My Friends, I could not have done it alone. And by “friends”, in this case, I mean all the Watchers who chose to watch me during my first year on Deviant Art, and who continue to Watch me, and support me in all the truly very many various ways that there are to do that. Each effort to contact me, through any, some, and even all means of support, be it a choice to watch me, comment and/or fave a deviation, send a message, note, simply continue to just visit my gallery to merely view my work all the way to even other seemingly more generous acts, to me is an extension of friendship.

My Watchers are my friends, because at some point, at the very least each one of my Watchers made a choice to Watch me, a single and marvelously generous act of support, which for me translates into an extension of friendship. I realize, just like life in general, we are not all the same in closest of friends- I mean it isn’t usually true one can have well over 300 super close friends in any social network, however, out of curiosity, I actually researched “friend” in several dictionaries and some thesaurus’s. One word that surprised me that came up a lot was “acquaintance”- probably seen as the most casual types of friends. Another word that came up every time was “support” or “supportive”... which leads me back to my own personal instincts, that regardless of how close we actually are, whether super close, good, fairly good, or more toward acquaintance, I know, just as I was researching that my watchers fall under the “Friendship Umbrella” and I will always be grateful and full of love, for each and every single one of you for whatever kind of support and encouragement you have bestowed upon me. These are the true gifts of friendship, and with that, I have been gifted abundantly during my first year on dA.

My tour through everyone’s galleries began almost two months ago, by now, when I had this idea for my one year anniversary, and it was indeed a very interesting experience. I reconnected with and got to know several artists better from earlier in my year, which felt really important to me. I also felt a bit neglectful of some who I had been usually more regular with, because I was in the middle of this venture, but I think it will be understood now. Similarly, I haven’t been as involved with meeting new friends, but this project has made a nice balance, since I hope I have strengthened a few very appreciated ties along this journey, that has been year one of Tea Photography and Tea Photography on dA.

To the few who seem gone, or gone for now, by what I could tell from their accounts, it’s like life in general: friends come and go, some stay for a while, some much longer. Whatever the case, again, I appreciate the extension of that supportive friendship made at some point. Whatever anyone does, no matter how small or fleeting, it always makes a difference. What each of us does, affects another.

I will always be thankful for every kindness and friendship. I have been very positively impacted during my first year working at Tea Photography and being here on dA to share as much as I could of it all with you all.

It's been an awesome learning experience and a wonderfully remarkable ride!
I couldn't have done it alone, my friends.

PRESENTING...
My Watchers, My Friends: March 9, 2008 - March 9 2009
...from the First Watcher to the Last Watcher on the 9th
















siempre...












































































































































































































































































































































I want to extend my sincere appreciation to my newer Friends who have started Watching since the 9th of March 2009. Your support means very much to me.

Continued encouragement and ongoing friendship is something I will always treasure, and I will try my best to give back, as well.

One thing I do, besides the things recently seen in my journal like Thematic Features and The Special Random Feature, is:
MONTHLY FEATURES, something specifically for ALL WATCHERS!

This is set to resume this very month of April! Check the journal soon, for there will be more info. in the next day.

I truly wish you all the BESTS on your own artistic journeys.