Actually Sep 16 was the 365th, once again I'm late. Still I've been taking extra time out for school, and long journals like this are a big deal for me.

Anyways I've been a member now an entire year. I feel it best now to commemorate the special persons I've met here, and discuss a few things I have forgotten as regards my joining this place.

Some of you earlier watchers of mine may remember my reason for joining this place. I joined deviantArt to get feedback and constructive advice on my work. As it was my last year of high school I felt this to be very important since I was in AP art. For nearly this whole year that was my focus and I mentioned it everywhere I went and on all my works. I labored intensively at times on a few key pieces and I even made some money from it all along the way. Time and again I spent all my energy trying to finish the latest assignment before time ran out. Yet I see I never even reported the results of my hard work. Well at long last here it is... I passed! Yes I got a 4 out of 5 on my portfolio. I was deeply relieved at this. All my hard work had scored me a good grade and lifted my spirits heavenward. My only regret is I know I could have done better as a whole on my portfolio. It was spotted with my best most detailed works, then some sub par works I'd like not to see. In the end though I did my best.


In that mission I also met some good people, and as I hold tremendous respect and esteem for my faithful watchers, I just about remember how I met each one. And it will be the ones who have been worth hearing I'll mention.

The first person to truly support me the entire way has been . I remember coming across a forum thread asking for best drawings or something of the like. I posted two work, the one she faved was "The many views of two apples". I later decided to watch her(I always take a while to decide to watch someone, usually they turn out to be the best people^^). I was amazed to see her rapid progress not only in portraiture, but the strong advancement overall with her skill with drawing. I also appreciate her venturing off and doing creative and imaginative works. I've seen some great pencil artist here, but they do nothing but stare at and copy photos and equate that to some tremendous success or grand triumph in art. What have they done but transcribe a photo from ink to graphite? There is no attempt at uniqueness in their work, only a machines touch. But ol' Khulood is willing to stand out and use raw imagination for her drawing(as of late) and it is for the joy of art that she works. Really I appreciate this the most about here, as I am such a narrow minded ninny, always afraid to work from my mind, too embarrassed at the crappy drawing I see developing and to proud to look on my failures. In total though she has been a very good friend to me, and I'm glad random chance had our paths cross. So if you haven't already, look at here gallery. I'm sure she would appreciate some sound comments from you good people.

The next person still on my watch list is . Her specialty is paint: Water, Acrylic, and oil(she hasn't used acrylic in a while but she can actually use it well and that's what counts). I remember running across her gallery by random chance as well. It was by a very nice comment she gave to someone. Deciding to return kindness for kindness I visited her gallery only to be taken back a bit by her works. She's a grand painter willing to turn the landscapes she sees into powerful works of art filled with striking color and fine detail. Lately her interest has been on watercolor. I tell you, even though she may be to modest to admit it, she really does an awesome job with that medium. But after I left her a heartfelt comment on her profile and a watch, she went through my gallery and gave me some very upbuilding comments, and even a watch to boot.! She's been busy lately though, and hasn't made any new painting that I know of. But she has alluded to some works she wants to start on, and I look forward to seeing them. I only wish she would make her deviation post a little bigger sometimes, I really like the detail in her works but I can't help but feel much is left out in a number of her works. Its her choice though. And I'll appreciate her paintings no matter what.

Next is . I've known him seven years actually. He's the fastest reader and second smartest person I know(James -he's not really a member- is the smartest). He claims to have no artistic ability, but I tell him it is a matter of effort. Still he is an avid writer. But as in real life, he is very timid, and is very selfconscious about his writings. So everyone drop by and spam his page. Tell him Chris sent you.

And how can I forget . She ought to have some kind of award for her noble and very admirable deeds for artist on deviant art. Her tremendous gifts include Make a Difference series~, and . I have a slight idea as to how I met her, rather she met me, as she commented on a number of my works one day and even featured me in her making a difference article, I believe #16 is the one. But my guess as to her discovery of me was on a Friday when I posted a few choice works on an "under appreciated" thread. And it was from there six months ago, give or take one, that I have enjoyed her dependable and sound words on a great majority of my posts. Lately though I feel I've been a bit of a grinch to her. I've been in sharp disagreement to some of her literary works, and her newest journals. In many of her works I point out nothing but the negative. I'm sorry mam, I'm to honest for my own good. But still. She has an eye for interesting compositions, and she has a good mind for creativity.

This next lady left dA., this was actually a borrowed account. So please visit her blog *link will be up shortly*.

After her comes . I barely know him, and he almost never comments. But he gets bombarded with comments and journals from what I gather in the little words we have exchanged. Still I greatly admire his incredible surreal works. Some of them seem like they are from the Twilight Zone, but such good things cannot be found there. He ran across one of my works in the "newest" section and from there decided to watch me. I really screwed up and called him mam thinking he was a lady at first.:dohtwo
: I'm glad I remedied and apologized on the matter before he took notice.. We all could learn a thing or two about art by looking at his work

Let's see here... Who's that one person I'm forgetting...Ah, I remember now! It's . Once again it was a case of me being found. I surprised her for apologizing on a delay in a promise I made to her about that "Crows Foot" drawing. She thought I would have forgotten for some reason. After that she was a bit slow in adding me to her watch list, but in her defense I was slow in adding her to mine. Since then our conversations have ranged from the serious to the funny and weird. But her comments have always been intelligent and good for upbuilding. And lets not forget her photography skills. Her focus is on delicacy. Flowers, lips, and other things that seem delicate. Personally I'm not a big fan of such subject matter. I like detail: texture and grit as the focus. Maybe it's a guy thing. But I like her photos non the less.

And here be . I've only just met here, but I've seen in her the tremendous potential for great works. I'm talking of this work here . That's not to say her anime works and other things aren't great, I just am a traditional artist, and I am more attracted to such things. Plus it was our little talk on traditional art got each to watch the other.^^


Last but not least is . She, like almost all my watchers just about, is very talented. She's well balanced as an artist, good with a pencil, a capable writer, and sharp with a camera, she's a blend of all that is nice.^^ This being said her works vary from one to the other, yet without question her skill is evident throughout. I don't care too much for the cause of our meeting, but I'm glad it happened. If I had known her a bit longer I would certainly say more, but to press on would be a formulation of lies and disciet.

And so the world has circled the sun yet again. In that time I have not done much here. I've come to know few. Again that is my own fault. But that has served to my own benefit, as the few I know are certainly worth knowing.

May god bless you all, and best wishes from me.