When we listen to our Muse and create a piece of art, the process may carry us to unexpected, surprising, and sometimes scary places.

In fact, art has long been used by some therapists to connect with their clients, as well as help them uncover and resolve psychological knots. This is especially true with younger children and those who may have trouble verbally expressing themselves.

Since the deaths of my beloved dogs, I have been on a journey. During this journey of life and self-understanding, I started to see certain themes in my artwork. I think that when we look closely at what we create, we start to understand ourselves better. It is also quite a lot of fun to go back and travel through mental imagery that made it to media. So I invite you to join me in this wonderful expedition. Look at your own artwork, and share with us below what you find. Here are some of the things that I found when I looked.

What a work of art is all about is a sense of delight. Touch here, touch there, delight. It is an appreciation of things as they are and of what one is — which produces an enormous spark. Something happens — clicks — and the poet writes poems, the painter paints pictures, the musician composes music.

~~ [Chögyam Trungpa, Rinpoche, “Artists and Unemployed Samurai” from The Teacup and the Skullcup]

1. Fierce Red-Haired Warriors

I have a whole section in my gallery dedicated to fierce red-haired warriors. They are powerful, confident, bold, strong, independent, gorgeous, fearless, and the opposite of damsels in distress. These strong women save themselves, are comfortable standing alone, and do not need a Conan by their side.

Powerful, confident, bold, strong, independent, gorgeous, fearless, and the opposite of damsels in distress. These strong women save themselves, are comfortable standing alone, and do not need a Conan by their side.

While this may all sound good on the surface, it can also lead to the development of unhealthy aversions and fears if not properly addressed. Attachment to power, strength, independence, and courage, may lead to the aversion of their opposite. In this way, any kind of perceived weakness, dependence, and fear leads to great dissatisfaction. In my pursuit of strength, I forsook gentleness, kindness, compassion, trust in others, and ultimately developed a deep intolerance for fear. Intolerance of fear leads to fear of fear and chronic anxiety.

What happens when strength fails and independence or power is of no help? It is in our conditioning to value these traits. However, blind attachment and direct pursuit often lead to the opposite of what we desire, causing us much suffering. Strength and courage are not about being gorgeous, the color of our hair, what we wear, or carrying a big sword. True strength and courage comes only when we face our deepest weaknesses and fears, and learn to embrace them.

True strength and courage comes only when we face our deepest weaknesses and fears, and learn to embrace them.

2. Duality – The Good and the Bad

The concept of duality – strength and weakness, courage and fear, good and evil, beauty and the beast, winter and summer, life and death, are expressed in many of my images. One of my favorite fantasy artists of all time, Luis Royo, often combines erotic love with the juxtaposition of beauty and ugliness, black and white, good and evil.

This concept of duality, strength and weakness, courage and fear, good and evil, beauty and the beast, winter and summer, life and death, are expressed in many of my images.

Duality is pervasive in our upbringing, our learning, and our society. Indeed, it is weaved into the very fabric of our lives, because it is how our mind works. We love greatly, and in so doing, we fear (or want to avoid) the opposite of what we love. We love happiness and fear unhappiness, we love success and fear failure, we love doing the right thing and fear doing the wrong thing, we love being good and fear being bad. Most of all, we greatly love life, and so we fear death. We love being in-love and fear being afraid.

We greatly love life, and so we fear death. We love being in-love and fear being afraid.

To be clear, there is nothing wrong with fear, rather, it is the avoidance of the things we fear that causes problems, dissatisfaction, and suffering. For example, we love happiness, so we want to avoid being unhappy. However, happiness does not and cannot last forever. As with all things in reality, it is impermanent. When the feeling of happiness fades and we begin to feel something else, we get dissatisfied. This pushes us even farther away from being happy, which leads to feeling more dissatisfaction and so on, until we spend most of our time feeling dissatisfied at being trapped in a World where happiness is, in fact, impermanent. The more we try to avoid unhappiness and directly pursue happiness, the less happy we become. The more we try to avoid the darkness within us, and directly pursue the light, the more mired we become in darkness.

Duality – Beauty and the Beast.

If we are brave enough to look below the surface of duality, however, we eventually see that duality is mind-made. Based on culture, learning, and inherited brain wiring, our mind categorizes phenomenon into good, bad, and don’t care. This is very good news because new research in neuroplasticity show that our brains are highly adaptable and with training, we can change our brain wiring, update learned thoughts, and modify old habits.

Our brains are highly adaptable and with training, we can change our brain wiring, update learned thoughts, and change old habits.

In my journey of self, I have found a very simple rule that helps me to transcend duality and reduce suffering. It is simply this:

To always face my fears.

I face my fear by leaning into my fear and embracing the very thing that I am afraid of. This is also known as exposure therapy. When we avoid the things that we fear, we become controlled by our fear, and cause it to grow in intensity and scope. When we face our fear, we weaken its grip on us and diminish its power.

When we avoid the things that we fear, we become controlled by our fear and cause it to grow in intensity and scope. When we face our fear, we weaken its grip on us and diminish its power.

There were some that found the image above so disturbing that it got removed from my Daz Gallery.

There are two kinds of suffering. There is the suffering you run away from, which follows you everywhere. And there is the suffering you face directly, and so become free.
~~[Ajahn Chah]

3. Lots of Furry Friends

While my fierce warriors do not need a Conan, they are often travelling with or enjoying the company of furry and not-so-furry animals. Animals have always been a great comfort to me, especially dogs. Dogs can sense, hear, or smell our emotions much better than people can. They seem to have a natural ability to be happy in the moment, even when experiencing difficult circumstances. Dogs appear emotionally liberated in a way that people usually are not.

While my fierce warriors do not need a Conan, they are often travelling with or enjoying the company of furry and not-so-furry animals.

I trust animals a lot more than I trust people, most likely due to my childhood. My parents divorced when I was quite young, and they both have many issues. Childhood was very unstable, restrictive, and full of poor decisions. As a result, I learned to rely on my own choices rather than the advice or dictates of others. This is perhaps a good lesson to learn, but it came at the price of not trusting others and being quite bitter about life.

In truth, everyone loves, wants to be loved, and wants to do the right thing. However, fear of not being loved and not doing the right thing, often leads to unskillful action because we try to protect ourselves from emotional pain, discomfort, dissatisfaction, and other similar perceived threats.

I trust animals a lot more than I trust people, most likely due to my childhood.

The deepest emotional pain I have felt though, was when I lost my beloved dogs. No person has ever made me feel this kind of pain. The deep pain was because of the deep love I feel for them. They are gone now, but I still love them very much and will likely do so for the rest of my life. Therefore, I will also feel the pain, but together with it, there is the wonderful feeling of unconditional love.

After going through this type of grief, it is easier to embrace everyday annoyances from people, and be less bothered by them. It is easier to put the pain caused by my parents into a healthier context. Sure, I still feel these emotions, but they no longer hold the power of being a real threat. Pain, discomfort, dissatisfaction, are all part of my emotional landscape. If I can embrace them, I will be liberated to feel any emotion, to think any thought, to recall any memory, and to love broadly and freely. For all this, I just need to do one thing – always face my fears.

“He who is not everyday conquering some fear has not learned the secret of life.”
~~[Ralph Waldo Emerson]

Deep pain comes from deep love. With loss, I will feel the pain, but together with it there is the wonderful feeling of unconditional love.

One great place to hook up with other fellow artists is Deviant Art. Deviant Art is huge! There are 3d-artists, traditional artists, digital painters, photographers, photo manipulators, and much much more. There are beginners, hobbyists, students, writers, and professional artists.

If you like a large social setting for art with a lot of diversity, then definitely check out Deviant Art. To get us all started, we did a great Q&A session with Becarra, a popular 3D-artist on DA and a wonderful friend.

Mando Creed Fan Art by Becarra.

This article and all of the images within were created by the very talented Becarra. Copyright © Becarra.

Q: How do I get to know people?

I have a simple philosophy for this. ‘I have never met a stranger’

Simple as that!

Well okay, it’s not really as simple as that but I hope you see my point.

I’m a bit of a chatterbox, I like getting to know people. In my replies, responses and comments on other’s work, or to notes I receive, I do try to leave more than just a passing comment. Sure I get lazy sometimes and it’s all too easy to just say ‘Outstanding’, ‘Well done’ or something similar.

(I do find myself doing it quite a bit at times if I’m honest, and I kick myself each time!).

When I do manage to say a little more, I try not to make it about the art directly by commenting on the lighting or some other technical aspect. I try to make it a personal comment and inject a little humour, or even leave an open comment which may garner a response from the artist themselves. This opens the door to a two way dialogue and if you just treat other’s as people then they are more likely to chat with you.

Never be afraid to ask questions, but do stay away from the personal one’s. I never ask for personal details such as ASL (age, sex, location), Skype or messenger details. No, no no! Just don’t do it!

You won’t win any friends that way, plus you never know who you’re talking too!

In essence, play it cool, play it safe.

Disney Princesses – Frozen Fan Art by Becarra

Q: How do I get watchers (followers)?

Hmm… It sure beats me!

Seriously though, getting followers is something that I don’t actively try to do, I never say ‘watch for watch’ or offer incentives to people. I don’t see anything wrong with that but I think my work speaks for itself, and if other’s like it enough then they may consider adding me to their watch.

Many artists old and new often doubt themselves and their work, myself included, even to this day!

While other’s may see our work and either like or dislike it based on personal tastes, us artists will always see our work in a different light. Even on completed pieces we still see flaws and omissions, which is why I am always open to any feedback whether positive or negative. If something is pointed out about an image I’ve made and I think it needs fixing, I’ll do my best to do so. People often appreciate the fact that you’ve taken their views into account.

One thing I learned early on is to leave ego out of the equation. If you can’t or are unwilling to accept other’s views of your work, then maybe a public forum isn’t the place to showcase said work. You could always disable comments I guess, but where’s the fun in that!

Feedback is always welcome, and I think potential followers appreciate this openness, and feel as if they can be a part of your creative process.

Another way of attracting followers is to get yourself out there by joining groups, submitting your work and becoming an active deviant. Lol that sounds wrong but I’m sure you know what I mean!

More on groups later!

900 Watchers by Becarra

Q: How do I get views?

Views in my opinion are something that we have very little control over. It’s entirely up to the individual if they want to ‘view’ any given deviation. If they choose to move on, then so be it.

Our followers are more likely to view our work, and even then they may not comment on it. They don’t have to of course, many people are here just to look at the pretty pictures, some are here for very specific reasons and I say it’s each to their own. I’m not here to judge anyone’s tastes, besides, it would be a boring old world if we all liked the same thing anyway!

Now this is just me, but I cannot limit myself to just one style of art. Some like to focus on portraits, nudes, pin-up’s, scenery, animals, vehicles… the list is endless.

I like colours, the more bright and vibrant the better, I like sci-fi, fantasy, horror, pin-up’s, nudes, humour… I think my work reflects this in some ways (this is me being modest here!), and I think that if your personal gallery has more to offer than just one focus, then it may attract more views, and hence, more followers!

50k Pageviews – Another Life! by Becarra

Q: Should I join some groups?

Yes. Definitely. Without a doubt! Didn’t I say we’d get back to this!

Groups are another way of gaining a broader community presence, and allow you to see art you may not have stumbled upon in your travels through DA.

There are many types of groups. Some like to focus on a particular art style, photography, writing, poetry, even tips and tricks, Photoshop, stock images and more…

If you can think of it, there is probably a group for it out there.

Individual groups themselves will always have their own guidelines and rules, which is to be expected, but they can offer so much more than just an outlet for your artistic talent. They are micro communities of like minded individuals who can share tips and tricks, jokes, stories and above all, friendship if you are brave enough to delve into their world. Many groups have affiliations with other groups and this just widens your exposure to both other artists work and yourself for others to view.

If you feel so inclined you can offer to become a contributor to your group or even ask if it’s possible to become a group admin! You may have to have been a member for a while or be vouched for before it becomes official, but it can show that you’re serious about both the group and your community presence.

You don’t have to limit yourself to just one group either! It can easy to find your way into many groups, so remember to take your time, and only join those that you think you have something to offer!

Groups can offer a place to belong, a reason to do what you do and above all they can offer the support you may be looking for.

So what have you got to lose?

When Darkness Falls… by Becarra

Should I do NSFW art or not?

Let’s be clear, not everyone knows what this means. I sure didn’t when I first heard it. The following is the simplest explanation I could find via the internet:

NSFW. (Not Safe For Work).

Used to describe internet content generally inappropriate for the typical workplace, i.e., would not be acceptable in the presence of your boss and colleagues (as opposed to SFW, Safe For Work).

Now let’s be honest, this is generally referring to anything that contains the following:

Nudity, gore, vore, violence, peril, racially or religiously orientated subjects, and of course, things of a pornographic nature.

In reality (i.e., the workplace), it can mean just about everything. I have never worked in a place that allows anything other than what they need to run their business. Even using a simple inoffensive wallpaper of kittens gets taken down!

But should you make NSFW art?

Only you can answer this. Try asking yourself the following questions.

1. Do you feel that you need to do so in order to gain recognition or followers?
2. Do you feel comfortable drawing/creating such things?
3. Where would you draw the line?
4. Are you ready to accept sometimes hurtful or perverted comments and/or requests because of this?
5. Sometimes it can open a door to a whole new world of weird and wonderful follower’s. Are you ready?

If you can answer yes to all of the above then what are you waiting for? Show me what you can do!!!
If you answered no to any of the questions then take your time to think about it before deciding.

Just because you may see a lot of this kind of work on Deviant Art, does not mean you have to do the same, unless you want to of course! Just remember that making your art should be fun and guilt free!

Note – DA has their own policies regarding Nudity and what they consider pornographic content:

• Nudity FAQ
• Pornography FAQ

Will being on DA make me any money?

This is a tricky one for me to address as I’ve never tried selling anything on DA or offered to do commissions. I can only comment based on what I’ve heard so I apologize if any of this is misleading.

While I have not sold anything on DA, or even tried, I have bought a print, just a single print hehe. It was priced under £5 or would have cost 400 points. So far so good. The checkout process, with shipping and handling more than doubled that, then I had to buy a frame for it…

I did look into selling some of my work as prints a while ago. Unless you have a Core Membership you have to use the prices set by DA, otherwise you can set your own. While this may sound appealing you have to remember that DA still takes their cut, they are the ones that actually print the print, pack and ship it after all. I recall at the time I looked into this, I didn’t feel it worth my while to go ahead with offering prints for sale as I’d have to sell a lot of them to see any kind of real profit.

Commissions are another way of making money or DA points.

Many artists offer their services to other members by producing customized works for them. Generally you would discuss in private via note what you want the artist to make. They, in turn, would then discuss fees based upon the type/style/quantity of work requested. This would go back and forth until both parties are satisfied, with the completed work only being given after payment has been received. Most artists use Paypal for these transactions.

Above all you have to respect what an artist will and will not do, for more info, see more NSFW above and not pester them for inappropriate details and/or content. This is all of course looking at things in the short term.

Can you make a living from your work?

Many artists on DA do, either through constant or regular commissions, or even doing some professional work. There is always somebody out there that will be willing to pay for your work, no matter the style or skill level of the artist, you just have to find them!

Revenge of the Fifth 2016 by Becarra.

This article and all of the images within were created by the very talented Becarra. Copyright © Becarra.

On a Break

For those interested, here are the past winners.

If you want announcements of site events and winners, follow us on Facebook.

Thank you very much for all your condolences and well wishes.

For those who did not see in my previous posting, I just lost my best (furry) friend to cancer. It is a terrible thing to suddenly lose someone that you spend so much time with every day, creating light and happiness. I am still trying to muddle through this, so I will be taking a break from posting new contests for a while.

Hopefully, we will be back soon. Thank you to all for participating, viewing, posting comments, as well as for your positive energy and support. The Daz Studio community is totally awesome and I hope everyone stays safe in these very difficult times. Big hugs to you all.

Siberian Husky dog Lara (a.k.a. JJ). I miss you and love you always.

May there be light in this darkness.

If you have ideas on how to improve the contest or other fun contests you would like to see, please let us know in the comments section below. If there are vendors you would like us to feature, also let us know.

Love always to Shania and Lara.

Prizes

I love gift certificates because they are easy to deliver, claim, and use. Prizes will all be in DAZ gift certificates.

• 1st Place – $50 Daz3D Gift certificate.
• 2nd Place – $25 Daz3D Gift certificate.
• 3rd Place – $15 Daz3D Gift certificate.
• Honorable Mentions – $10 Daz3D Gift certificate.

Winners will be announced at around the 10th of the following month. Please remember to post a comment with your email in the monthly winners page to claim your GC.

Contest Rules

1. Anybody can enter except judges and organizers of the contest.
2. Entries need to contain at least one item from any of the featured vendors. Each month will feature one or more vendors, but your entry only needs to contain one item from one of the featured vendors.
3. Please include the qualifying item used in the description of your image. For example –
   

   Qualifying items used –
   FW Sebastian by Fred Winkler Art,
   Paladin HD MMXV by Luthbel.

4. Enter as many times as you like.
5. Old and new images are welcome. Entries can be submitted to other contests.
6. Postwork is allowed and any software may be used.
7. By entering this contest, you give us permission to post your contest images on this site, for example in an article announcing the contest winners.

We want everyone to have fun, so there aren’t many rules or restrictions. The only real requirement is to include at least one item from one of the featured vendor stores. Links for the featured vendors and stores will be updated at the beginning of every month.

How to Submit Images

To submit an image to the Daz3d gallery, click on MY GALLERY.

We will be using the Daz3D gallery for contest entries.

1. To submit an entry, you will need to have an account at Daz3d.com. It is very simple to create, and takes very little time to make one.
2. Then, click on your account icon to the top-right (step 1 in the image to the right), and go to MY GALLERY (step 2).
3. Next, simply drop an image at the “drop image” icon, or click on it to load an image from your local directory.

How to edit an image in the Daz3d gallery.
4. Hover your mouse over the image, and click on the Edit Image icon (circled in red to the right).
5. In the description section of the image, enter in the qualifying items used for this contest. Qualifying images must contain at least one item from one of the current featured vendor stores.

Enter the qualifying items used in the description section of the image.
6. In the tag section of the image, enter the current contest tag. For example, shiba-6-15. Click on the plus [+] button to the right to add the tag.

How to enter tags for images in the Daz3d gallery.
7. Save your image, and that is it!

Hope You Have Fun!

And thank you for participating! If you have any additional questions, suggestions, or comments, please post them below.