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Nick's beautiful nature photos - patreon
5 min read
I haven't featured anyone in a long while, because I'm lazy 
However, featuring boldfrontiers's artworks is worth the effort because his stock photos are incredible 
However, featuring boldfrontiers's artworks is worth the effort because his stock photos are incredible Nick has also launched Patreon page recently: www.patreon.com/nicolasraymond and to quote him "you get unlimited access to my ever growing gallery for one monthly subscription fee instead of having to pay for each single photo". I'd say that getting hundreds of beautiful stock photos for as little as $2 per month is a great deal, plus you get the warm feeling of helping out an artist 
I've decided to become Nick's patron and I look forward to making some dreamy photomanips with his resources 
Here are examples of his work:
Here are examples of his work:
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As some of you may have noticed, my 30-day challenge ended yesterday. It's been a new experience for me, I think I haven't created so many artworks in such a short time-span before... not even back in 2006 when I started out. Anyways... where did those 30 days go? I thought it would feel like an eternity but suddenly I was halfway through, and then it was over and it feels like almost no time has passed
Shout out to Silvia- C-91, she inspired me to do the challenge. I also liked how she made her challenge artworks all in one style, so I stole that idea as well! 
I based all 30 fractals on my Underwater style. Some tweaks are pretty close to it, others are more outlandish but they all share the same base. So if you'd like to try to create something similar, I encourage you to check out my tutorial
Here are some random thoughts, things I've learned during the challenge. Maybe someone will find my ramblings helpful
Inspiration sources
This is pretty standard question I get on regular basis: what is the source of your inspiration? I get why people ask fractal artists this question, I think it's because abstract art is pretty hard to decode. Looking back at the challenge, I can see 2 distinct sources of inspiration: music and love. I've been listening to lots of new music lately, mostly prog rock/metal, some prog/black and blackgaze stuff. I've always found so much comfort in music, perhaps too much to bother with stepping out of my comfort zone and trying out new things. I think I've been pretty good at stepping out of my comfort zone, lately. Both in music, and in feelings.
So if you're struggling with inspiration sources, or find yourself in the infamous art block situation, I suggest you try out new things, indulge something you wouldn't typically indulge. It doesn't have to be art-related.
One flame can be enough
As I said, all 30 pieces were made from the same base. I think that with right flame that has enough flexibility, choosing one flame and building upon it is a great idea. I felt like Underwater was pretty much exhausted flame, that I'm done with it. Turns out I only just scratched the surface. I probably wouldn't pick something like grand julian style, because that would take some serious breaking to keep coming up with new stuff for 30 days, but maybe even that would be doable. This definitely forced me to experiment a lot, try out new things. I hit a dead end here and there, but nothing that could put an end to the challenge.
If you really want to learn one particular style and go further with it, this is an excellent choice. Or, you can go the very opposite way and try a new tutorial/style every day
Quality/quantity/popularity
A friend asked me if I don't sacrifice quality when posting so often, which definitely made me pause. I've always uploaded so little because I do worry about quality. I tend to sit on an artwork for a good while before uploading it, and I discard many during this process as not good enough to share with the world. I did upload several pieces during the challenge that felt kinda meh or too weird, definitely pieces I'd discard otherwise. Ironically enough, some of them ended up being quite popular, while some artworks I considered good ended up unnoticed. This has definitely showed me that it's impossible to "objectively" judge quality of your own artwork (and whether popularity equals quality is entirely different conversation).
Discipline/commitment
I'd say I'm fairly disciplined person but I do hate when things become chore, something I have to do. It's not a problem for me to create artworks on daily basis, but the idea of the commitment is kinda off-putting. I like to do things when I feel like doing them, not when I'm forced to do them. So this has definitely been a bit of a struggle for me. At the same time I like to deliver. So when I commit to something publicly, I tend to deliver on my promises. This definitely made me think deeper about my motivations, and confirmed yet again that I'm both defiant and driven individual, and how these parts of me can clash sometimes.
The logistics of actually creating every day (and uploading) did get tiring a few times. I uploaded a cheat artwork once or twice, something I made few days earlier just in case I wouldn't have time to create that day. This wasn't a major issue but, while I always looked forward to creating something every day, sometimes I made some unwise decisions... like staying up really late when I should have gone to sleep
Burnout. At one point I felt like I seriously lack variety in final transforms and it frustrated me more than I thought it should. It did force me to use some variations I typically don't use, so it was a good thing in the end, but very difficult anyway.
Several times I got frustrated with my own emotions, because I do put a great deal of them in my artworks. My SO/muse has been incredibly patient and supportive during this process, I'm so lucky to have him. In the end, even this painful part of the challenge was actually helpful, because it made me realize certain things and move forward.
Will I do another challenge? I might, possibly at the end of this summer. In June/July I will be too busy and exhausted because I'm switching jobs, so doing another challenge on top of that would be a bit of an overkill, even for me
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12 years on DA. 30 day challenge. Muse.
2 min read
So a few days ago it's been 12 years since I joined DA. Which means 12 years of doing fractal art. The number gets more surreal with every passing year Anyone else out there feeling the same about their long journey with art?
I've seen Silvia (our lovely fractal art CV) doing the 30 day challenge, I'm seriously considering doing it as well. I haven't been this creative... probably since 2012-ish. In past 4 months I made as many artworks as I did in whole 2017, so I might as well give it a shot
In late 2017/2018 my art has become a consistent trail of distinct memories, feelings, particular moments frozen in time, forever etched in artworks. I've always put my emotions/thoughts in artworks but this is different. I knew it but refused to actually acknowledge it, refused to stand still for a moment and look back at what I've been doing. I'm documenting a process. It's deeply personal, laid bare for anyone and everyone who cares to take a closer look. I've never done this before, not in this extent, not in this depth. Something's changing.
Recently, I reconnected with an old friend. TLDR, we're together now. He's smart, nerdy and cool. He's a big guy with a beard. He's kind and caring; he trolls the living crap out of me sometimes. I fancy him, obviously. He's been my muse since well before there was any romantic stuff involved. We let each other breathe. Yet I think I haven't let anyone this close to me before. The process is painful and rewarding.
2017 was difficult, mostly crappy year for me. I'm loving 2018. It's by no means easy but finally, I feel like I can breathe again.
Anyone else out there feeling the same about their long journey with art?I've seen Silvia (our lovely fractal art CV) doing the 30 day challenge, I'm seriously considering doing it as well. I haven't been this creative... probably since 2012-ish. In past 4 months I made as many artworks as I did in whole 2017, so I might as well give it a shot
In late 2017/2018 my art has become a consistent trail of distinct memories, feelings, particular moments frozen in time, forever etched in artworks. I've always put my emotions/thoughts in artworks but this is different. I knew it but refused to actually acknowledge it, refused to stand still for a moment and look back at what I've been doing. I'm documenting a process. It's deeply personal, laid bare for anyone and everyone who cares to take a closer look. I've never done this before, not in this extent, not in this depth. Something's changing.
Recently, I reconnected with an old friend. TLDR, we're together now. He's smart, nerdy and cool. He's a big guy with a beard. He's kind and caring; he trolls the living crap out of me sometimes. I fancy him, obviously. He's been my muse since well before there was any romantic stuff involved. We let each other breathe. Yet I think I haven't let anyone this close to me before. The process is painful and rewarding.
2017 was difficult, mostly crappy year for me. I'm loving 2018. It's by no means easy but finally, I feel like I can breathe again.
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I did it! I successfully passed my state exams and I've earned a master's degree, yay! 
I've been so terrified of the exams because many people around (classmates and lecturers both) think of me as a very, very smart and critically thinking student... so I was afraid that they would expect some sort of miraculous performance of me during the exams that I won't be able to fullfill. In the end the exams weren't all that teriffying, my lecturers were very kind and understanding of my inability to be as eloquent in my verbal speech as I am in my writing. That's a rare thing at university and it speaks volumes about our department.
I loved past 2 years at gender studies. I learned so much and I like to think that it helped me to grow as a person immensly, and at the same time made me realize how learning is never ending journey. I met awesome lecturers who not only passed a great deal of knowledge onto me but they also gave me a lot of direct and valuable feedback. I will miss them greatly. I will miss our class discussions where it was possible for me to engage in critical discussion with people who appreciate my point of view, people who see me as a talented and smart person. I don't get that sort of recognition very often, people mostly think that I am strange, that my views and thinking is odd/unconvential - which is not always a compliment.
In a way, I'm terrified now more than ever. Because now there is a gaping abyss in front of me. A great period of my life has come to an end and it feels like one wall of my internal world has shattered, I can't lean on it anymore. And I know that my future life will be whatever I'll make it to be, and this responsibility is awesome and scary - both at once.
I know that there are good things ahead. I'll make it so. But right now, I just feel like crawling in bed and staring at the ceiling. Let me rest before I leap. Let me cry for a bit, mourn the life period I'm leaving behind. I'll be back in a few days with more positive attitude. I can't stand wallowing in past for very long
I've been so terrified of the exams because many people around (classmates and lecturers both) think of me as a very, very smart and critically thinking student... so I was afraid that they would expect some sort of miraculous performance of me during the exams that I won't be able to fullfill. In the end the exams weren't all that teriffying, my lecturers were very kind and understanding of my inability to be as eloquent in my verbal speech as I am in my writing. That's a rare thing at university and it speaks volumes about our department.I loved past 2 years at gender studies. I learned so much and I like to think that it helped me to grow as a person immensly, and at the same time made me realize how learning is never ending journey. I met awesome lecturers who not only passed a great deal of knowledge onto me but they also gave me a lot of direct and valuable feedback. I will miss them greatly. I will miss our class discussions where it was possible for me to engage in critical discussion with people who appreciate my point of view, people who see me as a talented and smart person. I don't get that sort of recognition very often, people mostly think that I am strange, that my views and thinking is odd/unconvential - which is not always a compliment.
In a way, I'm terrified now more than ever. Because now there is a gaping abyss in front of me. A great period of my life has come to an end and it feels like one wall of my internal world has shattered, I can't lean on it anymore. And I know that my future life will be whatever I'll make it to be, and this responsibility is awesome and scary - both at once.
I know that there are good things ahead. I'll make it so. But right now, I just feel like crawling in bed and staring at the ceiling. Let me rest before I leap. Let me cry for a bit, mourn the life period I'm leaving behind. I'll be back in a few days with more positive attitude. I can't stand wallowing in past for very long
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Featuring my recent favs and NOT ranting
4 min read
I was about to rant but I figured I'd rather spread love than hate, so have some pretty pictures instead! 
(I tried to pick nice pieces with not so many faves, so feel free to unleash your love 
) I'm still studying for my state exams, which will take place about 2 weeks from now, so I won't post anything new by then (most likely) 
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![Graveyard of Dreams [+Speedpaint] by yuuike](https://images-wixmp-ed30a86b8c4ca887773594c2.wixmp.com/f/be782447-0a36-46a3-b393-7a0c41cce06d/d8d1tas-92af986c-3c40-45aa-bb4a-28ca23a6c6d5.png/v1/fill/w_323,h_250/graveyard_of_dreams___speedpaint__by_yuuike_d8d1tas-250t.png?token=eyJ0eXAiOiJKV1QiLCJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.eyJzdWIiOiJ1cm46YXBwOjdlMGQxODg5ODIyNjQzNzNhNWYwZDQxNWVhMGQyNmUwIiwiaXNzIjoidXJuOmFwcDo3ZTBkMTg4OTgyMjY0MzczYTVmMGQ0MTVlYTBkMjZlMCIsIm9iaiI6W1t7ImhlaWdodCI6Ijw9Njk4IiwicGF0aCI6IlwvZlwvYmU3ODI0NDctMGEzNi00NmEzLWIzOTMtN2EwYzQxY2NlMDZkXC9kOGQxdGFzLTkyYWY5ODZjLTNjNDAtNDVhYS1iYjRhLTI4Y2EyM2E2YzZkNS5wbmciLCJ3aWR0aCI6Ijw9OTAwIn1dXSwiYXVkIjpbInVybjpzZXJ2aWNlOmltYWdlLm9wZXJhdGlvbnMiXX0._JtKXnsaP1DrbUhVr3KFc4uRxEDq3MAMoT-uCEiLriY)
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(I tried to pick nice pieces with not so many faves, so feel free to unleash your love ) I'm still studying for my state exams, which will take place about 2 weeks from now, so I won't post anything new by then (most likely) <da:bigthumb id="549948995"/>
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