The Update
I am so very easily amused. But this one I simply had to share! I'm sure you're all familiar with *artoftheempath. And if you are not, SHAME ON YOU!!!! Go discover her beautiful beautiful gallery right this instant!

I've always loved her art and was ever so excited when she used a stock image of me as a reference for her gorgeous depiction of Artemis:

(from the main image of this pack


This picture was used for her Oracle deck which I have yet to get my hands on but very much want to. Something else awesome and exciting just happened with this image though...

Its now being sold on an art website! PEOPLE CAN BUY NECKLACES OF A FACE BASED ON MY FACE!!! I THINK THAT IS SO FREAKIN' COOL!!!! That and Artemis is just generally badass. So go check out the art website that is now selling her work and get something really cool while you're there! (Like a pendant of Artemis.... )
[link]

And that is why I love doing stock. Because I love seeing what people can do with it; I love being able to help inspire others to make beautiful images that they can then share with others. Because art really is a miracle in itself. A single image and transmit hope, love, sadness, awe, etc. across boundaries regardless of an individuals language or culture. I think people forget or realize the reasons why we offer stock for people. No, its not a freakin' business for us. If it was we'd take it to a site that sells it. Its a way to inspire creativity for others. A way to collaborate on a grander scale. Its so fulfilling to see something like this Artemis picture on sale somewhere, or even just on dA and know that you helped with that.

People need to stop being so ego centric about it. Its not about popularity or how pretty you look or being a miser about photos. As much heart and soul goes into it as it goes into the finished artwork. At least for myself and several others I know. Imagine if you will, that you offer your soul out for people to use to create something. You believe that they will take your soul, the piece of yourself that took time and effort to cultivate into what it is, and make an equally heartfelt object and share it with you because a piece of you is inside that object. Its like "Thank you for helping me create this thing, I hope you can enjoy it to." Instead though, what happens is that person beats and destroys that piece of your soul, and then runs away with it so you can never see it again, never know what happened to it.

Maybe that's a little existential, but I hope it can illustrate my feelings on stock and the current stock climate right now. Sure, there's all the legal reasons too that are very important. But that's not necessarily my primary reasons for "stock" or "art elements" which is what I think I might call them from now on. We're not just drama queens. We're heartfelt artists too. I mean seriously, if I was in it for the popularity I'd be screwed. I'm certainly not the greatest artist on this site.

WHEW!!! I just meant for that to be a journal about the coolness of having a face based on my face for sale!!! Oops......

The Goal?
Edinburgh has not been forgotten! Simply put to the side for now as I have a lot of stuff I have to take care of coming up! I have to re-register my car for Maryland, which is going to be a pain, then I'm going on vacation out to Mount Rushmore for two weeks with my family. I'm also planning a party of sorts for the beginning of August and a second party for work in the month of August.

New details about fund raising for Edinburgh will be posted as I get a chance to hammer them out though! I'm slowly compiling more pictures that I'll be selling prints of. I'll let you know as I know!

Edinburgh or Bust!: Application Fee


Free fund raiser
thermometer

Possible Items for Sale

IMPORTANT THINGS EVERYONE SHOULD READ!
What Is Copyright?

CLUBS
Founder and Admin of:
Member of:

STAMPS

^{Gallery
Shards of an Arcane Paradise
ShardsTV
THE GOAL
Fundraising}

stock images used