I want to thank everyone who has supported the non-member's painting contest! Great job eveyone. We had great support from the members toward new people at the site trying to figure out what the contest was all about, how to post entries, how to seperate entry posts, discussions, and voting. We had awesome support from new artists at the site. They came up with some very original takes on the subject of planet rings, some very cool ideas out there!
All in all I think the first non-member contest was a success! Thank you all.
As to why I took the time and effort to put this together, (with Brandon's permission and support of course), the answer is simple: I have been an internet user for years, both personal and business. I have been a member of a variety of user groups, forums, communities, etc. Never have I seen a group of people, so diverse, so geographically decentralized, come together into a community online where flaming is non-existent, negativity is not tolerated, criticism is given with total respect and is overshadowed by compliments and respect.
I came to this community with no understanding of this style of artwork. I was met with total support and comraderie. I had all the same questions I see new people just joining the site ask everyday. My questions were answered however redundant and obvious they must have been to those who came before me, with never a negative comment.
I feel I am still in my infancy as an artist. I am learning more than I imagined when I painted my first planet. I have watched every video on the subject of spray paint art I can locate, some of them so many times I am glad we are in a digital age, because I would have worn out a video cassette, LOL. I keep seeing different techniques, perspectives, compositions, color arrangements, sizes, complexities, simplicities, lighting, shading, highlights, shadows, details, abstraction, and new ideas every time I explore this unique little niche of the art world that has gone for me from distraction to borderline obsession, lol.
My time as an aspiring artist may be short, but I have been in business for myself for many years. My business is very dependent upon the best form of advertising on earth. Word of mouth. People sharing their experience with my company with their peers. People who have good experiences with my company, promote my company at no cost to me. Endeavors like this website, spacepaintings.com do not develop and operate for free. Someone behind the scenes is working very hard to keep things operating smoothly. And this requires time and money. Brandon has a sizeable investment in this community that has taught me things I could never have learned at any art school. I know, as we are putting our daughter through one of the best art schools in the country, and they could not provide me with what I have learned here. So... this is my way of "paying it forward." If I can interest some people in participating at this site, I am returning the favors that have been afforded me in developing skills and creating artwork that will last a lifetime.
So there you have it, why I dedicated a few hours to pay forward the experiences I have had with this community. Thanks again, Marty ---------- 99GT (Marty) Visit my web page http://www.myspacepaintings.com/Ninety9GT
YOU TELL ME... WHERE ELSE COULD I HAVE LEARNED TO CREATE ART LIKE THE PIECES IN THE SLIDE SHOW BELOW WITH RATTLE CAN SPRAY PAINT IN LESS TIME THAN IT TAKES FOR THE GESSO PRIMER TO DRY ON A CANVAS FOR AN ACRYLIC OR OIL PAINTING? University? Community College? Private art school? I don't think so. Oh yeah, the $50 I paid for a membership to this site, I think it was worth it. :)
marty i just want to say thanks to you, brandon and the rest of this community. you guys help all of us so much. and as for the non-members thing, THANK YOU. it shows how much you want to help us all.can't wait for the next comp.... damad2 (matt)
