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Debra Lamb - Inner Deamon Krafty Kitty White Witch Thomas Dodd Jeffery Scott Clint Car ney Aunia Kahn Phat Puppy Tomasz Opasinski Creepy Dolls Jade’s Freakishly Beautiful Creations Nima’s Closet Jessica Rowlley M e t a m o rp h Je ff P a i c e
House of Velvet Luizo Vega - Material Boy Barry Druxman Andy Silvers Kathy Slamen Scott Billiby Ms Gak Circle 23
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Michi Rezin Justin Kates Anal isa Annie Bertram Mary L. Carter Ceystine K Crystian Townsend Purebred Productions
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F ro m T he B itch Ha llo we e n! T h e a m a z i n g d a y o f t h e d e ad and wi ck e dne s s is fa s t a p p ro a c h i n g . W h a t w i l l you d ress up a s ? Wha t t re a t s d o y o u p l a n o n o ff e ring t he l i t t l e g o blins r unn i n g a m u c k o n y o u r s t re e t s ? A s a y o ung l a d , I w a s k n o w n a m o n g s t my nei ghbo r s by a h a u n t e d h o u s e t h a t I h a d b ui l t i n my m o t he r ’s g a ra g e : c h e e s y b l a c k p l a s t i c b ag maz e, c a rdbo a rd c o ff i n s , b l a c k a n d s t ro b e l i ght s al ong wit h a fe w h i d i n g s p o t s f o r s p o o k s . It wel comed t he ne ig hbo rh o o d f o r s c a re s a n d t re a ts every year unt il I mo v ed a w a y u p o n H i g h S c h o o l grad uat i on. T he ne ig hbo rs re t u r n e d t h e f o l l o w i n g year t o f i nd o ut why t h e h a u n t e d h o u s e t h a t w oul d al ways fr ig ht e n t he h o o d o n H a l l o w e e n n o l o nger ex i st ed . I m a y no lo n g e r o w n a h a u n t e d h o u s e i n my mot he r ’s g a r a g e ; h o w e v e r, f o r a s l o n g a s I can recal l , I ha v e ne v e r s t o p p e d d e s i g n i n g h a u n t ed event s, m a k ing c o s t u m e s a n d e n j o y i n g o n e of t he b est ho lida y s t here i s t o i t s f u l l p o t e n t i a l every year. In a wa y, I c o n s i d e r e v e ry d a y o f my l i f e t o b e Ha llo we e n. I s p e n d a l l y e a r c re a t i n g d ark magi c a l s t o r ie s t h ro u g h m y p h o t o g ra p h y, p ai nt i ngs and c o s t ume s . T h e re i s s o m e t h i n g t o s a y ab out b ei ng bo r n wic ke d ! D a r k Be a ut y M a g a z i n e o ff e rs y o u a l ook at what we c a ll ‘ D a r k G o re /Da rk G l a m o u r’. We mad e i t our t a s k t his y e a r t o s e e k t h e o u t ra g e o us, d ark and wic ke d wo r k s o f a rt i s t s w h o j u s t l i k e us, l avi sh i n a da r k m a g ic a l w o rl d o f s t o ry t e l l i n g . We are f eat uring num e ro u s p h o t o g ra p h e rs , p a i n t e rs , d ol l mak e r s a nd a n u m b e r o f Do - I t - Yo u rs e l f p roj ect s, d ark c o nfe c t io ns a n d e v e n m y v e ry o w n Top her’s P ot io ns . M o v e o v e r M a rt h a , w e w i l l w o rk out magi c a nd g e t y o u b e a t y e t !
*No t e : We in v i t e a l l f u n a n d a m a z i n g conf ect i ons a nd D IY pro j e c t s t o b e f e a t u re d i n o u r up comi ng is s ue s . P le as e c o n t a c t u s o n l i n e a n d sub mi t your fun Ha llo we e n i d e a s f o r n e x t y e a r’s i s s ue. To phe r A da m E dit o r n Chi e f Da rk B e a u t y M a g a z i n e
Im ages taken by: To pher A dam Ph ot og raph y 200 9 / 2 010
BOO! Tr ic k o r Tre a t a n d H a p p y H a l loween! S ee y o u in D e c em b e r.
Yes , Vi rgi ni a , T he B oogy man Do e s Ex ist Ssssshhh! Wha t ’s t ha t ? ! L i s t e n . . .d i d y o u h e ar th at?! Your e y e s g ro w w i d e , y o u ’re f ro z e n w i t h fe ar. Yo ur e a r s pe r k up a s y o u l i s t e n f o r t h e s l i g h t e st so und. Yo ur he a r t b e g i n s t o ra c e . . .t h e n i t starts to po und. . . po u n d s o h a rd y o u t h i n k i t ’s g o i n g to r ip r ig ht t hro u g h y o u r c h e s t ! Yo u w a nt to ca tc h y o ur bre a t h, b u t y o u d a re n o t f o r f e a r of ma ki n g a s ing le s o und . W h a t i s t h e c a u s e o f t h i s te r ror? It ’s s o me t hing t h a t y o u c a n n o t s e e , s o m eth in g tha t y o u c a nno t t o u c h . Yo u d o n ’t e v e n re a l l y kn ow w ha t it is . . . y o u j u s t k n o w t h a t i t ’s s o m eth in g th a t c a n, a nd pro b a b l y w i l l , c o n s u m e y o u, devou r you, de s t ro y y o u . W h a t i s i t w e f e a r l o s i n g th e most? Is it o ur hum a n i t y ? I d o n ’t t h i n k s o . I s it ou r ver y liv e s ? P e r h a p s . T h e t h i n g s w e s e e m to be a fra id o f mo s t a re m o n s t e rs , d e m o n i c e n t ities and alie ns . A s hum a n s , w e h a v e a l w a y s b e e n th rea te ne d by a ny t hing w e d o n o t u n d e rs t a n d ; d i f fe rent c ult ure s , re lig io n s , v i e w p o i n t s , s e x u a l o ri e nta ti on s, a nd phy s ic al d i ff e re n c e s , i n c l u d i n g t h e ta tt o o e d a nd t he unus u a l . A s t h e w o rl d b e c o m e s smal l e r, a nd o ur fe a r o f c u l t u ra l d i ff e re n c e s w a n e s , w e sti l l ha v e t ho s e o t h e r “ u n k n o w n s ” t o m a k e t h e h ai r on ou r a r ms s t a nd u p , a n d g i v e u s c o l d c h i l l s u p a nd d own o ur s pine s . S o m e o f u s h a v e b e c o m e fa mi l i a r wit h t hing s t hat g o b u m p i n t h e n i g h t , a n d w e n o w ha v e “Gho s t H u n t e rs ” , “ M o n s t e r Q u e s t ” a nd the “UF O F ile s ” t o o ff e r u s p ro o f i n re g a rd s t o th e ag e -o ld que s t io n o f d o t h e y e x i s t . A s a c h i l d , I used to s hiv e r in m y b e d w i t h t h e s h e e t s p u l l e d u p to my fa c e , ho lding m y b re a t h , a n d w a i t i n g i n sh eer te rro r t o s e e what w o u l d s h o w i t ’s s e l f , a n d w h en . Many pe o ple a re a n x i o u s t o c o m m u n i c a t e w it h the i r de a r de pa r t ed l o v e d o n e s , t o k n o w t h e y a re a l ri gh t , a nd e v e n t h o u g h t h e y a re n o w i n t h e spiri t w o r ld, we he re o n e a rt h s t i l l c ra v e t h e i r l o v e a nd g ui d a nc e . But wh a t i f w e h a d a ru n - i n w i t h a sp i ri t o r de mo n full o f h a t re d a n d v e n o m , t h at h ad a p rop e ns it y t o wa rd v i o l e n c e ? W h a t i f w e h a d a n a l i e n e nc o unt e r o f t h e f o u rt h k i n d , a n d w e re sc oo p ed up o ut o f o ur b e d , t a k e n t o a s h i p , a n d fo rce d to unde rg o pai n f u l a n d t e rri f y i n g p ro c edures? W ha t if we we re h a v i n g a l o v e l y, re l a x i n g c amp i n g t r ip s o me whe re i n t h e m o u n t a i n s o f t h e Pa ci fi c N o r t hwe s t , a nd s u d d e n l y c a m e f a c e t o f a c e w it h Bi gfo o t ? Unlik e ly y e s , b u t t h e s e a re a l l v e ry re al exp er ie nc e s fo r t h o u s a n d s o f p e o p l e j u s t l i k e yo u and me , le a v ing pe rf e c t l y n o rm a l p e o p l e w i t h fu ll o r p ar t ia l, o r jus t h i n t s o f n i g h t m a ri s h i m a g es th at th re a t e n t he ir s a n i t y. A n d w h i l e t h e t h o u g h t o f bei n g t o r n lim b f ro m l i m b b y a B i g f o o t , o r b eing sl ap p e d up s ide t he h e a d b y a n a n g ry s p i ri t , or e ven b e i n g v io la t e d wit h t h e i n f a m o u s a n a l - p ro b e by a n extr a t e r re s t r ia l, are a l l q u i t e f ri g h t e n i n g , a n d o f co urse unwa nt e d, t h e t h i n g t h a t re a l l y t e rri f i es me the mo s t is t he de v i o u s l y c re a t i v e a n d l i m i t l e s s
ways t hat human b ei ngs conj ure up t o t ort ure l ivi ng t hi ngs, b ot h human and ani mal . But t hi s is H al l oween, so I won’t go i nt o t he at roci t i es of t h e l ast t wo hund red p l us years. Let ’s get b ack to t he Boogyman. . .yes he d oes ex i st . H e i s l urki ng j ust around t he cor ner, und er t he b ed , wai t i n g t o p ounce as soon as t he l i ght s are off , as we l ay vul nerab l e i n our b ed s. When i t comes t o ot her d i mensi onal ent i t i es, t here i s no saf e sanct uar y b ehi nd our l ock ed d oors and wi nd ows, and our own mi nd s cannot p rot ect us f rom t he t el ep at hy of an ex t rat errest ri al . Thi s i s no hoax , evi l t ru ly ex i st s al l around us. It p ermeat es us. But we are not p owerl ess. We can f i ght and l i ve, or we can f i ght and d i e, b ut we cannot b e p ermanent l y p ossessed . N o mat t er how evi l , vi l e, and j ust p l ain nast y, a d i scar nat e ent i t y, or al i en, or werewol f , or vamp i re i s, we have t he ul t i mat e up p er hand . We have a soul . O ur p hysi cal b od i es can b e at t ack ed and t or n i nt o t i ny l i t t l e p i eces, b ut our sp i ri t s cannot b e snuff ed out , and we wi l l ri se, and we w ill ret ur n. S o i f ever you shoul d have your own cl ose encount er of t he st range or p aranormal k i nd , j ust rememb er- - we are t he scary ones. Deb ra Lamb 9/13/2010
K r aft y K itt y T he White Witch
or go around t he t ab l e t o off er k i nd words recalling t hei r memory. D an ce Till You r D ead - O r t i l l you j ust can’t dance anymore real l y. S ome anci ent t rad i t ions and cult ures b el i eve t hat d anci ng i s a f orm of pr ayer. B y usi ng your b od y, your sacred vessel to not only enj oy yoursel f b ut t o rai se energy b y being thankf ul f or t he t hi ngs t hat you d o have i n your life will b e ap p reci at ed not onl y b y our d ead fr iends but by t he God s and God d ess’s al i k e.
Ha llo we e n, M a k i n g A Da rk H o l i d a y – Magi c. M uc h like o t h e r A m e ri c a n h o l i d a y s H al l oween has be c o m e a v e ry c o m m e rc i a l i z e d , b a s t ard i z ed vers io n o f it ’s o ri g i n a l i n t e n t : a p a g a n c el eb rat i on of a g r ic ult ure t h a t f a l l s b e t w e e n m i d way b et ween s o ls t ic e s a n d e q u i n o x e s . D e s pit e dr u n k e n p a ra d e s o r p a rt i e s and t ri ck or t re a t ing pr an k s , o n e t h i n g re m a i n s t ru e, however, de a t h pe r m e a t e s t h i s t i m e o f y e a r. The sun ap pro a c he s it s n a d i r. L e a v e s c o m p l e t e t hei r l i f e cyc le a nd fa ll f ro m t h e t re e s m a rk i n g a t i me f or l ast ha r v e s t a nd t h e re s t c y c l e o f l a n d . I n Europ e, t hi s t ime o f y e ar w a s k n o w n f o r s l a u g h t eri ng sheep , c a t t le a nd p i g s f o r t h e l o n g w i n t e r m ont hs. Mex i c o inv it e s t h e d e a d t o a f e a s t i n t h e i r honor. J ap ane s e ha ng l a n t e r n s b y g a rd e n g a t e s t o serve as be a c o ns f o r t h o s e w h o h a v e l e f t t h i s pl ane. While t he s e t h i n g s a re m e a n t t o c e l e b rat e and embr a c e lif e ’s c y c l e , a d a rk e r s i d e n a t u ral l y emerge s . It ’s no t j u s t g ro s s c o s t u m e s , b u t act ual f ear o f t he unkn o w n , g h o s t s , g h o u l s ; t h e und erworl d a nd o c c ult d i v i n a t i o n s c a re s m a l l c h i l dren and ol d fo lk y e a r a f t e r y e a r. N o t t o m e n t i o n t h e hi st ori cal bum ps s ur ro u n d i n g t h i s t i m e o f y e a r t hat have l ef t dr a ma t ic s c a rs o n i t ’s m e a n i n g , H a l l oween has a lo t o f da r k an d g o ry d e t a i l s . But be ing t h e C ra f t y K i t t y t h a t I a m , h ere t o b ri ng y o u a ll t hin g s w h i t e l i g h t a n d w i t c h t ast i c. N ot t o fo c us o n t he d a rk n e s s t h a t c a n c re e p in and haunt t his a m a z ing e a rt h c e l e b ra t i o n . S o I ’ve come up wit h s e v e r a l w a y s t o m a k e t h i s h o l i d a y q ui t e magi c a l f o r y o u an d y o u r l o v e d o n e s . F e a s t o n f le s h ! - O f p u m p k i n s , a p p l es and nut s ha r v e s t e d t h i s t i m e o f t h e y e a r. I n v i t e f ri end s or fa m ily t o a p o t l u c k d i n n e r p a rt y c omp l et e wi t h c o s t ume a nd t re a t s . E a c h g u e s t c a n b ri ng a whi t e c a ndle ins c ri b e d w i t h a n a m e o f a l oved one or lo v e d o ne s p a s t . B e f o re d i n n e r b e g i n s have a mom e nt o f s ile n c e t o h o n o r t h o s e w h o h ave d ep art ed
D eath & Resolu tion – mak i ng resol u tions, setting i nt ent i ons t o b e a b et t er you f or t he good of all i s a great way t o cl ose chap t ers on par ts of you t hat need t o b e p ut t o rest so t o sp eak and open new chap t ers t o p ossi b i l i t y. C reat i ng a space like an al t ar on t op of your d resser or on your kitchen t ab l e t o i ncl ud e harvest f rui t s, col ors and anything t hat l i f t s your sp i ri t (no p un i nt ended) will help d o t he t ri ck . A d d i ng one b l ack candle to bani sh any negat i vi t y and one whi t e can dle to attr act l i ght and b l essi ngs t o your resol ution is highly recommend ed . Tr ick th ose Treats – mak e a b at ch of cupcakes or cand i es t o share wi t h t he younger gener ation. B y creat i ng somet hi ng f rom scrat ch rat h er than putt i ng out somet hi ng generi c and p ackaged is not onl y more t hought f ul b ut i t set s a great example f or t he ent i re communi t y.
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T he a r t wo r k t h a t T h o m a s Do d d c re a t e s i s vi si onary in s c o pe a n d d u a l i s t i c i n n a t u re . L i g ht and d ark ne s s , life a n d d e a t h , a n d b e a u t y a n d horror ex is t s ide by s i d e i n h i s c re a t i o n s . M y t h ol ogi cal and re lig io us t h e m e s a b o u n d i n h i s w o rk ; somet i mes wit h a t wis t e d t o n g u e - i n - c h e e k a p p roach, and at o t he r s re v e re n t l y p a y i n g h o m a g e t o t h e O l d Mast er t r a dit io ns t h a t i n f l u e n c e h i s v i s i o n . A lt ho ug h hi s a rt w o rk re s e m b l e s p a i nt i ngs, i t i s a c t ua lly in t h e re a l m o f p h o t o g ra p h y, b ut Dod d ’s c re a t io ns a re m u c h m o re t h a n m e re mani p ul at ed pho t o s . T here i s a n o v e ra l l c o h e s i v e n ess and at t e nt io n t o t e x t u re s t h a t o n e d o e s n o t usual l y f i nd in m o s t dig i t a l a rt . H i s i m a g e s h a v e a n organi c f eel t ha t ne v e r l o o k s a s s e m b l e d o r c o m p ut er- generat e d a nd he s h u n s t h e c o m m o n l y u s e d d i gi t al ‘’cut a nd pa s t e ’’ c l i c h e s , p re f e rri n g i n s t e a d t o assemb l e his s c e ne r y, c o s t u m e s , a n d m o d e l s a t t he t i me of pr inc ipa l ph o t o g ra p h y. T ho m a s be g a n h i s j o u r n e y i n t h e a rt s as a musi c ia n, pla y ing t h e I ri s h h a rp i n t h e C e l t i c/Got hi c ens e m ble Tr io N o c t u r n a , a n A t l a n t a - b a s ed ensemb l e t ha t put o u t t h re e re c o rd s p o p u l a r i n t he Got hi c s c e ne dur in g t h e 1 9 9 0 s .. T h e s o n g s that Thomas wro t e f o r Tr i o w e re h e a v i l y i n f l u e n c e d b y myt hol o g y a nd ha d d a rk l y R o m a n t i c t h e m e s and t hi s i nflue nc e c a n n o w b e s e e n i n t h e a rt h e creat es.. A ft e r t he bre a k u p o f t h e b a n d , T h o m a s p l ayed num e ro us s e s s i o n s a s a h a rp i s t m o s t n o t ab l y wi t h t he S wa ns f o un d e r M i c h a e l G i ra a n d A n gel s of Li ght . T he s hif t fro m b e i n g a m u s i c i a n t o an art i st occ ur re d s e v e ra l y e a rs a g o a f t e r T h o m a s d i scovered dig it a l pho t og ra p h y a n d e d i t i n g s o f t w are.. Thomas is influe nc e d p ri m a ri l y b y p a i n t e rs f rom t he P reRa pha e lit e an d S y m b o l i s t p e ri o d s a l though t here a re e c ho e s o f t h e R e n a i s s a n c e M a s t ers and t he S ur re a lis t s i n h i s c re a t i o n s a s w e l l .. ..There are m a ny la y e r s t o Do d d ’s w o rk a n d h i s p i eces can y ie ld ne w in t e rp re t a t i o n s u p o n m u l t i pl e vi ewi ngs. His s y m bo lic a n d p s y c h o l o g i c a l a p p roach t o art i s a t r uly uniqu e a n d m u l t i - f a c e t e d v i s i o n .
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E YE G ASMIC DIGITAL ART PHOTOGRAPH E R
JE F F R E Y S C OTT By: Topher Adam
Q . Je ffe r y, y o u r w o rk i s j u s t a m a z i n g , d ark , i n your f ace and raw. I l ove i t , have f ol l owed y ou for a year o r s o a nd a m v e ry t h ri l l e d t o h a v e y o u i n our p ub l i cat i on. When d i d you k now t hat p hot ography and digit a l a r t wa s w h a t y o u w e re m e a n t t o d o? H ow d i d you get st art ed ? Di d you at t end school or were you a ha nds o n a rt i s t ? A. We ll, I had d o n e e n o u g h i n o t h e r med i ums si nce I was 2 years ol d . P ai nt i ng, d rawi ng, sculpting, film m a k ing , e t c . I t h i n k I h a v e a d m i n i s t e red j ust ab out everyt hi ng t o my A rt . I used t o t ak e polaroids of m o de ls f o r m y p a i n t i n g s . A n d w h e n d i gi t al cameras came out , I mad e t he swi t ch t hen. My model at the t ime , Ty e s e , t o o k a l o o k a t s o m e o f t he d i gi t al i mages t hat I had t ak en of her f or a seri es of painting I wa s pre pa r i n g t o e x e c u t e . S h e p o i n t ed out t hat she t hought t he p hot os, coup l ed wi t h a little progr am t ha t I wa s p l a y i n g a ro u n d w i t h a t t h e ti me; P hot oshop , t hat t hey had a meri t al l t hei r own, and maybe I m ig ht c o ns id e r g i v i n g t h a t d i re c t i o n a t ry. S o I d i d , and i t st uck ever si nce. The one t hi ng that r ang out s o t r ue t o m e a b o u t t h i s m e d i u m , w a s t hat I was cap t uri ng EXA C TLY what was i n my mi nd . There was no g e ne r a t io n l o s s b e t w e e n s k e t c h , s k e t ch enl arged t o canvas, and t hen p ai nt ed . I was never happy with t he re s ult s o f m y p a i n t i n g s . T h e y w e re never real l y my chi l d ren. I never f el t a connect i on. The digital m a nipula t ion o f p h o t o g ra p h i c i m a g e s creat ed t hat connect i on. I haven’t l ook ed b ack ward ever since. T his is whe re I b e l o n g . I ne v e r a t t e n d e d a rt s c h o o l . I a m n o t real l y a b el i ever i n i t . You ei t her have i t as an A rt i st , bor n that way. Ge ne t ic a lly d e s i g n e d t o b e s u c h , o r you aren’t . O r at l east t hat ’s t he p hi l osop hy t hat I b elieve applies t o m e , a nd p e o p l e l i k e m e . I t h i n k t h a t school i s an i d eal l ocat i on t o l ear n t he t echni q ues per haps, and wha t t ho s e t e c h n i q u e s a re c a l l e d a n d commonl y ref erred t o. N ot hi ng more. I was rai sed by a Family of A r t is t s a nd T h e o l o g i a n s b a s i c a l l y. T h at was my “school ”.
Q. I am s ure y o u a re s o u g h t a f t e r a g re a t d e a l a s yo u r work re a lly de pic t s t h e m i n d o f a t ru e a rt i s t . W h a t p ro c e s s e s g o t hro u g h y o u r m i n d w h e n d e v e lo pin g a c ha r a c t e r a nd y o u r s t o ri e s ? A . Th e p i ec e s a re de v e l o p e d re a l l y f ro m y e a rs a n d ye ars of obs e r v a t io n a n d p a rt i c i p a t i o n i n l i f e . Da y to d a y. Ho w I s e e a nd i n t e rp re t t h a t l i f e a ro u n d me . Ho w we , a s a s o ci e t y t re a t s o n e a n o t h e r, rea cts to o ne a no t he r ’s t re a t m e n t s . Wo rd s t h a t a re spoken. A c t io ns t ha t are t a k e n . B a s e d o n t h e s e th in g s, the re is a c e r t ai n a m o u n t o f p ro g n o s t i c ation tha t g o e s o n. Lo o k i n g f o rw a rd . C o n c e n t ra t i n g o n i t a l l as if it we re a c h e s s g a m e , a n d w h a t t h e n ext mo ve mig ht be . Mu c h o f w h a t w e a re g o i n g th rou g h i n life a s we k n o w i t n o w, w a s d i s c u s s e d to grea t l eng t h t hro ug h o u t m y c h i l d h o o d a m o n g s t F a m i l y. Th e y we re t hin k e rs . T h e y d i s c u s s e d t h e se th in g s at g re a t le ng t h al l m y l i f e a n d I t o o k i t a l l i n . D ue to the s e e ndle s s c o n v e rs a t i o n s , I s e e a f u l f i l lme nt o f th e s y s t e m o f t h i n g s n o w. I t ’s a s i f a l l of th is w a s t a lk e d a bo ut a n d c o n t e m p l a t e d l o n g b efo re i t h a ppe ne d. T he re f o re I a m ra re l y s u rp ri s e d by the wor ld a ro und m e , b u t I d o f i n d m y s e l f b eing sh o c ke d a t t ime s t h a t i t i s s o b l a t a n t l y w h at w a s c o vere d t hro ug ho u t m y y o u t h i n d i s c u s s i o n s a nd c o nte m pla t io ns . F or t h e m o s t p a rt , t h e “ c h a ra cters” i n t he wo r k s are a l l m e , o r a p a rt o f m e. W h e the r it be a re pre s e n t a t i o n o f m e re a c t i n g , or th e re a c tio n t hro ug h a n e m o t i o n a l re s p o n s e t o w h at i s h a ppe ning a ro u n d m e . Q. W he n pla nning a s h o o t , w h a t d o y o u t y p i c a l l y c on si d er, t he s ubje c t o r i s t h a t d e t e rm i n e d b y t h e mo d el yo u a re wo r k ing w i t h ? A . T he re a re no w t wo m e t h o d s o f e x e c u t i o n f o r m e. O n e way wa s wha t I ha v e d o n e f o r y e a rs . B e f o re I even g o t o c a m e r a I k n o w w h a t t h e i m a g e i s t o loo k l i ke. Ho w ma ny la y e rs a re g o i n g t o b e i n t h e piec e , and e xa c t ly wha t t h e y a re t o l o o k l i k e . I s ee th e fi n a l v is io n in m y m i n d a s w e l l a s t h e c re a t i on step b y st e p. T his is wh y, f o r t h e m o s t p a rt , I n e v er re al l y e nj oy e d s ho o t ing . I w o u l d j u s t w a n t t o s h o ot th e mo d el a nd be do ne w i t h i t . I j u s t w a n t e d t o g et to the c o m put e r a nd b e g i n b u i l d i n g t h e i m a g e i n re al ti me . A nd t he n. . . . I w o u l d j u s t w a n t t o s e e t h e im ag e d on e . Co m ple t ed . T h e “ A l p h a ” , t h e b e g i n n in g , i s the T RUE c re a t i v e p ro c e s s . T h a t h a p p e n s in th e mind c o mple t e l y. I t f o rm s t h e re . I t g ro w s th ere . It i s c re a t e d t he re . I re m e m b e r e v e ry d eta il o f a l l o f t ho s e mo m e n t s f o r e v e ry i m a g e . T h e y a re th e rea l s t o r ie s . I c a n ’t t e l l y o u a s i n g l e t h i n g a bo ut the pro c e s s o f c o n s t ru c t i o n o f t h e i m a g es a s ti me goe s by. I do n’t re m e m b e r h o w I c a m e t o w h at tec hnic a l c o nc lus i o n . I a m al mos t o n a ut o pil o t . T h e “ O m e g a ” . T h e e n d. I s t h e b i rt h. Whe n it a ct u a l l y c o m e s t o l i f e . W h e n I se e, l a i d out be f o re me, w h a t w a s i n m y m i n d . T h e physi c a l m a nif e s t a t io n o f w h a t t h i s w a s a l l a b o u t . T h e b eg i n ning a nd t he e n d a re w h a t c a p t i v a t e m e a nd kee p me c o m ing a ro u n d f o r m o re . T h e m i d dle....wel l . . . . . if it we re n o t f o r w h e re i t g e t s m e , I w o u l d n’t c a re . It ’s s a id t h a t i t ’s n o t t h e d e s t i n a t i on th at matte r s , but t he jo u r n e y. T h a t d o e s n ’t a p p l y in the se ns e o f m y c re a t i v e p ro c e s s . I ’m n o t s u re it ever d i d . If it did, I h a v e f o rg o t t e n a b o u t t h a t .
U sua l l y, I will ha v e pic k e d o u t a m o d e l t h a t I k n o w c an b e wha t e v e r s t o r y t h a t i s a s s i g n e d . O r t h e view i n g o f t ha t m o de l w i l l s o m e t i m e s re m i n d m e o f a c o nc e pt t ha t ha s b e e n c re a t i n g i t s e l f i n m y h ea d fo r q uit e a while . I re a l i z e t h i s w h e n I s e h e r. I n eve r se e a m o de l a n d t h e n t ry t o c o m e u p w i t h so methi n g fo r t he m. I s h o o t t h e m b e c a u s e I k n o w th at the y c a n be c o m e t h e w o rk . T h e re f o re ...t h e re a re no c o lla bo r a t io ns . Q. Do yo u wo r k o ff o f s om e t h i n g y o u h a v e s e e n b efo re, d o yo u e la bo r a t e o n s o m e t h i n g t h a t y o u h a ve a lways want e d t o c re a t e o r i s i t j u s t s o m e t h i n g th at i s sp ur o f t he mo m e n t a n d y o u f i n d i t s u i t a b l e o r so me thing y o u ha v e n e v e r d o n e b e f o re ? A . Th a t l e a ds me t o t he s e c o n d m e t h o d o f e x e c ution. T he s e c o nd is m u c h m o re f re e f l o w i n g . M u c h mo re from t he s ubc o ns c i o u s . W h i c h , o f c o u rs e , i s mo re o f th e s c ho o l o f s u rre a l i s m . L a t e l y, I h a v e f avo red th i s m e t ho d mo re . I u s u a l l y o n l y d o t h i s w i t h mo d el s th a t I ha v e wo r k e d w i t h o n a re g u l a r b a s i s a nd are p er s o na lly f a m i l i a r w i t h f o r a l o n g p e ri o d of time. It h a s wo r ke d wit h t h a t I h a v e n o k n o w l e d g e o f and ha v e ne v e r wo rk e d w i t h b e f o re , b u t t h i s i s a rare o c c ur re nc e . I s h o o t t h e m . T h i n g s c o m e t o mind . I d o n’t re a lly k no w w h y I a m s h o o t i n g t h e m th is w a y, o r t ha t . But s i n c e I h a v e b e e n d o i n g t h i s fo r so l o ng , I ha v e c o m e t o a re l a x e d u n d e rs t a n ding of mys e lf a s a n A r t i s t t o k n o w t h a t I d o n o t d o just a nyth ing f o r t he s a k e o f d o i n g i t . T h e re i s a re aso n w hy I s ho o t e v e ry t h i n g t h a t I s h o o t . I t m a y n ot b e kn o w t o me f o r s o m e t i m e . T h i s i s w h y I just l e t th e r a w ima g e s s i t o n a d ri v e ...l o o k a t t h e m fro m ti me t o t ime . . . . un t i l I k n o w. I t ’s a l m o s t a s i f th e i ma g e t e lls me wha t i t i s t o b e . W h a t i t i s t o sa y. T hi s do e s no t , fo r a f a s t , f i n a l re s u l t , m a k e. I mag e s take m e a ny whe re f ro m 5 0 t o 1 5 0 h o u rs t o c omp l ete . Yo u k no w. . . li k e a p a i n t i n g . T h i s m e t h o d just ad d s t o t ha t lo ng t i m e s p a n . I d o n o t c h u r n o u t im ag e s b y a ny s t re t c h o f t h e i m a g i n a t i o n . Q. W ha t d o y o u lo o k f o r w h e n c a s t i n g a m o d e l ? D oes sh e ha v e t o ha v e a ro c k i n g b o d y, m o d e l i n g e x p eri e nc e , k no ws what t h e h e l l s h e i s d o i n g o r d o yo u fi n d y o ur s e lf wo r k i n g w i t h g i rl s t h a t y o u h a v e w o rke d w it h be f o re m a k i n g y o u r t a s k e a s i e r? A . I p refer my re g ula r s a b o v e a l l e l s e . B u t I k n o w w h en so me o ne c a n be p a rt o f m y A rt a s s o o n as I se e i t. If I do no t s e e f i l m s o r h e a r m u s i c i n m y h ea d w he n I lo o k a t a m o d e l , i t ’s n e v e r g o i n g t o h ap p e n. Q. Wh a t ha v e y o u wa nt e d t o d o i n y o u r c a re e r a n d still h a ven’t do ne it ? A . I h a ve be e n quit e bl e s s e d t h ro u g h o u t m y l i f e i n my c a re e r. I ha v e do ne j u s t a b o u t e v e ry t h i n g I h a ve w a nted to do o n s o me l e v e l o r a n o t h e r. N o w, I j u s t w a nt to c o nt inue do ing i t . A n d I a m . A n d t h i n g s a re g ro wi ng e v e r y s ing le d a y. T h i n g s a re p ro g re s s i n g. O ppo rtu nit ie s pre s e nt t h e m s e l v e s a l l t h e t i m e . I e ithe r take t he m, o r I d o n ’t . Q. I n o ti ce y o u ha v e a n e w b o o k , h o w i s t h a t s e l l ing fo r yo u? Wha t wa s y o u r s h i f t f ro m y o u r f i rst boo k as far a s c o nt e nt ? Di d y o u f e e l y o u n e e d e d t o ta k e yo ur fir s t bo o k a nd t a k e i t e v e n f u rt h e r i n t h i s
new one or was i t somet hi ng you k new was b ound t o hap p en af t er rel easi ng t he f i rst b ook ? A. A ct ual l y, t he b ook t hat ’s b een out recent l y is not new. It ’s t he second p ri nt i ng of t he f i rst b ook wi t h some omi ssi ons and ad d i t i ons. The next b ook , whi ch wi l l b e out b y nex t J ul y, i s more of a narrat i ve f rom b egi nni ng t o end . I have b een wan ti ng t o d o somet hi ng l i k e t hi s f or a very l ong t i me. I d eal s p ri mari l y wi t h humani t y mergi ng wi t h t echnol ogy and vi sa versa. It i s, as usual , ri d d l ed with anal ogy and met ap hor j ust as al l of my work i s. It i s d ef i ni t el y more d et ai l ed and more p ersonal . A s I have grown as a p erson, so has my i nsi ght . Thi s is ref l ect ed i n t he new work s t o such a d egree t hat it i s very t ax i ng on me p ersonal l y. I hop e t he results wi l l show and t hat ot hers can see a b enef i t t o it al l f or t hemsel ves. But ab ove al l el se. I am d oi n g t hi s f or me. Work i ng t hi ngs out i n my mi nd and m y soul . What I have f ound , i s t hat i f I am t rue t o mysel f wi t h my creat i ve st at ement s, ot hers can see and f eel t hat . A nd t hat resul t i s al ways i ncred i bly reward i ng. Q. What i s your nex t t ask ? I k now you are hol d i ng work shop s now, I am sure you have art i st /p hot ograp hers b eat i ng t he d oor d own t o get a chance to work wi t h you and p i ck your mi nd . What d o you t el l st ud ent s when t hey are i n a sessi on wi t h you. What i s t he most i mp ort ant el ement you f eel any young or b eggi ng art i st shoul d k now when you t each a cl ass? When i s your nex t work shop ? H ow can p eop l e f i nd your d at es and si gn up f or your work shop s? A. J ust t o f i ni sh t hi s nex t b ook and get al l out t hat I want t o say. P urge mysel f of what ’s i n my head ri ght now. I t el l t hem t o mak e sure t o al l ow i nf l uences and insp i rat i ons (ot her art i st s) t o st ay ex act l y as t hat .. . . i nf l uences and i nsp i rat i ons. Don’t t ry t o “b ecom e” t hem. They have al read y b een here and l ef t t heir mark s. If my st ud ent s are TRU E A rt i st s, t hen t hey must f i rst b e t rue t o t hemsel ves. To b e t he A rt i sts t hat TH EY are. N ot some cook i e cut t er t hi ng t h at has al read y come and gone. I t ry t o d i rect t hem to b e who TH EY are. I comp l et el y d i sagree t hat t here i s an art i st i n us al l . S ome have i t . O t hers d on ’t. Bei ng honest wi t h ones sel f i s t he f i rst st ep . Q. Dark Beaut y Magaz i ne covers a l arge area of amaz i ng d ark art , when you t hi nk of d ark b eau ty what goes t hrough your mi nd ? What d oes i t mean t o you? A. It means t he f ul f i l l ment of t he syst em of t hi ngs. Whi ch i s not al ways “b eaut i f ul ”. But t he b eauty t herei n resi d es i n t he f act t hat i t IS f ul f i l l i ng itsel f t o l ead t o t he nex t t hat must hap p en. N ew l ife i s, of course, a b eaut i f ul t hi ng. But when t hat l ife p rogresses, d ecays, and t hen d i es off t o al l ow for t he nex t , whet her i t b e sent i ent or machi ne..... . . i s t rul y a d ark l y b eaut i f ul t hi ng. In l i ght , al l of t he d et ai l s are t here t o cl earl y see. Li ght b ri ngs shadows, and shad ows are f ul l of d ark ness. It i s i n t h is d ark ness t hat t he d et ai l s must b e searched f or. They are not cl ear. Most are hi d d en. But up on t h e d i scovery of t hese d et ai l s we see t he t rue b eauty.
A nd be c a us e w e h a d t o s e a rc h f o r t h em...we ap pre c ia t e t he m m o re . Q . If I jus t s t a rt e d i n F i n e A rt P h o t ograp hy and la nde d o n y o u r s i t e a n d t h o u g h t I w a n t t hi s guy t o be m y m e nt o r, w h a t i s y o u r p h i l o s o p h y i n b ei ng a t r ue F ine A rt P h o t o g ra p h e r? I s i t t h e ri ght mod el , t he r ig ht lig h t i n g , t h e e q u i p m e n t a s t o ry or i s i t t he e dit ing ? A. It ha s no t h i n g t o d o w i t h w h a t c a n b e b ought o r purc ha s ed , o r l e a r n e d f ro m a b o o k . It al l st art s fro m wit hin. F i n d i n g t h a t t ru t h . M y Fat her once s a id, “T he re s p o n s i b i l i t y o f t h e Tru e A rt i st i s t hi nk a nd f e e l f o r a l l o f t h o s e w h o c a n ’t ....or won’t .” If t he y c a n pro c e s s t h a t m e n t a l i t y. I f t h e y can hand l e t he pa in a nd j o y s t h a t c o m e w i t h t h e f ul f i l l ment of t ha t philo s o p h y a s w e l l a s t h e u n d e rst and i ng of t he s t a t e m e n t ......t h e n t h e y a re o n t h e ri ght p at h. Is t he re a ny t h i n g e l s e y o u c a n l e a v e w it h our read e r s a bo ut y o u r e y e g a s m i c w o rk ? W h ere can t hey s e e m o re , d o y o u s h o w y o u r w o rk o n t our, i n gal le r ie s o r e xcl u s i v e e n g a g e m e n t s ?
Ri ght now...al l of my t i me and sel f i s going into the creat i on of t hese nex t i mages f or t h e next book. A f t er t hat , yes. There wi l l b e gal l ery shows, book si gni ng, et c. If anyone want s more infor mation and want s t o k eep ab reast as t o my recent wor ks, work shop s, l ect ures and ap p earances, they can get al l of t hat f rom goi ng t o www.f actor y1019. com Thank you J eff ery, I am a f an and com mend youon your t al ent s. It s one t hi ng t o shoot a hot photo b ut a t rue t al ent t o t ak e t hat p hot o i n to a wor ld of magi cal mak e b el i eve and I b el i eve you have mast ered i t my f ri end . C heers and t hank y ou for taking t he t i me t o l et us p i ck your b rai n.
Thank you. N ow b ack t o work .
Blood and Oil: Clint Carney