Please fave the news to spread the word!! It's very important to me.
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Hello and Welcome to the August Community Projects Newsletter. This first month as a GD has been eventful and fun! Thank you all for making me feel so welcomed.
As promised in our last newsletter, I have interviewed two very active members of our Deviant Community.

A quick reminder:
We have our deviantART BD this month, on the 7th!
We have the dA Love Day this month on the 9th!
More contests and fun listed after the interviews.

I would like to introduce you to ^opioid
Opioid is an incredibly gifted and lovely lady! She is a 21yr old art student in good old NYC! She has the spunky attitude and fun loving nature that goes with that! I have enjoyed her from the moment we met and now I am blessed to work alongside her as she is the Gallery Director for fetish photography! Please check out her page, read the FAQ's and submit those DD suggestions to her! Also, please check out her great informative articles on Lyme disease awareness, post her stamp in your journals and spread the word-Awareness is the key! Thanks!
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shell: Greetings and thank you for agreeing to this interview.
Opioid: Anytime. I was freakin flattered that you even asked

shell: Do you remember art being a big part of your childhood?
Opioid: Absolutely. My mother was originally an art teacher and always had supplies and projects around the house. She ran and participated in a program in my elementary school called "Adventures in Art" where she or another artist she lined up would come in and talk about art history and teach us some sort of traditional technique.
I can't remember art not being around. I can't remember not making art, not giving into my creativity with whatever supplies I could get my grubby little paint-colored clay-covered hands on.

shell: Who was your inspiration as you played with your finger-paints?
Opioid: It's hard to pinpoint one artist. Much of my influence spanned bits of this and that, depending what my mom had recently brought up. I think da Vinci was a huge part of my artistic life, but I do remember closer to my teens my art world erupted when I got my hands on Dali, Magritte, Goya...that sort of thing.
Typical answers, but typical for a good reason. Those guys were badasses.


shell: Were you supported by others to create?
Opioid: Yep. I'm one of the lucky few who was incredibly supported by those around me to be creative. I think once my family saw that I had at least some inkling of innate ability to translate my imagination to a physical, tangible thing, they felt that they couldn't deny me of that quality.
Granted, that isn't to say anyone particularly wanted me to pursue it seriously, but they at least grit their teeth and say, "whatever makes you happy." I definitely appreciate that.

shell: Did you continue to create in school?
Opioid: Definitely. In and out, during and after. Sometimes before.

shell: What medium did you use as a child?
Opioid: I drew more than anything. I still prefer graphite/black and white over anything. I think that shows through my photography, even. But it's good stuff. Classic and dependable. I did a lot of clay modeling and sculpting as well as painting, mostly watercolors. My mom still has a painting I did when I was 8 of a winter scene hanging in our living room. People don't realize until they look at the atrocious signature that a child painted it; I get a kick out of that.

shell: Was your first computer mainly for art? Explain.
Opioid: Tricky. Technically no, though I had computers I shared with the family for ages. I guess in a lot of ways my Dell Dimension desktop was acquired because I needed something I could run Photoshop and such with, though my parents bought me that before high school. Last October I bought a MacBook Pro solely for my art. So yes and no, haha.


shell: What is Art to you?
Opioid: Ah. THE tough one.
Art is creativity embodied.
Photography, painting, music, dance...all those things and more. And yes, ANYTHING *can* be art, though not everything has artistic value out of context (like a lot of performance art, for example, which tends to lose its popular appeal as being art once the performance is over and the documentation photographs or videos lose their appeal).
But yeah, art is imagination, life, pain, and pleasure, embodied in a tangible form, whether fleeting and performative or archival and physical.

shell: What are your aspirations regarding your art?
Opioid: I just always want the opportunity and the WILL to continue my art. I've always bounced around media, even within photography or within my music. I'd like to find some focus, some passion for stable ground--but I think my personality is just such that I will always bounce from one to the other.
I think by opportunity I probably mean funds...so I'd like to be able to make enough money by it to sustain myself, or at least to sustain my art supplies and make up for the time I spend on it.
Lately I've been seriously considering tattooing. We'll see. I take things a day at a time as much as I can.


shell: What is your favorite medium?
Opioid:Hmm. I can't answer that!
I love photography because it has brought me out of my shell the most, but traditional media are close to my heart. I love graphite, I love drawing...and by extension, I have come to love tattooing and the processes involved in that. Tattooing combines my academic and artistic interests in a living canvas.
So those are my obsessions lately, I guess. I think that's the best I can do!

shell: If you could, you would?
Opioid: Tattoo.

shell: You are a huge supporter and encourager on dA. Have you always been this way?
Opioid: Hm. Honestly, probably not. It took some poking and prodding to get me to join initially, but the guys who got me on it were always a huge support in the online community for me. I was 16 or 17, I think, and just starting to sincerely want to improve my art. I think more than anything, my involvement in the community has been my way of paying it forward.

shell: How did you find dA?
Opioid: I was actually browsing online for music communities online and came across Abnormis on a fluke because of some sort of search engine blurb that said they were starting a music section up. I joined with them and was put partly in charge of that but ended up working more with photography. They got me to sign up on deviantART after I mentioned a friend of mine from school, ~xomatose, had signed up. Now I'm studying art and cultural anthropology in New York City and she's got accolades as a design student at Carnegie Mellon. I never would have guessed. Ever. I think at least for me, dA helped keep some of those aspirations alive by giving me a place to be involved in art even when I was having artist's block or lacking confidence.

shell: Did you use other outlets for your art?
Opioid: Yes, as I mentioned I started out in the online world with Abnormis but was soon here on dA. In my daily life, what some people call the real world, I do a lot with my music and I perform around here and there, do charity gigs sometimes when I can. I had my own little cafe showing of my photography in High Bridge, NJ a year or so ago where I played my music at my own show opening. That was pretty amazing for me, even if it was really small scale.

shell: Why dA?
Opioid: Because it is easy. Not that it is literally an easy thing to make good art and invest time in a community you can't see, but easy in that it is accessible. I can be sick, I can be elated, I can be pumped up and excited about some new project, or I can be in a rut for months on end...and I can still participate. I can chat, I can comment, I can encourage, and I can receive the same critique, encouragement, and exchange of ideas. While dA has its share of growing pains, in the above ways, dA is pretty freakin awesome, that's why.

shell: What would you like to see here at dA?
Opioid: I'd like to see it taken more seriously as an art site. I'd like to see the myspace photos stay on myspace, the snapshots stay in Scraps or on flickr. I'd like to see this place be a stronger community with a purpose--I'd like it if everyone could get out of it at least what I have gotten out of it.

shell: What is your favorite part of dA?
Opioid: Definitely the community. I have made some of the best friends of my life on dA--AND met them...and grew into an amazing relationship with one of them. It's a blast. The connections and friendships, and thus the memories...those are priceless. You can meet people who are very different from you, involved in completely different genres and media that you would never think have a reason to overlap, and they turn out to be invaluable to you both artistically and personally.

shell: Do you tell offline friends about dA?
Opioid: Yeah, I definitely do. It's a huge part of my life, and people in my life know I'm a dork to begin with so they aren't at all thrown off by me being involved in an online community A lot of people never knew things like this existed, or even want to get involved.


shell: If you could tell the world about dA what would you say?
Opioid: I would say suck up your preconceptions about the internet and give it a shot. You can learn a lot about yourself through other people, and when the underlying connection is ART...well...what could be a better connection?
I'm in my final year of undergraduate university attending the New School - Eugene Lang College in New York City. I am concentrating in photography and cultural anthropology, working on my senior thesis covering the culture of tattooing from its origins to its present in popular Western culture. Outside of school, I pursue music as a rocker chick and singer/songwriter. I have also recently spent some time soul searching so that I could raise awareness about Lyme Disease, something that affects my life on a daily basis. Art is something I never take seriously in the most serious of ways. I think I'm addicted.

Allison

Thank you—it has been my pleasure Opioid and I thank you for letting us all get to know you better!


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shell:Hello Karemelancholia, I am so glad to be able to do this. I admire your work very much. It is amazing that you give so much of your great artwork away to help other artists promote themselves. Thank you so much for this interview, I know your time is limited!!

shell: Do you remember art being a big part of your childhood?
karemelancholia: Well not visual art. I'm completely not able to draw or paint. I read and read a lot! Mostly fairytales! My parents had to hunt me because i stayed hidden in my bed with a lil light reading after midnight (i was only 6 years old) and it continued like that.
I should say that creation was a big part of my childhood and never left me. Imagination is something really important to me. I can say that I’ve a second life (or maybe it is the first) i create worlds in my soul and live into them, and time to time I come back to reality...
My parents were manual workers with a low culture. Cultural things were not a part of my childhood. A great regret for me.

shell: Who was your inspiration as you played with your finger-paints?
karemelancholia: When i awake to art i discovered first literature : Paul Verlaine, Lord Byron, Keats... And many more. My imagination began to fly. then i discovered paintings and above all Caravaggio. His painting "Judith" is just so stunning, astonishing, the colors, the eyes, the looks the scene, the meanings. Only thinking in this painting tears comes to my eyes. I can't tell exactly what i feel looking at it! So many emotions!
I have many influences, artworks I see inspire me to create another world in my soul. And then i create on my puter. At least I try!

shell: Were you supported by others to create?
karemelancholia: Yes! When i came to dA. And all the messages i see now encourage me to continue. And some people in the real life also support me!
All this is really important to me as i began to create digitally only one year ago. And it helps me improving!

shell: Did you continue to create in school?
karemelancholia: At school no. normal scholarly. No creation!

shell: What medium did you use as a child?
karemelancholia: My soul. lol. As i said i am not able to paint or draw. I’ve two left hands!

shell: Was your first computer mainly for art? Explain.
karemelancholia: Oh no. it was when internet became popular, only 7 years ago. i manage to get an old puter (with the big black disks don't laugh---), i wanted to discover internet, having contacts with other and opening my soul to other culture, habits etc.

shell: What is Art to you?
karemelancholia: Imagination!
One word is enough!

shell: What are your aspirations regarding your art?
karemelancholia: Putting my feelings and soul into my creations. Showing a part of me, of my imbalances. i don't do that for money. It's a way to express myself. And a passion. Creating is such an important part of my life, not to say my whole life!

shell: What is your favorite medium?
karemelancholia: As i'm not a drawer nor painter i would say by obligation digital manipulation.

shell: If you could, you would?
karemelancholia: I'd really like to make digital & traditional paintings! i admire those who are able to paint and draw! They are so gifted!

shell: You are a huge supporter and encourager on dA. Have you always been this way?
karemelancholia: Oh! i don't know if it's me who might say this! Thanx for seeing me like this!
Well i knew discrimination since my childhood as I’m fat. Children can be cruel lol-) I was raised in a quite poor family i know what problems are. I'll not tell more here. We all have our lives.
But when i took conscious of the world around me i woke up and decided to engage myself for the others.
Into associations and politics. social above all. I decided then to make humanitarian studies. I did, I’m graduated with a master into International and humanitarian Laws/Rights.
There's a French singer Daniel Balavoine (dead now) who has a song which title was : "Loving is stronger than to be Loved". That’s so true : giving loving makes you feel alive. You exist!
To show support is just natural. i can't live thinking only about me. And i learnt to think about me, to make things for me only a few months ago, after hard times... I put my life beside me for years and years...
I can't understand those people who give a hand only to them and their close relatives. Sorry this is a thing that is complete strange for me. And many people are like this. I'm no more revolted (or almost not), I’ll soon turn to 34, I’ve learnt a lot, life brought me many experiences, bad or good, but finally good because I’ve learnt many things. Now instead of being revolted I give my hand and do what i can to be here for the others. It can be details, but details for you can be really important for others.

shell: How did you find dA?
karemelancholia: An internet friend leads me to here, she said to me several time "I want you to come to dA" well i did not create, and finally i came to see what could happen. It was one year ago (some weeks more).

shell: Did you use other outlets for your art?
karemelancholia: I'm not sure of what this means. If you mean inspirations from the others, yes for sure! Some deviants inspires me a lot, just because they show us their world, their soul.

shell: Why dA?
karemelancholia: dA is quite well-known and so the only one i knew! And my internet friend advised me this site! lol-)

shell: What would you like to see here at dA?
karemelancholia: So many things are happening around here. Strong ties are built! Ties are important to me; communities are really a major part of dA.
I'm involved into several communities as an admin.
Stockers are also so important for dA, they help us, those who are not able to draw or paint to create!
Ties, ties, ties and community spirit. That's what I want for dA!

shell: What is your favorite part of dA?
karemelancholia: Argh!!! What a hard question........ Well I’ll say the digital gallery. But the dA Related gallery and the da Projects Gallery are really essential for the community! A great help and support! I also think that the artist’s relations team is making a great job!
Contests are also a great part of dA! It's encouraging us to create to improve!
And many deviants are unseen, that's such a pity, so features and DD's are really important, i encourage you to make DD's suggestions (reading Gallery Directors guidelines!).

shell: Do you tell offline friends about dA?
karemelancholia: Sure a lot!

shell: If you could tell the world about dA what would you say?
karemelancholia: da is not simply an art community, but it's wonderful place with people expressing themselves via art but also a community with strong ties between the people always supporting you, encouraging you. There are REAL HUMAN BEINGS behind this community. We the Deviants make what this community is. We are all an important part of it!

More about karemelancholia
Well, to know me better I’ll say that I’m Kare, soon 34 years old, French, woman, single with my 3 lil cats. I live in Bretagne, the French Celtic land. i was used to live in south-western France, but 7 years ago i felt like i had to leave for another place, so i left, i wanted to live in a Celtic land, surrounded by fields, forests and fairies!
I think that giving a hand, support or anything is important, that's why I had the idea of the dA Loving Day you can't imagine all the love that is spread around dA!
In my lil corner i try to be a part of it.
i also regularly organize contests, my last one is very personal :Yellow Love Story Contest. You have to put one my text in image!
I created a goodies account *GoodiesForYou where i distribute for free (by request or not) icons/stamps/css. I also have a stock account *WanderingSoul-Stox for those who need. And well i create here =karemelancholia.
Contests are important to support deviants and to give them more exposure! Many deviants are unknown and that's a pity! that's also the reason why i make monthly features of Visual art.
shell Thank you Kare! Thank you for helping us all get to know you better and thank you for all you do for deviantART.

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Now who would you like to get to know better here on dA? This is our community, lets get to know one another!!
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This being the month for love, I would seriously implore you to become involved in three causes that have touched my life deeply.

1. Moonbeam13's Walk for Breast Cancer & Oibyrd's help
2. Opioid's Cause for Lyme disease Awareness.
3. shell's and Mom-the-bomb's Awareness for Fibromyalgia [link]

Thank you.


AUGUST 9th
"Special Show your Love Day".


This day will be filled with events! Let's show our love for this community, artists, deviants and most importantly our favorite charities and humanitary projects!! Awareness is the key! Spreading the word about these causes with our art is sometimes the very best thing we can do!

Depression?
Animals?
Lyme Disease?
Aids?
Breast Cancer?
Hunger?
Peace?

Above all we can show our support to deviants who need a hand, kind words, support, and not only deviants but people around us in our family, relatives, neighbors.

---For more info and updates refer to this journal entry.---
---View the Official News article Here.---

Support this project with this stamp

Spread the message, spread the word, SPREAD THE LOVE!!!!!!!!!!!!

---View the Official News article Here.---

Support this project with this stamp :

Here is the OFFICIAL Folder for this Project :
Community Projects > Events > Community Projects > dA Loving Day


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Daily Deviations are an honor of DeviantART
Send your suggestions.
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Do not suggest yourself ! it will be ignored.
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Please if you disagree with a DD I have given please contact me ^shell4art and do not leave any rude comments on the artists page or the deviation. It is not their fault they received the DD it was my choice.
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Thank you very much!
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Clubs that I belong to

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Daily Deviation 6/28/7
My first suggested DD before becoming a Gallery Director.
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Feel free to use my stamp in support!!


Contests:[link] Get involved! Have some fun!

More coming soon. I hope you enjoyed the interviews!

shell

Please fave the news to spread the word!! It's very important to me.
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