In The Beginning

September 25, 2014  •  Leave a Comment

What does one write when posting one's first blog? Where does one start? How does one begin? Ahhh, one starts at the beginning. Wait... not that beginning (see attached photo).

You see, when I was very young, my mother realized I had artistic possibilities. She was a stay-at-home mom while my dad worked in a factory. I would draw on the huge brown paper bags that groceries were carried in each weekend,  the days before "paper or plastic" . Probably the very first drawing I remember mom helping me draw was a little Santa Claus face with a round cherry nose. 

I remember in first grade, my teacher would pass out work sheets where you had to draw the subject in a block at the top of the page and write about that subject below. The first one to stick in my mind was having to draw the outer boundary of the United States and the teacher's amazement at my realistic capture. The praise and notoriety from that one drawing fanned my artistic flame. From there on, each work sheet was a new challenge, a new competition, a new frontier.

My first commissioned work came in second grade for one of the ladies in our school cafeteria. She requested a country scene with a barn on poster board. I added quails in the foreground for a special touch. When finished, I requested two dollars for my work and received four, I was bitten by the creative, and entrepreneurial, bug.

Since then, every opportunity has stretched and shaped the gift that God gave me way back then. I have illustrated books and book covers, animated a country music video, designed multi-million dollar projects, and even received a patent on a design. I have managed studios and photographed everything from baby and family portraits to female boudoir and glamour images, from product images to stock photography.

There is nothing like a beautifully created image. I created Safari Studios Adventures In Photography to satisfy my passion for such images. It is a creative outlet for my art and photography. I have always been inspired by great works of art, classic and modern. I love the classic sculptures of Bernini, the modern bronzes of Victor Issa. I love the classic painting/drawing styles of Da Vinci and Michelangelo, the modern works of Steve Hanks, Maxfield Parrish and Patrick Nagel. My experiences have shown me the power of creating images and the beauty in the creation. There is no other feeling like that of creating something from nothing. I am thankful to God for the opportunity and to my mom for nurturing the gift. It is truly an adventure to pursue.

My mom passed away in 2012 from uterine cancer. She always told me I had better do something with my talent, or she would kick my butt. I guess I had better get to work to avoid a butt-kicking.

I invite you to grab your khakis and sunscreen and join me on this adventure. What Is Your  Adventure?


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