FEATURED MEMBER - JANUARY 2006
This months featured member is =fallnangeltears!

Real Name: Li Vincent

Age: 23

Location: Springville, Utah

Story behind your DA username: A lot of my friends consider me to be their angel, a particularly close friend decided i am not pure enough to be an angel, so i must be a fallen angel. at some point a few years later my close friend left, thus the part of my name 'tears' came in. fallnangeltears. it has been my user name/screen name for many years.

Why do you create art?: I create art as a release, an escape from every day life and into a world of my own.

What sort of things inspire you to create artistic works?: My dreams. My dreams are a big factor of what inspires my creations, music is another huge inspiration, as are my close friends.

How long have you been an artist?: Ever since i was three years old and painted my name backward in nail polish on the dining room wall

Do you do art for fun/hobby or is it something you hope to do as a career?: All of the above!

What are all the artistic mediums that you take part in: If its artistic or creative on some level chances are i have dabbled in it ^_~

Links to 3 of your personal favorite works of art (that you've made):

Butterfly

Broken Pierrot

Sweet Reverie

Why are they your favorites?: They are all personal expressions of self.

Links to 3 of your favorite works of art by other artist on DA: It is really difficult for me to chose just three works, because i love so many! So go take a look at my favorites list if you want to see more ^_~


Whisper Sweet: 2000 gift by *zombiechan

A Reason For Life and Love by ~Bayra

I Can Take It - ink-shaded by ~kurohitatsaki

Why are these your favorites?
Because they were created for my by close friends, whom I love very much

What do you use to create your art: Pencils, paper, colored pencils, inking pens, oil paints, photoshop, paintshop pro, and my camera are what I use to create

Music that you listen to while creating art: Beethoven is a huge insiration for me, as are Stabbing Westward and Nine Inch Nails

Link to one print you'd love to own on DA: Once again.. it is troublesome to pick only one :sweat:


In Loving Memory of Neimanby =emaleth

Anything else you'd like to say to the group: Never stop creating, you never know when your art is touching the hearts of people you have never even met.

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FEATURED MEMBER - DECEMBER 2005
This months featured member is *Funerium!

Real Name: Tuomas Pekkarinen

Age: 23

Location: Joensuu, Finland

Story behind your DA username: This goes way back, I needed a nickname while gaming online, and I needed something with the world funeral with it, but with a little twist. I started using Funerium, and it stuck ever since then. I use it pretty much everywhere online these days. Funny thing was, that the nick might be a word of some kind in french, and all the french players usually still talk french to me, even though I have no idea what they´re saying.

By the way, if there´s any french members reading this, a translation/explanation would be greatly appreciated.

Why do you create art?: Mostly as a form of relaxation and/or to pass the time. Also, I´m not that talented verbally, I guess I get my message across much better visually than with words.

What sort of things inspire you to create artistic works?: My imagination is the most important inspiration, listening to music and watching movies helps somewhat too. Also just browsing through other peoples artworks sometimes spark up the creativity and forces me to make some new material.

How long have you been an artist?: Hmm, not that long I suppose, I was a total beginner when I joined deviantart, knowing only some basicfunctions that photoshop can do. My first stuff submitted were only abstract experiments with it, I started using stockstuff about a month after I joined (May 15th, 2004), and from that point I´ve been improving a lot, and learned some other programs in the progress too.

So I´ve been an (wannabe)artist for about a year and a half.

Do you do art for fun/hobby or is it something you hope to do as a career?: Serious hobby I suppose, and I´m also studying to become a mediadesigner who specializes in multimedia. So some elements from this hobby I might be able to utilize in my work after graduation (if I´m lucky). Graphic design for webpages and other projects and all that.

What are all the artistic mediums that you take part in:Pretty much everything I create is all done with the computer, I only shoot the occasional photo, and if they´re happen to be good enough, I submit them to my stock-account. I never learned any instruments, wich is a shame, playing something would be a nice method of creating.

Links to 3 of your personal favorite works of art (that you've made):

The Watchers Mass

Black Star

Evoke -Collab-

The watchers mass I like since I love fractalart, and making them is quite the trip. I´ts an awesome feeling to dive into a fractal, deeper and deeper, seeing all the forms it can take, and to know that it never ends. I like Apophysis more than Ultrafractal when I make the fractals, since Apophysis usually offers much more intense stuff much easier than UF. And this render in particular is the most complex I ever got out with the program, so it´s definately one of my favourite creations.

Black star I like since especially the first one was a sort of turning point in my gallery. I was feeling a bit lost with the direction my art was heading, since I do a little bit of everything, and it can be a pain sometimes. So with this piece I combined two of the directions I like to do, normal photomanipulation and spaceart, and I was very surprised with the good feedback it received. It certainly helped, and it was much more easier to start creating again after creating the trilogy.

Evoke is third of my favourites since I love to do collaborations, and with this picture, I had the change to try out normal manipulation combined with an awesome fractal created by ~TSHansen. Collaborations are always in more experimental vein than my own material, and that´s why I like to bug the occasional artist to see if he/she want´s to work together on something. Also, it´s even more fun when someone asks me to collab, that doesn´t happen so often though wich is kind of a shame. I don´t know if they think I´d turn them down, or my gallery is too bad for their tastes though. But if anyone reading this happens to be interested in working on something, feel free to note me, I´m pretty openminded when it comes to collabs.

Links to 3 of your favorite works of art by other artist on DA:


The Inevitable by ~dilekt

Triskelion Mandala II by *BWS

City of Twlight by *JasonEngle

Why are these your favorites?
Each are excellent examples in the category they are submitted in. I´m a huge fan of digital painting, so thus the city of twilight, and also love space, so that´s why I love the piece from ~dilekt so much. Also, the Triskelion mandala since I love the style *BWS has, and this piece in particular is digital perfection to the core.

What do you use to create your art: At the moment mainly Photoshop, but I know how to use (and combine the results with photoshop in my work) Apophysis, Ultra fractal, Poser and Terragen.

Also I know how to use Bryce and 3dmax (only basic skills), but I don´t use those in my art, atleast not yet.

Music that you listen to while creating art: I listen to music 24/7, I´m a total addict. The stuff I listen to while creating varies a lot, usually I have all my mp3s (approx. 6000 songs at the moment) playing, and winamps shufle works as the DJ. I´m not going to name any bands since it would take forever, but the genres I´m into are something like this, plus I´m pretty sure I´m forgetting something: Metal (grind-, black-, melodic-, doom-, drone-, pretty much everything goes), alternative rock, new age, (psy)trance, movie soundtracks, industrial, EBM/dark wave, ambient, etc. Pretty much everything except the "music" MTV likes to brainwash people with, plus some other junk like country or some similar torments like it.

Link to one print you'd love to own on DA:

My Hope the Destroyer by ~mellon

Anything else you'd like to say to the group: Thanks to all those who voted for my piece obviously, your support is truly appreciated.

Also, since christmas is creeping closer, I hope everyone has a good one, and have a great new year too.

And no matter how hard the world might treat you when it comes to creating, never stop doing it, it´s what life is all about, you expressing yourself.

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FEATURED MEMBER - NOVEMBER 2005
This months featured member is *CrystallineEssence!

Real Name: Theresa Germaine

Age: 17

Location: Burbank, California

Story behind your DA username: I always liked crystals, they just seem very pure, and so I thought CrystallineEssence suited me.

Why do you create art?: No matter how amazing or unskilled an artist is, the work they create comes from their own imagination and is completely unique. That is why I create art - so that I can see with my own eyes the worlds that exist inside of myself.

What sort of things inspire you to create artistic works?: Beautiful music, emotion, and looking at other art inspires me a lot.

How long have you been an artist?: I think I've always made drawings and colored, but I really started honing my skills when I was 11.

Do you do art for fun/hobby or is it something you hope to do as a career?: It is purely a hobby.

What are all the artistic mediums that you take part in:I do a bit of everything really, photography the least, but I draw, write books and poetry, compose music on the piano.

Links to 3 of your personal favorite works of art (that you've made):

Awakened

When Twlight Falls

Harvest Moon

I feel that they express my inner self the best - very much a dreamer, I'm very spiritual and I love the night sky.

Links to 3 of your favorite works of art by other artist on DA:


Imaginations From the Other Side by ~SolidAhmed

Save Our Souls by *AquaSixio

Ethereal by *Saimain

Why are these your favorites?
I think they show a lot of imagination and creativity, and are very well done.

What do you use to create your art: I use Photoshop CS and a tablet.

Music that you listen to while creating art: Usually softer more "medieval" sounding music, like Blackmore's Night or Kamelot.

Link to one print you'd love to own on DA:

My Golden Bird by *Saimain

Anything else you'd like to say to the group: Thank you so much for the support guys, and I absolutely love browsing through here, there is so much talent everywhere. Best of luck in life, and if you ever need anything in any way, I'll always be here to help.

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FEATURED MEMBER - OCTOBER 2005
This months featured member is *Isilmetriel!

Real Name: Anda

Age: 18

Location: Timisoara, Romania

Story behind your DA username: This story is rather boring I wanted a username which contained the word 'moon', but I couldn't think of anything original in English. So I turned to my favourite author, J. R. R. Tolkien, and his invented languages. 'Isil'me etriel' means 'Elf Lady of the Moonlight' in Sindarin, a language of the Elves, but I shortened it to 'Isilmetriel' (I'm not even sure it's correct ).


Why do you create art?: I'm not sure I create art because I do not consider myself an artist. This is a little weird, I know, but I make my deviations in order to relax and to enjoy myself. They don't have a special purpose (to educate or to entertain); they simply help me pass the time when I'm bored. I've been doing photo manipulations for years now, but I've never thought of actually sharing them with others. And even though I'm now sharing my work with others on dA (and I'm very pleased to see others enjoy my work), I must admit I'm still making 'art' for myself


What sort of things inspire you to create artistic works?: The only thing that inspires me is the music I listen to.


How long have you been an artist?: Well, I used to draw anime when I was young (about 10 years old). I still keep my old drawings to remind me how 'good' I was

Do you do art for fun/hobby or is it something you hope to do as a career?: Definitely for fun. I want to become a computer programmer, which means my artistic self will just have to sit this lifetime out

What are all the artistic mediums that you take part in:I'm very fond of nature photography. I take nature shots whenever I have the occasion (not very often) and I'm very proud and vain about my pictures. Even if they're absolutely no good, I still adore them

Links to 3 of your personal favorite works of art (that you've made):

Middle Earth - Aman: Wallpaper

Autumn Afterglow

The Panorama Gallery: Part 3

Why are these your favorites: Well, 'Aman' is the first part of a Middle Earth series I intend to make. I've always wanted to portray Tolkien's world in my work, so this was my first chance. I really enjoyed making it
'Autumn Afterglow' is very special to me because the images make up my idea of the perfect place on Earth: it would be an autumn day on the edge of a forest; a day with a pale, orange sun, casting its rays on the desolate landscape.
Finally, 'The Austrian Alps' is in my opinion one of my best photographs so far. I love every little detail in it.

Links to 3 of your favorite works of art by other artist on DA:
This was VERY hard to do...and they are not in any particular order!!!)

Eyzaathe by *enayla

Morning Trail by =takitus

The Night of the Titans by *Mr-Frenzy

Why are these your favorites?
'Eyzaathe' is one of the first pieces I layed my eyes upon when I joined dA. There's something catchy about her. She's like the Mona Lisa Maybe it's the proud, contemptuous look in her eyes. Or maybe it's just her pointy ears
'Morning Trail' is my favourite photograph because I'm a sucker for roads, mist and autumn
'The Night of Titans' is not only an amazing spacescape, a wonderful achievement of digital art, but it's also some sort of paradox: it's a Sci-Fi landscape with such a romantic feeling to it. When I look at it, I feel like the whole modern world is suddenly returning to innocence, to primeval times...

What do you use to create your art: First and first of all, Adobe Photoshop. Photoshop is yer daddy
Until recently, I've used PS 7, but now I use the new and improved CS 2 (I didn't like CS very much so I skipped it). I also use Terragen and World Machine for my landscapes... and that's about it

Music that you listen to while creating art: Oh yes, music is my inspiration. My favourite two singers (I can never decide between them) are Enya and Sarah Brightman. I generally listen to peaceful music, such as Enigma, Loreena McKennitt, Moya Brennan, Dido, Vangelis and many others.

Link to one print you'd love to own on DA:

The Icarus Trilogy by `alyn

Anything else you'd like to say to the group: "Some men see things as they are and ask why. Others dream things that never were and ask why not."
-- George Bernard Shaw, Irish Playwright and Critic

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FEATURED MEMBER - SEPTEMBER 2005
This months featured member is ^cosmosue!

Real Name: Sue

Age: 29

Location: SC, USA

Story behind your DA username: heh...well ok...Feb of 98 I thought chat rooms were fun (bleh) and I needed a name, I threw "cosmo" in front of my real name "sue" because...well 2 reasons 1 being the cosmos you know outer space and stuff, and well .. lol the other reason (the main reason actually) is because its a nice first name, especially if your last name is Kramer. I am an enormous Seinfeld fan lol well the name stuck, and has for 7 years. Its my username everywhere!


Why do you create art?: I like to. It makes me happy, and people enjoy it (usually anyway!) and it makes me happy to make others enjoy something that I have done. Its for myself, but when it inspires someone else, or makes them feel something its an added benefit.


What sort of things inspire you to create artistic works?: When I am drawing a blank on what I want to do, sometimes I peruse the DA galleries, and that can be very inspiring. Also I like to go through my thousands of PSCS brushes and play around sort of like to get the juices flowin' lol sometimes it works, and sometimes I just end up taking a few days off!

How long have you been an artist?: All my life! You should see the finger paintings I did at age 3! WOW! Ok seriously...I have always loved to draw, mainly horses, since as long as I can remember. But I started art classes at a college in 1997.

Do you do art for fun/hobby or is it something you hope to do as a career?: It started off as a hobby, making sigs/avatars/graphics for people who play online RPGs. In fact I still do a little bit of that, only its not free anymore lol I love what I do, and I would definetly like to make some money, I am a stay at home mom and we could certainly use it lol if not, I am still happy with doing it of course!

What are all the artistic mediums that you take part in: Well mainly digital now, but I started off with a pencil, charcoals, ink, also acrylics. I also have a small amount of experience in 3d sculpture & design. I spent a year working with ceramics and a pottery wheel as well, that is a LOT of fun! I have an old pentax camera that I used to carry with me everywhere but unfortunetly it needs a repair I have played flute since 4th grade (nearly 20 years!) and tenor sax since 8th grade. I also use beads & sterling silver wire, hemp cord, and other various materials to make lots of different jewelry.

Links to 3 of your personal favorite works of art (that you've made):

The Forest Keeper

Raven

Childhood Memories

Why are these your favorites: Well the first one is my latest work, The Forest Keeper, and I absolutely love the colors that I came up with and threw together Also I have wanted to do a close up fairy face like that for a while, I have 4 more I am currently brainstorming! The second one "Raven" I was very happy with the way I made the wings, I really wanted them that way and it took me somewhere around 15-20 layers for just the wings, and I re-did them 5-6 times. I was up all night and well into the next day. The last one, Childhood Memories is a peice I did because I cherish my childhood and it was a happy fun time full of carefree summers.

Links to 3 of your favorite works of art by other artist on DA:
This was VERY hard to do...and they are not in any particular order!!!)

Burning Glass by ~flyingmonk1987

Sheltered by ~SilentlyLucid

Spread Magic by ~Derfel

What do you use to create your art: I use Photoshop CS mainly. Also Apophysis, Vue 4 pro, and Poser 4. I have a few others but I don't use them much. In fact I have pretty much steered away from the 3d thing as well, although its fun for certain things.

Music that you listen to while creating art: None unfortunetly. The baby sleeps in his swing in the office so I have to keep it quiet =/ lol We do however have a whole external drive, just for MP3s!!! My husband is a collector of mp3s lol

Link to one print you'd love to own on DA:

Spread Magic by ~Derfel

Anything else you'd like to say to the group: Always always make art if its what you want to do, don't let anyone bring you down or tell you you can't do it. If you get discouraged, walk away and come back, but don't give up!

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FEATURED MEMBER - AUGUST 2005
This months featured member is ~OrangeClockwork!

Real Name: Luciana A. Job

Age: 20 years old

Location: Buenos Aires, Argentina

Story behind your DA username:Well, I love the book and the movie "Clockwork Orange" and the name sounds just great, so when I decided to be part of DA and choose an name I thought of that one... but, someone else has that name! So, I just inversed the order -out of creativity in my name.

Why do you create art?: That's a good question, and my english is pretty bad. Hope I can express myself... Hmm... I've got the need to create art, it's something that's impulsive, a force inside me. I'm not thinking "I've to create this or that"... Its more like I feel I should do it... I never asked myself that question, so my answer is not so good... It's a question to really think about... but the *instant reply* is what I said. Put it this way, Its like I show you what I see with my eyes...

What sort of things inspire you to create artistic works?: *Nothing*... the inspiration came from another place. A place like dreams, like my inside world, my way to see the life. I think the 90% of my art is based in those *things*.

How long have you been an artist?: Traditional artist, I think since I was born (woa! Such an answer), but that's my opinion. I think everyone has a tendency to be *something*. My mum always encouraged that part of me... I can remember, my first comic was a series of drawings without words because I used to represent the voices inside my mind... it was when I was 5 years old. Another of my childhood characters was "Clementine the Onion"... I know, it sounds weird... it was around the same age as my first comic. I'm not an old digital artist, my first try in digital painting was in 2004... I left and returned with my digital creations in 2005.

Do you do art for fun/hobby or is it something you hope to do as a career?: Actually I study Design of Image and Sound in the University of Buenos Aires (UBA)... So, it's my career.

What are all the artistic mediums that you take part in:Well, I love to draw and paint, on paper or canvas. I'm doing some oils and acrylics right now, but I've got a lot of ink and water color works on paper. Pencils are awsome too I'm doing digital painting and manipulations with tablet and optical pen. And... I make movies I just finished my last short movie, and now my team and I are working on another one for a national contest. Of course, I love photography, I take my pictures with an old cammera, a Pentax Asahi Spotmatic.

Links to 3 of your personal favorite works of art (that you've made):

Demeter

Sirena

Anfitrite

To say the truth, I don't have a real favourite. All are part of me, like a big puzzle, my traditional, my digital, everything... are parts that I don't like but other that I just love... but it doesn't mean I've got a favourite piece of artwork.
So, here are the 3 I like the most in DA, one is Demeter, lot of work... and I love the result with the concept, really like it!. Another is Sirena, the last one I submited here... oh, I wanted to do a mermaid for such a long time and never liked the result... so this one is like I reach my *mermaid goal* (sounds weird ), and finally is Anfitrite, the second manipulation I ever done... I've got a special love for this one, Is the first that has *that* thing that I love about the others... I don't exactly know what is it.

Links to 3 of your favorite works of art by other artist on DA:
:thumb558986:
Telynohn by *enayla

Gaueko by ~Sarima
:thumb20198258:
Tame Tigers by *heise

What do you use to create your art: Digital Art: photoshop CS, a graphical tablet & optical pen. Traditional: depends of the piece itself.

Music that you listen to while creating art: Let's see, I love to listen PJ Harvey for digital art, when I draw comic I choose the music depending of the comics content. And Nick Cave to write my screenplays, Die Form is another of my favorites ones, this band gave me a lot of inspiration to crate my last short movie. Some genres inside gothic, like ethereal or heavenly voices are my favorites ones to draw or do fine arts. I never listen to metal, or hard rock or commercial pop music to create things, these are genres I don't like so much.

Link to one print you'd love to own on DA:

Stare by *heise

Anything else you'd like to say to the group: First of all, thank you very very much for the votes on the contest. I'm happy you like my artwork and thank you for the support! all the submissions were awsome, so I really feel happy And thanks for create a group related to dreams and the inside world I really love to be part of it! Thanks for submit my artwork to your gallery, and thanks for everything you do for my art Thanks to the group I discovered awsome artists! Sorry for my bad english, and thank you!

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FEATURED MEMBER - JULY 2005
This months featured member is *Black-Red-Escape!

Real Name: Eddie Jaw-Cheng Chien

Age: 21

Location: Johannesburg, South Africa

Story behind your DA username: It was an abstraction to my childhood's feverish nightmares... (Now it really sounds dumb ) When ever I'd a fever when I was smaller, I'd have the same recurring nightmare - Being chased downhill from a volcanic mountain that just exploded, painting the sky in ashen darkness, and in hue of hellish reds. Behind me, no lava flowed, but instead a huge boulder chased me... and I ran until my legs gave in and the boulder rampaged on over... thats when I'd wake up - Fever over. Thus: Black - Red - Escape. It's one way of explaining it

Why do you create art?: I create art because it is something I enjoy, art requires improvement as well, (and being a very student at times I lose touch with my artistic side ), thus I post my work for critique and comments. Feedback helps me with the small errors I make, and suggestions help me push the limitations of my creativity by trying something new.

What sort of things inspire you to create artistic works?: Right now, I use the medium of sound/music. Every selected piece of music I listen to, when I make my deviations transcribed a certain emotion or feeling. I'd select my materials to use before hand, and allow the music to guide what I actually do with the piece. Usually ending up with a certain uniform colour as well!

How long have you been an artist?: I remember when my grandmother drew sketches of stone bridges, and never used to sketch in the water that flowed underneath it... I helped add that water element with spit/gob I think that's when the artist in me came to the fore...

Do you do art for fun/hobby or is it something you hope to do as a career?: Art is a hobby for me as much as it is fun. However, in terms of career, i'm heading in a parallel. I study Architecture.

What are all the artistic mediums that you take part in: I take part in Design and Technology critiques, fiddle with expensive cameras I dont know how to use when friends and I go hunting for photos, I write some poetry here and there- for no academic merit. I tend not to partake in any class-orientated/formal events... because it irks me when some bright-spark tries to impress the lecturer or spokesperson - It gets irritating.

Links to 3 of your personal favorite works of art (that you've made):

Endless

Unlimited Possiblities

Whisper of Promise


Why are these your favorites?: The first piece 'Endless' is of more a sentimental piece for me, it is the first piece I did that reflected my dA deviations, but it was more for a varsity project on Spatial Architecture.
The piece 'Unlimited Possibilites' was the the deciding piece for me to keep to a vertical format for most of my main works... and it is still kept in check till this very moment... i think
The piece 'Whisper of Promise' is just my personal favorite piece... I dont know why!

Links to 3 of your favorite works of art by other artist on DA:

Vertigo by ~cattish
Transcibes a sense of absolute freedom, and it created the sense of vastness or Epic proportions in a comic-strip layout that I've never seen done so well!

First Snow by ~ailah
This is marvel of traditional work. soft pastels, for a second I thought it was a photo itself!

Elf by `BlueBlack
I've never seen an Elf had so alternative and so well done!

What do you use to create your art: Photoshop CS2; Imageready(for moving things); Terragen(still practising). I used to pencil sketch as well... now i just dont have time!

My older stuff can be found at ~MagentaTheLion - I'm still thinking what conversion is best for this account.

Music that you listen to while creating art: A bold dash of Rock, a stroke of Pop here and there, and a sprinkle of Punk. Preferably played loud with soft singing and pretty choruses.

Link to one print you'd love to own on DA:

The Smell of Salt Air by `foureyes

Anything else you'd like to say to the group: Your talents are only hindered by what you percieve as too hard to do, or impossible to do with your current skill.
Expanding your mind and knowledge does not mean you have to get it off texts and read up on things. Expanding your mind is to open your damn eyes and look around you at the details you pass everyday without notice.

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