The bell rang again. Class was over and I continued to stare blankly at my canvas... Why was this a continuing pattern for me! I come from a family of several artists. I have cousins that are artists, uncles, a brother and a mother... Even my father has a pretty good freehand of Fred Flinstone. I would call it quits, yet somehow I knew art was not only in my blood, it was my destiny!
Like billions of other "invisible" citizens of planet Earth, I too hale from a not-so-functional family. After experiencing some pretty rough times as a child and teen; I could finally call myself a "survivor" of sexual abuse. But my creative and lighthearted nature seemed to be ripped out of me forever and so... I would stare at a blank page over and over as I persistently signed up for art classes.
I passionately admired the work of other artists from Vincent van Gogh to Sally So-and-so in my 8th grade drawing class. This habit extended to admiring the art in sunsets or even Popsicles and dryer drums! I took pictures....lots of pictures...okay, to give you an example of just how many pictures I took: I went on a vacation to southern California with some friends of mine and we did the usual (Disneyland, the beach, Sea World, etc.) I returned home with 17 rolls of film! (17 rolls x 24 pictures at 24 cents each = $97.92 plus tax) ....I was banned from using the camera.
Then, in 1994, the digital camera was invented and, in 2003 or 4, I finally got my own! Best invention since bottled water! (Sadly, I laid my camera to rest in a watery grave at the bottom of Starvation Reservoir only 12-18 short months later...) My husband surprised me my second love (second after him, not the first camera...) shortly after. (Husbands are great; I recommend them to all!)
My camera became an extension of my hand as a explored my forgotten creativity. I took pictures of seemingly ridiculous things. My husband stood by patiently as he ever so gently would probe, "Why did you take a picture of that?". My not so eloquent reply would be, " because it's cool!" I had no idea...but deep down, I knew it was art!
Photoshop became almost an obsession for me the day I turned my first waterfall purple. How fun was that! My husband quickly warmed up to my unique style and today, roughly 34 abstract images later, I am at the early stages of my own business! And after selling 8 pieces of art at my first (rained out) festival... I can FINALLY call myself a professional!
And, as the digital world is so much more efficient than the brush... Move over van Gogh, here comes Melonie Packer!
(check out my work at www.meloniepacker.com)
To Purchase Art by Melonie
Please Click on the Photo Above
Me and David
You write brilliantly Melonie.
ReplyDeleteSomebody quoted you on one of the comment pages on one of my websites and your words struck a note for me.
http://www.fine-artphotography.net/is-photography-art.html
I tracked down your website and blog. Your writing is compelling.
I don't really do 'abstract' myself. My passion is art in nature.
My work is thematic, based mostly on a geographical region. I am not much of an artist with photoshop and have been personally a bit disdainful about photoshop art - but I get it when I see your work and read your words.
Here is a wild idea that I haven't thought through yet - it goes something like this
1. We collaborate
2. I create a section on my websites that is about Abstract Photography Art
3. You create thematic art pieces from my marine photography
4. You write the material for that section
5. You reflect the pieces you want to on your website
6. I drive general traffic to you
7. You drive theme targeted traffic to me.
8. We both sell the collaboration pieces on our sites in discrete galleries.
9. We use the same pricing.
10. We work out a workable returns formula
One of my sites (Giant Tides) gets over 120000 hits per month.
The new site "Fine Art Photography from remote shores" has just started but is designed to gradually build to much greater targeted visitors than Giant Tides and looks well and truly as though it will.
Just a thought. If your directions don't fit with this idea, I understand. Feeling right about our directions in art is critical.
Sorry if my approach appears presumptuous - but life is pretty short and I need to get my new site stable and working before I embark on a three months remote expedition in July.
There is contact details on my blog and websites if you consider responding.
Kind regards
Peter Strain
www.fine-artphotography.net
www.gianttides.com.au