomfortable and to apologize for any discomfort we have caused, no matter how innocently done.    It's not a matter of right and wrong, or thinking someone's cultural no-no's are ridiculous.  It's about treating each other well.

After all, there is one thing that just about every religion teaches:  treat other people the way you want to be treated.  

Amen, Blessed be, Shalom, Salaam, Namaste, Ashe, May the Force Be With You, Insha'allah, Aloha, Live Long and Prosper, and Peace Out!

I hereby grant all DeviantArtists permission to use my stock in any and all Deviant Prints without restriction.
You don't need me to email prints-permissions anymore! For prints outside of DA, please ask first. And read my FAQs for other important info.

MY HEROES:

If you are one of my guardian angels who helped me out in my time of need, please let me know if it is all right to add your icon to this list.
Got a question about my stock? Go HERE and read my FAQ entry.


PROUD MEMBER OF
HOST OF
Featured at

My Sweet Baboos:

I hereby grant all DeviantArtists permission to use my stock in any and all Deviant Prints without restriction.
You don't need me to email prints-permissions anymore! For prints outside of DA, please ask first. And read my FAQs for other important info.



You don't have to find everyone in the world attractive.  You are free to pick and choose what physical features and body types you like and don't like.  But for FUCK'S SAKE, don't go spewing your hate at people just because you don't like the way they look.  If you want to snicker with your friends about somebody's big butt or buck teeth, at least do it far away from where the person can hear you.  Because you may be beautiful to your mama, but I bet there are plenty of things others could mock about you.

This rant provoked by the journal of
YOU ARE GORGEOUS!!!!    And I wish DA would allow for hateful, damaging posts to be removed.  There is NO reason at all for it to stay.  

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My sweeties: