deviantDIRT is a series of news articles interviewing members of our community that are lesser known, but contribute and make a big impact. This is the first volume of what I hope to be a continuous project.



=PonyAnarchy is an eighteen year old deviant who focuses on photography and traditional art. She's been on deviantART since 2006 and she has contributed to a multitude of projects. She is a deviant who works very hard to get other deviants known.

Who are you? [Take this question as literal or metaphorical as you want.]

I'm Mandie, and I'm 18 years old. I am an artist....
I like long walks on the beach...
Haha, just kidding.

What are your long term goals?

Goals are really important to me, and I think the most important is that one day I want to be a professional photographer. I'd really like to be a photojournalist!

Secondly, I would love to own my very own studio one day.

And lastly, [this has nothing to do with art] I want to visit Holland one day, for no particular reason.

Tell me a little bit about your life up to this moment.

Well, I've been an artist since I was knee-high. I started out drawing, and took plenty of art classes in high school. I graduated in the class of '07, and intended to go to the University of North Texas in Denton. I got accepted and planned to move 7 hours away from home.

One week before moving day I got nervous and for some reason felt it wasn't time to move so far away. I ended up taking the year off from college to decide what I wanted to do with myself career-wise. I got a job at sea world and here I am now. Pretty crazy, eh?

The good thing is that I know that I want to go to college and get a degree in photography and will be starting school this fall.

What's something that people wouldn't be able to tell by just looking at you?

Most people take me for a girlie-girl, but I'm such a nerd. I love electronics, gadgets, TV, sci-fi movies and books, haha. Don't geet me wrong, I love my share of shoes and purses, but I like to think I'm more complex than that, haha.

What would be the three words you’d use to describe yourself? What three deviations would you use to describe yourself?

Creative. Compassionate. Zany.



How did you get into photography?

Well this will sound quite strange but, I was bored one day so I grabbed my dad's camera and just started taking pictures of stuff around the house and in my room. It was really fun and made the time pass. Not a very special story, but it's true! Hahaha.

You have a pretty impressive photography gallery. Do you see yourself as mainly a macro photographer?

Aww, shucks. Thank you.

Macro is the majority of what I do, so I would say yes. But I also love nature, landscape and conceptual photography.

I see you’re from my neck of the woods (Texas)! Did you grow up here? How do you think you’re environment affects your photography (if it does)? (Tell people we’re not red necks!)

We are definitely NOT red necks. The craziest misconception I've heard about Texans is that we ride horses to school and work.
Oh, and yes, I've lived here my whole life. I was raised in Plano, TX, a small suburb of Dallas and moved to San Antonio about a year and a half ago.

When I lived in Plano, I loved to take pictures of our historical victorian style houses and our very small village-like downtown area and I would occasionally go to downtown Dallas and take photos there. If you've never been to Dallas I would suggest going, especially the Arts District. It's a beautiful place!

However, now that I live in a very large city, it has really impacted my photography. Downtown San Antonio is bursting with color, life and culture and is an amazing place to get a few photos.

You have a traditional art gallery as well (~RealityEscapesHer), what’s your favourite artistic medium?

It's a hard call. I've ALWAYS been in love with drawing and painting and feel it is my strongest suit. So, I guess i would pick traditional, even though I haven't had much time for it as of late.

Do you have any advice for photographers wanting to delve into macro photography?

Just go for it! Start by reading some of the great articles here on dA about what macro is, it will truly help. Study some of the photos here on dA and see what you like and don't like about them and incorporate that into your work.

As for subjects I would suggest starting with flowers, they're photogenic and interesting.

And as for equipment, if you've got a point and shoot camera, try to find some close up filters to get the best results. If you have an SLR camera and have the means for a macro lens, buy one...it will definitely make work easier. If not reverse your kit lens or whatever lens you have, it's my method of choice until I can get extension tubes or a real macro lens.

Oh and remember that size matters!

You’ve been a Deviant since 2006, what or who got you into DeviantART? What made you stay?

Several of my friends had dA accounts and I would visit them occasionally but it wasn't until one of my friends from my high school art class [~Sherri1y] got me to sign up...and that's when I came to the dark side.

What got me to stay was the support I was getting from random people who would critique my work and give me helpful comments, plus this place is just plain addictive!

What are your goals on deviantART?

I'd love to start some sort of project and/or club here on dA, but that will have to wait until I find more time and a proper cause.

I'd also like to be a gallery director one day...it would really be an honor to give back to the community.

Thirdly, I'd love to give one million comments [and of course not meaningless comments], haha. I think that would be really cool.

And lastly, one day a few years from now I'd like to be recognized as a senior member.

How do you stay an active part of the community and what advice would you give a deviant who would like to be more active in the community?

I try to find a couple of hours in my day, sometimes even in the wee hours of the morning to log in and see whats happening.

You can become more involved by simply browsing the galleries and commenting work. I also suggest suggesting daily deviations and featuring unknown artists, it's a great way to give back!

What dA clubs or projects are you involved in?

Along with being an active member in many photography clubs around here on dA, I'm currently co-admining and contributing artwork to *compassionates.

And of course I'm a member of the 100D Project and I feature unknown deviants regularly.

What to you love about deviantART?

What I love about dA is that I can meet people from all over the world and from all walks of life who share one common interest, ART! And everyone here is so caring and willing to help out!

As a contributing member of dA, what do you think dA needs to make the community better? What aspects of the community need more work?

Sometimes I wish that dA had an application to become a member. I hope it doesn't sound snooty, but I think there are a considerable number of people that are here for the wrong reasons.

I also think that we could do more to educate people about the guidlines for the galleries, just to keep them clean and beautiful!

Have you heard any juicy gossip about other deviants that you'd like to share?

Haha, I wish! I know there seems to be some dArama going on with some of the gallery directors, but I guess considering all the work they do, they're entitled to a little drama every once in a while.

What would you like other deviants to know about you?

I like turtles!

Why are you wearing that stupid bunny suit?

Why are you wearing that stupid man...errr, um, woman suit?

Features




Special Thanks to...

Each deviantDIRT volume will feature a deviant who has contributed to deviantDIRT. I'd like to thank two deviants: *KSDale03 and =ehmaysink. *KSDale03 has been helping me with the project from the get go and also came up the the name. =ehmaysink came up with our signature stamp. Here is one of my personal favourites from each of their galleries.



Stay tuned for the next volume! If you have any suggestions or ideas please note me!

Next week: An interview with =Lone-Wolf-No-More