ISSUE 4 | VOL 1 | MAY 2018
A MAGAZINE FOR CREATIVE PEOPLE
JAAMZIN CREATIVE PAINTING
PHOTOGRAPHY Photographers and cinematographers
Visual artists, painters
MUSIC
GRAPHIC ART Graphic artists, illustrators, cartoonists
Musicians, singers and songwriters
INTERVIEWS Interviews with artists and creative people
TABLE OF CONTENTS 2 Photography Photographers,, cinematographers
10 Painting and graphic arts Painters, visual artists, cartoonists
18 Illustration IIlustrators, designers
20 Music Singers, songwriters, musicians
24 Interviews Interviews with artists and creative people
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PHOTOGRAPHER
UDO WANNINGER I am Udo, a passionate macro-photographer. I am living in the heart of Switzerland where I am surrounded by awesome lakes, diverse forests and spectacular mountains. This beautiful landscape offers me endless opportunities for my preferred photography.
For the ultimate macro-picture I am using the most recent camera technology but in combination with old lenses. Old lenses illustrate the object more powerfully and simply cause a uniquer bokeh. Dawn is my preferred time for light, so I am often found in the early morning hours, laying down in the fields or forests, hunting the moment.
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PHOTOGRAPHY
This photo was shoot in Lublin, somewhere nearby the Lublin Castle. With the sunstars of the street lights and the light trails, I changed this photo into B/W version to make the elements in this photo even more outstanding than the color version.
Photographer Vincent Lee My name is Vincent Lee. I'm a Taiwanese amateur photographer and I just started taking photograph for one year. I shoot almost everything
I went on a shooting just for relax during Friday night (there're usually something interesting happen in this timing). I found this lady standing alone and smoking at the square of Lublin old town when others were gathering and having fun. I thought it looked quite emotional so I took
and have variant styles depends on the elements and my feeling of the photograph. I'm now studying medicine in Lublin so most of my photos are taken in this city, which is a pretty, peaceful location in Poland.Â
the shot.
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PHOTOGRAPHER
BERNARD BOUTHORS
My name is Bernard Bouthors. I'm French, 64 years-old and retired. I'm living in Cergy, a city in the neighborhood of Paris. As a photographer, I define myself as an old beginner. I'm definitely not a professional. I'm still searching my "style" but, clearly, I prefer minimalistic compositions and 'Less Is More' is one of my favorite mottos. My method is 'Learn by doing'. I've been an active member of the Facebook group ALJPHOTO for three years. I've learned a lot from this group, essentially the fundamentals of composition and one major lesson: Be yourself! Creativity is in you.
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PHOTOGRAPHY
"Capturing that perfect moment takes time and over the years I have taught myself the finer details – but there’s still so much more to learn. This year I upgraded to a Sony a6300 and a wide angle lens which makes taking landscape pictures so much more
Photographer Delia Sander
fun." Delia Sander is a photographer from Ventura County, California. She earns her living as a global product planner for a biotech company but she also discovered her love of the outdoors.
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PHOTOGRAPHER
IGNASI RAVENTĂ“S
Creative advertising by profession, photographer by vocation. As a young man I wanted to be a photographer for National Geographic. But in those times, photography was an expensive activity. So I dedicated myself to a profession, creative advertising, which taught me to look and express myself. With the arrival and consolidation of digital photography, I returned to my hobby of photography and found in it my true vocation. I live and work in Barcelona. And Barcelona is the great photographic studio where I develop my work.
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PHOTOGRAPHY
Bob Bell Photographer Bob Bell is an archaeologist and right of way agent, living in rural western Kentucky. 'I often work “on the road,” and the pictures that I take reflect that fact. I shoot what I like at the moment. Most of my pictures have a rural theme, old and abandoned barns, and homes that have seen better days.' "Many of my pictures reflect my interest in archaeology, history and historic preservation. Others are just found shots. However, most document parts of rural America, which are too quickly disappearing."
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PHOTOGRAPHER
STEPHEN SHILLING
My name is Steve, I'm a father to 3 children and grandfather to 5. I live in Kent, UK, with my wife. I was an amateur mobile phone photographer for a few years, that stopped 2 months ago when i turned 50 years old. For my 50th birthday present my wife, kids and grandkids gave me a Sony Cybershot DSC-H400, my mobile phone camera is now redundant. My favourite pictures to take are macro flowers but i do take landscape, architecture, water, animal and people pictures as well.I find myself looking at my surroundings completely different now, i notice things I've never seen before even having walked past them a hundred times or more, i constantly look from different angles and have now started to plan in advance the pictures i want to take. No more taking loads and loads of pictures of the same thing hoping that one will turn out good. I'm only 2 months into using a proper camera so i know there is still a lot to learn, i can only get better and i am looking forward to sharing my improvements.
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PAINTING
PAINTER
JASIMEN PHILLIPS Jasimen Phillips (°1986) is an American abstract artist who lives and works in Los Angeles, California. The scope of her art ranges from large scales gestational abstractions to mixed media photography. Phillips is best known for her multidisciplinary practice relating to the human condition and implicit cognition.
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PAINTER
MEGHAN CARDWELL
My name is Meghan Cardwell, and I am an abstract artist based in Alexandria, Virginia. While I have admired art my entire life, I did not begin creating my own until January of 2018, when I realized that I could use my unique neurological condition to paint abstract pieces. I was born with a condition called Synesthesia – when one of my senses is stimulated, a separate sense is involuntarily activated. In my case, numbers, letters, and words are associated with specific colors in my “mind’s eye”, and have been for my entire life. Musical sounds are associated with color, movement, and depth. These associations have been consistent for as long as I can remember.
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PAINTING
Visual artist Subhelic I am Subhelic, a visual artist from Ormoc City, Philippines. I just recently graduated college with a a degree in Advertising and am taking a break to make art before I find work. I paint about the things that my mind wanders off to, and that is usually the hurt, the sorry, the longing. I've had plenty of people say that there is a certain sadness to the things I make, and I've come to accept that sadness is a necessary part of my work. Currently, I am making things more personal.
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VISUAL ARTIST
PEDRO MAINMAN Pedro Mainman. (Barcelona, Spain). He is an admirer of every day life expressionism and a researcher of human nature. Expresses what he perceives of it in canvases. Finds and shares the immense wealth of the being. Investigates and discovers. His inspiration is human emotions, his palette the stories that these suggest; the human beings, their lives, real or fictitious, almost archetypal and his own life adventure. He uses the human figure as a means to criticize contemporary ideas about racial, sexual and social identity, emphasizing both the physical reality of the human body and its psychological value.
Each of the characters portrayed in his paintings has something of his most vulnerable part, which turns out to be a great universal since as human beings we share dreams, desires, joys, fears, pain, sadness or melancholy ... along with the rest of Humanity, "It´s amazing how the deep and core of people's lives is sometimes connected beyond gender, borders or even time".
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VISUAL ART
Julius Kalamarz Julius Kalamarz received his MFA (fiction) from Columbia University. His writing and artwork have appeared in Opium Magazine, DIAGRAM, The Los Angeles Review, zimZalla, Ninth Letter, Black & BLUE, and elsewhere. He has exhibited in New York, London, and his hometown of Milwaukee, WI.
Bead, 2018 | chalk on paper | from the series: Catalan Supper Club
Aqueduct Camaro, 2017 | chalk on paper | from the series: Catalan Supper Club
Untitled, 2017 | paint pen on paper | from the series: Lo Fi
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VISUAL ARTIST
BROOKE KNIGHT My name is Brooke Knight, I'm 19 and just finished my first year of college. I was taking art and fundamentals in hopes of pursuing my dream of becoming an illustrator or animator however unfortunately my dreams were cut short. I'm now going into university to get my bachelors of education so that hopefully one day I will be able to inspire the younger generations as much as my teachers and peers inspired me. Â I have been drawing since grade 5 because of my fifth grade teacher who encouraged me to practice and improve my skills.
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VISUAL ART
Jay Thomas II Born and raised in New York City, Jay's early art creations were greatly influenced by comic book artists such as John Romita, Steve Ditko, and Jim Steranko. During the late 70's and early 80's, Jay tried unsuccessfully to join the artistic ranks of both Marvel and DC comics. By 1982, he had become discouraged with the comic book style art that he had been doing, and proceeded to drastically change his style of art. This was the year that he plunged headlong into Pen & Ink Pointillism. Over the next few years, Jay was able to display his art in shows all throughout NYC, Long Island, and Connecticut, and became a member of various art groups such as: The Huntington Township Art League, The Long Island Black Artist Association, and The Harlem StreetGallery. Jay has since abandoned the Pen & Ink Pointillism style (Too costly and time consuming) and now focuses on creating art utilizing Colored Pencils and Ink.
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VISUAL ART
SUZIE-Q I am French and I'm 49 years old. I live and work in Bordeaux. I draw mainly with felt pen. I began by present my flowery and graphic patterns by "dressing up" the rock and movie stars of the 50s / 60s / 70s. Today, my illustrations celebrate the woman, her sensuality, her desire and a certain retro atmosphere that is dear to me. I chose to represent what occupied my mind, sensuality, sex and desire.
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ILLUSTRATOR
It's now time to continue this narrative adventure with Chapter 2 of the Series. Whereas the first book dealt with fear, this book addresses: sadness, feeling blue, and the importance of our friends in helping to remedy that. It teaches children about the importance of our community in healing us, but it does so in a way that is fun and approachable. It also introduces children to the incredible Aztecs, who I've loved learning about and researching.
Rashad Malik Davis
Back in 2017 I wrote, illustrated, and published my first children's picture book entitled Carefree, Like Me! Chapter 1: Root the Brave. It started with a passion for telling diverse stories, and a desire to spread a message about: the importance of empathy, embracing our emotional lives, and the beauty in our differences. Little did I know, that one book would spawn an adventure and a movement I could never have dreamed of.
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ARTIST
MARIE CONIGLIARO Marie Conigliaro uses analogue collage to create rich layers of playfulness and irony, recontextualizing the ephemera of old into something arresting and new. Born in Danbury, Connecticut, she received her interior design degree Cum Laude from Paier College of Art, and took a job in design for a large architecture firm. After the 2008 crash, she decided move into construction management so she could step back from design and explore more artistic outlets for her creativity. Today, Marie resides in Denver, Colorado, working as office manager and accountant for a local architecture firm, focusing all her creative energy on vintage collage making.
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ILLUSTRATOR
Erin Davis is a Grand Rapids based illustrator that is constantly meeting kind people, taking risks, and seeking fun. Erin is a digital illustrator located in Grand Rapids, Michigan. She dreams of beautiful coasts, warm weather, and enjoys all activities that allow her to be by the water. Erin also loves to tell stories, including the tale of how her dream job when she was little was to be a mermaid.
Erin Davis Unruly by Design the artistic home of illustrator and designer, Erin Davis. It is an arena for your wild ideas and hobbies to come alive. This studio creates fun and surreal work that reminds audiences to walk your own way. Erin always says that if you’re not being yourself, you’re not doing it right. In terms of process, Erin works both traditionally and digitally. She begins by hand drawing all of her illustrations, and works her magic and finishes it digitally once it is carefully laid out on paper. Her stories and concepts in her work usually derive from dreams or humorous scenarios that she imagines in her head.
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MUSIC
VALERIO LYSANDER I write my music with honesty and trying to create beauty and share a message. This world may be a bit harsh sometimes and the reason why I write and perform is to make it a bit more beautiful and and expand peace. My baroque pop songs are influenced by the opera voices and classical arrangements, with quirky, original, heartfelt and honest lyrics, his songwriting looks at the world with optimism and a full emotional spectrum. I released my first EP in 2014 called Tidal Mental Head and since then I've started building my career in England and abroad. In 2016 I was among the 10 nominees for Best Male in the Best of British Unsigned Awards and Ryan, new single released in the same year, was broadcasted by BBC Introducing. In 2017 I was among the finalists of the Coffee Music Project and Pride's Got Talent, and, among other high profile appearances, I performed in Trafalgar Square for Pride in London and on the main stage of Manchester Pride.
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MUSIC
Elena Ramona Elena Ramona is a Pop singer/songwriter based in Guildford, Surrey. She grew up on the Greek island of Skiathos, Music, singing and song writing were her passion from an early age. Her determination to pursue a music career led her to Guildford, where she attended the Academy of Contemporary Music to studyVocals. She graduated in 2013. Since then, Elena has been promoting her music. She released her debut single and music video 'Rise', inspired by the support of her family, in 2013. In February 2013 Elena and composer Martyn Corbet, combined talents to create her debut EP, 'Hold On'. On the back of its release, Elena has gained airplay on various radio shows , including BBC Introducing; she has also given interviews and performed live sessions.
Elena has featured as an up and coming artist in music magazines in the UK and abroad. She has attended local open mic nights, played at London venues and performed at London Pride 2014. and Always The Sun Festival in 2016. More recently Elena has released her fourth single 'The Neon Lights ' The song has gained airtime with ITV's This Morning and BBC Introducing. She continues to showcase herself as much as she can.
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MUSIC
STUDIO SHAP SHAP Studio Shap Shap is the story of 6 friends living in Niamey and who have different languages, ages, history and cultures (4 Nigerians, 1 Chadian, 1 from Reunion island). Studio Shap Shap breaks the established codes and plays with all styles. The musicians hijack the way traditional instruments are played. They deal with electro, bass guitar and piano. In the music mix, the floor is given to this old singer,witness of the passing time in our current world. In this context some samples of the Nigerien capital daily life are displayed.Â
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INTERVIEW
ARTIST LAKSHMI MOHANBABU
Artist Lakshmi Mohanbabu is a Singaporean who grew up in Kabul Afghanistan during the 70’s and 80’s. She is a trained architect (B.Arch, Manipal University) and fashion designer who graduated from the National Institute of Fashion Technology (NIFT) in New Delhi. Lakshmi has also taught fashion design, illustration and design history in various educational institutions including Singapore’s LASALLE College of the Arts and NIFT (India). She has also illustrated books for WHO (World Health Organisation) about disability. Having travelled the world, Lakshmi spent a significant amount of time in Europe and Asia researching art, architecture and design – all of which can be seen in her work. As an artist, Lakshmi has a plethora of works in various mediums including; pen and ink, pencil, charcoal, acrylic and watercolours. Rare and incredibly gifted, her’s is the exemplary Singaporean voice, bridging the gap between the past and the present. Her hypnotic, painterly language evokes notions of a transcended existence.
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What made you continue to paint and illustrate books even after studying fashion design? For me, fashion design was just another extension of the design and creative field. It actually motivated me to further explore art and design.
What is your art vision? How do you portray it in your artwork?
For me, art is the perfect medium to link people of various races and communities. I strive to find common ground and interlink elements of various cultures, languages, symbolism and art. With my architecture, art and costume history background I believe I have a global perspective that has helped me develop my style. The best way to explain my ‘art vision’ is to give you a brief rundown of my body of work. My Colours Of Unity series is a commentary on issues of racial discrimination and gender bias.
My focus is on individualism, cross border
More often than not, we tend to be dragged
interaction and contemporary social issues. I
into the abyss of isolation without recognising
recognised the power of religion and scriptures
the fact we are all part of the same universe. We
- specifically their signs and symbols which have
live in an ever-changing world where the only
become increasingly pertinent in our daily lives.
constant is change. The change we need is an
During these times of uncertainty where
acceptance of people of various cultures and
meaning has almost disappeared from most
getting rid of racial, gender and sexual bias for
physical realities, I truly believe it is the task of
the human race to live in harmony. It is vital
an artist to delve deeper, beyond surface
that these issues are addressed and
textures and into the realms of the
acknowledged. We are interconnected and
transcendental instead. It is an act of defiance
interdependent having common threads that
to uncover ideals of personal and universal
bind us, not divide us. We can’t live in isolation.
“truths”. The world we live in today is a melting pot of influences from across the globe.
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My Interactions series draws from the cross-
The spiral serves the creative purpose of giving
cultural patterns and paths of the Mandala – a
expression and form to something that does not
concept common to all religions; a
yet exist, something new and unique. A single
representation of the universe, a microcosm and
and continuous line divides the whole canvas.
macrocosm seen as a motif in Hindu temples,
This creates a shape, which outlines the void
Buddhist stupas, Muslim mosques and Christian
that reflects the same shape in rotational
cathedrals. Patterns and lines drawn from
geometry creating two spaces; what is there
ancient times coalesce beautifully with a series
and what is not; the known and the unknown;
of bold colours, to illustrate the magicial
the yin and yang.
wonders of achieving balance in our lives – the yin and yang of our personal dualities. Add a
Over the years my study of global architectural
dash of Sir Isaac Newton’s colour wheel and you
forms and buildings has helped me explore the
have the basis of my Interaction pieces.
idea of complimentary and interdependent spaces.
The Fibonacci Nautilus series is based on our existence and our interdependence and
My Expressions series, was inspired by Chinese
interconnectedness with the world we live in;
opera and Japanese Kabuki theatre. It is a
our immediate surroundings; the network of
plethora of complementary emotions. The yin
friends and family and ultimately the universe.
and yang of expressions such as: joy and sorrow,
The focus of this series is based on finding the
agony and ecstasy, are executed in a unique
harmony in art inspired by totally different
precision of painting style, using acrylics on
cultures or styles which have roots in the same
paper. The influence of Chinese and Japanese
inspiration or interpretation.
culture over the last century and a half is notable and is an art form to be preserved and
Our DNA and our galaxy both follow a spiral like
appreciated. Inspiration for this series came
the Nautilus, which is the form used. The spiral
from every aspect – from the costume and
is seen in all aspects of life from the unfurling of
makeup to the artist’s skill and technique of
a leaf bringing forth new life to the unwinding
performing and expression, which is dealt with
of a spool of thread - like the unravelling of the
a high level of perfection.
mysteries of life.
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In Kabuki theatre and Chinese opera the artist
On another level I use strong value contrasts
brings life to expression, ‘the perfect inspiration’.
and perspective with the play of light and
Minimalism, an intrinsic part of the Japanese
shadow on surfaces to add depth to the
psyche has been much copied in the west, a
painting that draws the viewer’s attention. I also
major influence on styles such as art nouveau in
feel the difference is always in the detail and in
the design of object d’art, buildings and
every series, the frames are an intrinsic part of
costumes. The use of painted faces to symbolise
the painting and add to the viewing experience.
qualities of human nature with its bold linear symmetrical patterns in red and black defines
For example, in my Interactions series, I used a
the character of the facial expression were to
value gradation of a single colour in the
me the perfect resource in the creation of the
perspective of the painting. The frames were
series. You’ll notice most facial outlines have
custom made with 3D printed plugs of the
been eliminated with an approach to
same design as the painting and placed on the
minimalism.
four corners of the frame adding yet another dimension.
How do you make people engage with your art pieces? What is your ‘secret’?
The Expressions series demanded I develop a unique style of minimalistic painting on a large scale, using just two colours - red and black acrylic on paper, which required extreme
My painting process begins with extensive
control and precision, with months of careful
research of a chosen topic which can take over
preparation. Each emotion is described and
a few years of researching context, subject
painted with just a few lines with equal amount
matter, history and techniques. The fact that a
of control of the medium.
painting has a story and a deeper meaning behind it engages people on one level.
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In the Colours Of Unity series I use strong colour
This period is the most intense where I can
and value contrast. The canvas is framed by a
sometimes paint over days or weeks without
transparent coloured acrylic sheet that matches
much need for breaks. I find it difficult to break
the colour of the glasses on the face of the
away and do little else.
character in the painting creating an illusion of the light, cast by the frame on the wall, is also making the glasses cast a similar coloured shadow on the face.
What’s next for Lakshmi? I’m currently working on a series of paintings
Which are your favourite states of making art? What do you mean by meditative when you say, “Making the artwork is meditative?” How exactly did you feel during that process?
which dwell on inner emotions – the
The actual painting process is the most fun. I
more complex behavioural patterns..
smokescreen we create for ourselves. There is an inner self waiting to be unleashed but always hidden behind the mask we create for ourselves which reflects emotions and reactions expected of us by the outside world. Lost to the adult is the innocence of childhood where every thought and need is openly expressed as we are forced by experience to analyse and resort to
develop a deep personal connection to my work. For me, it is vital to paint and once the process starts I listen to classical music which allows me to channel my inner self on the canvas.
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INTERVIEW
INTERVIEW WITH ILLUSTRATOR HELENA Helena is an illustrator and graphic designer from Spain. Since she was a child she has this dream of being a creative. She has a degree in Fine Arts from the University of Barcelona, a vocational degree in illustration and design and training courses in Trendy Illustration, communication skills and Pattern Design from different schools located in Barcelona and Madrid. She works as a Freelance.
What is your educational background? What are your strengths and talents in art? I studied a degree in Fine Arts in Barcelona at Universitat de Barcelona and a vocational degree in Illustration & Graphic Design in a School of Art & Design in Barcelona too. My strengths in art have always been passion, faith in what I want to dedicate my life, hardworking and adaptability to different techniques, fields and ideas. My talents point to an original and unique style which defines and identifies me, making use of it for different purposes and fields.
When did you realize you have this dream of being a creative? Where would you want to work? And with whom? I started to become creative when I was 4 years old as I was very imaginative, also I was a good observer of nature and animals. After school and on weekends, I used to write short stories and draw my own tales and I remember telling my mum: “When I be a grown-up, I will be an artist, mum”. Often, I used to doodle on home walls, I love when my family reminds me this fact, because I found it so natural when I did it!
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My dream is working with both small and major creative & technologic agencies from different countries, working with different cultures and learn from them. It would be really interesting working with Apple, Pixar, ING creatives located in Dubai among others and major publishers.
Do you think it is different specializing in textile patterns versus children's books illustrations? Actually, it is different in technical execution but
Which is the most memorable and challenging work experience that you have gained?
however really supplementary. Both
The most memorable and challenging work has
them if I have two projects at the same time. I
been an editorial work for a Chinese Company
feel that combining different tasks is enriching
from Beijing. I had to illustrate a story book and
personally and professionally.
specialitisations need to handle a lot of creativity, imagination, technique and planification, and I like being a multi-faceted and versatile designer and being able to make both, and combine
afterwards I travelled to Beijing to do the presentation of my work and make workshops related to Illustration for Chinese children. It was a really greateful and challenging experience to have taught and also learnt from children of another culture!
What medium do you enjoy working on the most? I really enjoy working collage and digital collage. I love playing with textures of different papers and making up an artwork on paper or by computer as well. On another hand, If I have in mind large-size illustration projects I love going back to traditional techniques like oil painting or acryllic.
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INTERVIEW
AUTISM HAPPY KINGDOM Thomais V. Moshopoulos was born in Athens, Greece in 2008. She was developing like any other kid but at 36 months she had a massive regression and autism became a part of her life. She loves dinosaurs, whales and at times she believes she’s an encyclopedia and loves to share what she’s learned. Thomais learned to read this year and is beyond thrilled with the greater discoveries she’s making, writing and illustrating her own book for starters.
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How do you feel after your desperate move that drove you to take your daughter to Tampa Bay without her father's consent?
I do not fight the misconception anymore. I respect everyone's journey and I simply show my daughter's videos and explain this was her in 2012 and this is her now. How did I do it? Those interested will ask how, others will not. I'm OK with that...
I am no longer desperate. My efforts and the support of many - particularly my daughter's
As a parent, the most challenging problem has
father - have made it so. I am fully committed to
always been behaving like a detective, police
creating quality of life for Thomais and
officer, counselor, psychologist, doctor, nurse,
guaranteeing her challenges and her diagnosis do
therapist, wrestler, patient mom at all times. It is
not become the priority in our day to day. And
all about being a parent of a child with a diagnosis
long term, she will be capable of leading a
and not about just being a parent. It has taken
meaningful and loving life, making decisions
time to accept and seek the positive of life in this
based on the power of being alive.
new reality.
Why is the expression of emotions of children important? In which ways do you encourage your child (and other children) to do that?
What are the ways that you use to help your child to read and to spell?
Children, diagnosis or not, need to be urged to
dyslexia, the support of a professional is vital. We
experience life in all its forms. Expressing emotions - all kinds, when felt, as they are felt - is vital to build a solid foundation that will have meaningful repercussions in their adult life. Understanding and acknowledging the definition of emotion is key - instinctive or intuitive feeling as distinguished from reasoning or knowledge because children are pure instinct and their emotions must not be suppressed. Writing and art, in all its forms, are excellent ways to encourage the expression of emotions.
How do you deal and manage on a daily basis with the various misconceptions of autism? Which has been the most challenging problem as a parent?
Much credit must be given to her dad who for two years read and invented stories for at least two hours over the phone -- Also, with a diagnosis like found an incredible tutor, knowledgeable in multisensory methodologies and how she could be taught how to learn. It was so hard because the tutor had to work on managing some of the autism and ADHD behaviors while instilling the power of reading and its far-reaching consequences.
How do you intend to fulfill Thomais' wishes? Allowing Thomais be herself and leave the doors open as opportunities arise. She wants her story to become a movie and her skills, delights, discoveries, challenges as an individual with autism must be shown on T.V. I know she will make it happen!
I realize my daughter belongs to a different generation of individuals diagnosed with autism. The message I received when it was confirmed this unwanted visitor became a part of our lives autism is medical, address the medical issues and your daughter will come back to life -- guides my present efforts to empower parents who have received different messages, recently or 20 years ago.
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INTERVIEW
INTERVIEW WITH POET AND WRITER TARA LYNN HAWK Tara Lynn Hawk is a poet and writer whose work has appeared in Occulum, Spelk, Anti-Heroin Chic, Uut, Midnight Lane Gallery, Idle Ink, Spilling Cocoa, Social Justice Poetry, Poems & Poetry and more. Her work focuses on the human condition: the unspoken, the forgotten and the marginalization of the consumer culture. Born in northern California, she has traveled extensively and lived and worked in the UK and Europe.
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You address many aspects of the human condition in your book The Dead. Which was the most challenging for you?
I appreciate any and all feedback I get. There are many journal editors who go above and beyond to write down some feedback and get it to you. The journals Here Comes Everyone, Salome and Poethead have been especially generous and helpful with feedback.
It is all easy, and all difficult for me. I continue to be alternately amazed and appalled with what I see and experience in my day to day life: isolation, loneliness, the willful ignorance, the pain, the lack of humility. I write free verse in a confessionalist manner and all my work has meaning, often deep and intense, for me. Tone, atmosphere, the desired level of intensity - I calculate and re-craft it till it just settles, till it feels right. I am not a shock poet, but if my words give a reader a bit of a “jab” to wake up to a particular issue or matter, well then, my work is done.
What is your creative process?
Inspirations? So many. I grew up in a creative family and was encouraged to read and read. To name a few: the beat poets, especially Lew Welch. Montaigne, Rumi, Baudelaire, Sexton, William Carlos Williams, Lucretius, Shakespeare, Elliot, Wolfe, Yeats, Heaney, Patti Smith, Blake, Panayotopoulos and Akhmatova. I am blessed to have the inspiration of so many amazing active poets. In particular Greta Bellamancina, Scarlet Sabet, Kevin Bateman and Rus Khumotoff.
Seriously I cannot articulate my process. I write
What do you feel is the state of poetry today?
because I have to. It is my primary artistic
Poetry as a force and impetus for change has never
expression and I find it just comes when I need it
been stronger. Social media has so much to do
to. I have periods where I write a considerable
with this. Unfortunately, the state of our society, the
amount fast and furious. Then I may not put
planet, the religion of consumerism and the idea
anything on a page for a week. I have learned to
propagated in the media that money equals
leave it alone and not overthink it, making a point
happiness and “success” in life are all fodder for
of practicing patience and self-compassion and just
discontent and activism in poetry. It is exciting to
letting it all be what it will be. Also, I endeavor to
see so many young people embracing poetry as a
write with how the piece will “read” in mind. The
means of uncensored, and unashamed, articulate
cadence and the pacing are of utmost importance.
self-expression. I am honored to be an active
Even though, to be honest, I do not have a great
contributor to the current poetry scene.
Pure manic joy alternating with sheer mayhem!
passion for reading my work and have done very little!
And the critics? If you publish your work, any work, especially now with the net, you are going to have people who do not like your work. That is just what is. You cannot thrill everyone, and if we all liked the same, well, that would make for a pretty boring world. I have been so very fortunate to have been accepted for publication in OCCULUM, Midnight Lane Gallery, Uut, Idle Ink, Spelk, Anti-Heroin Chic, Social Justice Poetry, Wanton Fuckery, The Poet Community, Poems and Poetry, etc. Spilling Cocoa on Martin Amis was my first, publishing my poem “Interview” last year.
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INTERVIEW
INTERVIEW WITH GOTHIC ARTIST AND ILLUSTRATOR JAE Tara Lynn Hawk is a poet and writer whose work has appeared in Occulum, Spelk, Anti-Heroin Chic, Uut, Midnight Lane Gallery, Idle Ink, Spilling Cocoa, Social Justice Poetry, Poems & Poetry and more. Her work focuses on the human condition: the unspoken, the forgotten and the marginalization of the consumer culture. Born in northern California, she has traveled extensively and lived and worked in the UK and Europe.
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How long have you been a graphite and charcoal artist? Why did you choose this medium? I have been a graphite artist for as long as I have been an artist, you can use graphite on pretty much any type of paper, make’s it’s a great medium for practicing/learning. Another great feature of graphite is the ability to work within fine detail which is probably why it is a favourite amongst portrait and realism artists. Charcoal is relatively new to me I was introduced to it in workshop a few years ago and immediately fell in love with it, however I don’t use it as much as I really want to.
I guess he is special to me as this is the first Tarot deck I have created so he is with me on a daily basis. I have a few other characters that I haven’t really revealed much about yet that are part of the graphic novel. Rain and Knight are the central characters and I have a spiritual Wolf in there too, there will be more to come on those characters in the new year. The novel will be in the dark fantasy genre and will be based around the adventures of the 3 characters.
How challenging is the creation of a Graphic Novel? Where do you plan to exhibit your creative artwork and creations?
Which genre do you love most?
Very challenging, I had to do a lot of research about
I love, love the gothic, fantasy and horror genre
illustrating a graphic novel. Yes graphic novels are
which is what most of my work consists of, my
very visual but the plot of the story and the actual
imagination just goes to another place, it is when I
story writing is equally important. Writing and
am at my most creative. Most people think I am
Illustrating the graphic novel, an instructional book
sad, unhappy, because some of my drawings and
by Daniel Cooney has helped me a lot to
illustrations are quite dark, I can understand that
understand the frame work of even attempting to
because a lot of my work has originated from my
write a graphic novel.
own personal feelings and experiences. However, I am a very positive, happy person who wears a lot of black, has a room full of skulls and draws dark art lol.
What is the biggest project you have undertaken? By far the Tarot Card project is the biggest I have undertaken. The time, the focus, the work, the project has taken me a best part of the year and we are now almost complete. In 2018 I have at least 3 major projects that will keep me extremely busy, one of which will see all proceeds go to a children’s charity. I can’t say much about it right now as I haven’t formalised anything yet, but it is going to be fun where people will be able to view me live and enjoy this creation along with me.
Which are your top 3 personal favorite original characters you have ever created? Well of course Gabriel is one of my favourite characters, Gabriel is the central character of the Tarot Card deck so you will see him all through the minor cards. JAAMZIN CREATIVE | 35
For me illustrating the characters is obviously
Tarot was and still is in fact a card game, it wasn’t
where I am most comfortable, writing on the other
until the late 18th Century that it began to be used
hand is the challenge. I will hopefully be debuting
for divination and now we are flooded with Tarot
the graphic novel characters at the Birmingham
card creations, from cats to biblical themes and
Comic Con in June 2018 where I will be exhibiting
even movie themes, the Tarot genre is vast and
my artwork. I was there this year, it was my first my
there are lots of collectors out there. It’s fun, It’s
time at a Comic Con so I did a relatively small
therapeutic, and for some it has been life changing,
exhibition but next year I intend to put on a bigger
Tarot deserves respect and not the “evil” stigma
exhibition with brand new artwork.
that is attached to it.
I do have other exhibitions I hope to be able to
It is a very personal experience for someone when
attend but I have nothing confirmed yet except for
choosing a Tarot deck, most choose a deck they
the Birmingham Comic Con.
feel a connection to and not just because the artwork is pretty, of course initially the artwork does
What/who inspires you to create the Tarot/Oracle card deck?
attract the eye of the person which makes them
Well the Tarot Deck I’m creating right now is a
hope Gothic Moon has a connection for some.
team effort. We have the author of the deck Ophelia Jade, whom is an experienced Tarot card expert. Whilst most people read tarot from feeling and intuition there are a lot of novices out there so it was important that the deck had an author so novices have a basic understanding, and we also wanted to make sure it was a working deck, it’s very important that the deck can be read with. I also have my, as I like to call her, creative assistant, Tinez Pollewop who helps a lot with some of the symbolic creations of the cards. And of course there is myself the illustrator, yes it was my creation initially, but without the other 2 creators it would never have been a completed project. It all started with an illustration which was a golden cup, it hit me how much it resembled the Ace of Cups from the Rider Waite Tarot, so I thought well, let's carry on. I had no idea how much it would become a very important and lifechanging project for me because it forced me to delve within my own personal experiences of life, some of which I had not dealt with yet on a spiritual level. So a lot of the cards are in fact from my own life experiences, specifically the Sword cards, which deals with the not so welcoming parts of life we have all experienced at some point, heartbreak, sadness, tragedy and the mental conflicts that accompany them. It’s has been very therapeutic for me and not just a project, in fact I don’t even like to use the word project for this particular creation.
JAAMZIN CREATIVE | 36
want to explore the deck more, most usually know if they have a connection within a few minutes. I
INTERVIEW
SARUTA JAPANESE MANGA ARTIST Saruta is a Japanese amateur manga artist living in Kyoto. He draws bilingual manga drawn in Japanese and English by using digital painting software together. We have conducted an interview with him.
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Which kind of details do you look into when you first started to draw bilingual manga?
Almost all manga magazines have decreased
I bothered how to know onomatopoeic words in
maximum. Although we consider the migration to
English (thud and thump etc.). Fortunately, I found and have used this translation site . If this site doesn't exist, I must have cost much money to buy many comic books in English. And I also bothered how I draw speeches and onomatopoeic words on the same manuscript. Again, fortunately, I have used digital paint softs and applied them to draw.
largely in circulation, even the most popular magazine, Shonen Jump decreases less than one-third of E-book and the popularization of social network games, Japanese has taken leave from manga as entertainment. Second, about the income of manga authors. Recently, websites showing manga have increased as the popularization of smartphones. But they are basically shown for free and copy money for authors is cheap, and books developing royalty aren't published without
Please tell us about the current condition and subjects of Japanese manga. Why is this important? First, although many foreign people may not know, the home market of Japanese manga has continued to reduce.Â
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considerable popularity. The difference between a small proportion of authors with very popular works and all the other authors is continuing to extend. Some authors draw products with working parttime.
What is the present style and what are your purposes of manga by drawing?
At least, I would like to create an opportunity for it.
paper, and scanned it. Second, I draw speeches and
Do you read/watch any particular manga series? What kind of manga do you personally like to read/watch?
onomatopoeic words in English and Japanese on
I like all kind of manga basically. I read every
First, I draw the picture without speeches and onomatopoeic words in analog by using pen and
the scanned image in different layers by the digital software.
manga, if it is interesting. If I must say, I like youth comics. I'm not young now...
The world market size of comics(containing
What are your expectations of a professional Manga Artist? What kind of skills do you aim to achieve in the near future?
Japanese manga) is slight in comparison with
I hope that manga artists from now on study
movies and novels yet. I love Japanese manga and
foreign languages containing English to sell their
would like to let more foreign people know the
works not only in the country but also abroad.
My purposes of drawing bilingual manga are various. Although Japanese manga recently said to have become popular all over the world, I don't think so.
attraction of it. Under the circumstances, manga is mediated between translation agencies and other publishers until it is sold in foreign countries. So it takes much time and the price also becomes expensive. My ultimate purpose is that Japanese manga in various languages is published at the same time and price worldwide on the internet.Â
Authors can hire translators, but I think they had better translate his words by themselves to tell their nuances correctly. Of course, I would like to come in touch with various works and knowledge to heighten my works' quality, and my English skill isn't probably enough and I should improve it.
This may lead to extend the market size of comics and give many authors the chance to draw more income.Â
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INTERVIEW
MYRIAN'S JOURNAL INTERVIEW WITH AUTHOR SUMMER MCGAHA Today our guest is Summer McGaha from North Carolina. She has been storytelling for most of her life, but only really discovered it was her passion in 2006. She began writing an age-gap love story named The Adoption Elopement. The story grew for four years, by which point, she's changed the name to Myrian's Journal and after almost a decade, a new plot for the characters have begun to grow. She is currently writing the sequel. We have conducted an interview with Summer.
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How did your story's title 'Myrian's Journal' evolved from "The Adoption Elopement"? Why did you need to change its title?
The story will deal with Myrian maturing, as well as
The title The Adoption Elopement, was spawned
Which part of the entire writing process do you enjoy the most and the least?
from a plot point I'd had from the beginning, that Myrian and Krayper would run away together. I began to see how impulsive that decision would have been for them, and I didn't want them to feel like they needed to be secretive about their relationship. The purity of their relationship meant that they didn't have anything to be ashamed of, and I felt like there was no reason their closest friends and family members shouldn't treat them with respect. Then I began to look for how they might find an appropriate way to tell those they trust about their relationship, in hope of gaining acceptance among them. Being that I'd had the characters change their minds about running away, I couldn't keep The Adoption Elopement as a title. The character Myrian was very shy, and as the book progressed, she became more brave. I really wanted to have her make a really bold statement
the relationship maturing. I don't know how long it will take me to finish writing it, but I'm hoping to have it released between now and the end of this year!
A lot of the time, when I am writing, I continue to develop the story in my mind as I go along--even if I am not at my laptop, writing it. What I love most is when an idea comes while I'm dreaming! I don't always choose to add something that came to me in a dream, but even if I don't, it inspires me! My least favorite thing about writing is when something happens that will cause one of my characters to be depressed, or one of them crying. Even though they aren't real, the situations are realistic to me. The more realistic it is to me, the more I can feel what my characters would be feeling.
of how she felt for Krayper--and then I remembered how personal her journal was for her. She had it with her spanning several years of her friendship with Krayper, even as her feelings for him had developed. Revealing her love for him through her journal became the main focus, which is why I changed the title to Myrian's Journal.
What is the sequel about? When will it be release? The sequel to Myrian's Journal takes place months after the end of the first book, and will span the next couple of years. Krayper and his brother, Seph are struggling financially, and the only solution they can think of, is for one of them to start working at their parents' Stain Glass Factory, temporarily. Due to the distance between their house, and the their hometown, one of the brothers will have to stay at his job, and take care of the house. Krayper decides to work for their parents, and the news crushes Myrian. With how busy his job has kept him, Krayper hasn't been able to read very much of Myrian's journal, and promises her he will read it while he's away.Â
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What is your personal story about the discovery of your passion for writing?
 I saw it being shunned more than being accepted,
I had always loved storytelling when I was a kid, but
Society tries to force people into generational
I had stopped being passionate about writing when
clichĂŠs, and sometimes the applied stereotypes are
a teacher had me erase I a story I'd almost finished,
then used in arguments against age-gap
about aliens, and start over. I'd misunderstood the
relationships. The idea being that both parties
writing prompt. ("Describe what would be the best
involved fit with a stereotype being applied to their
day", because it wasn't written as "your best day", or
respective peers. This is part of why it age-gap
"the best day for you", I thought I could write what
relationships can be so shocking to some. But what
would be the best day would be for anyone else. I
about a person who doesn't fit in with their peers,
chose an alien.) Many years later, in 2006, I was at a
and instead of it feeling like a huge contrast when
sleepover with my best friend. She talked
they are with someone much older, (or younger,)
constantly about someone she had a crush on, and
they just click? Or even, two people who do fit in
at her house, I'd started writing a hypothetical
with their peers, but they are fascinated by their
comedy because I didn't think she realized how
differences... who's to say there's anything wrong
much she talked about him. It was a secret story,
with either situation? Part of what makes age-gap
and while she was okay with me writing it, I didn't
relationships so interesting is that inside the
want her to get embarrassed if anyone saw it.
relationship, it could be like any relationship, but
That's why I had typed it in Notepad, on her family's
there are hardships they may face just due to what
computer. I stayed up until 5:00 a.m. writing it, and
they may feel blind to, (age difference,) and what
the time had just slipped by. That's when I realized
some outsiders only see (age difference,)--troubles
I loved writing.
that they wouldn't face in any other relationship.
Why did you choose to write 'an agegap love story'? What is so interesting about this kind of stories? Age Gap relationships became interesting to me and the complexities surrounding them. In 2007,
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and I felt like it wasn't fair to judge a relationship solely on an age difference. Myrian's Journal was a way for me to examine questions I had about it.
This may be part of why I love to see when an age gap couple has defied the odds!
INTERVIEW
INTERVIEW WITH AWARD WINNING ARCHITECT ERIC M ROBERTS Eric M Roberts, AIA is a husband, a father of five children and an award winning architect. Eric lives in Las Vegas, Nevada and travels throughout the United States in his search for inspiration. His art is rooted in the study and rendering of architecture and its impact on society. A strong focus on religious structures and their impact on western communities is expressed throughout his work. He is an avid sketcher and prefers capturing his subject matter in plein-air.
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What are the awards you have won as an architect? I have been the recipient of the AIA Nevada Silver medal. This is the highest honor that the architects of Nevada can bestow upon another architect. I have also been the recipient of the AIA Nevada Service award (2015), the AIA Nevada Young Architect Award (2010), Alpha Rho Chi Medal for architecture (2005), Vegas Seven Magazine’s “Most Intriguing People 2014”,
What importance do you regard the originality of art? I think art has a responsibility to be unique as each artist interprets the world around them. For me, as an architect, I practice a very democratized form of art most of the time. However, my drawing and watercolor is an opportunity for self-expression and consideration of other things that form and function. If these works were not unique to my experience and perspective I think they would lose impact and not have the ability to speak to the soul.
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Which kind of custom work and unique nature of custom work do you do? I have provided custom work for patrons who are generally looking to celebrate a time or place from their lives. Much of my early work was interpreting simple single-family houses for people. I was able to see beyond the architecture and capture some sense of what “home” meant to them. I am not strictly confined by the reality of a piece of architecture. I like to be very technical with shade, shadow and form; but, I feel like color and tone can be much more expressive of the “soul” of a place. I seek to capture that feeling and emotion for my patrons. I have created works that celebrate a favorite sports venue, a favorite vacation spot, a college or university, wedding locations and sometimes just a building that is important to somebody’s history.
What are the different varieties of work and media used in your architectural designs? My architecture is quite different from my art. The practice of architecture, while artistic, is still a critical evaluation of schedule, budget and design within the framework of an architectural program. When I focus on architecture as art I like to utilize pen, ink and watercolor to interpret most of my work. However, I will also use art markers from time to time.
What are your other strengths and talents other than religious structures design? I think I have focused on religious structures for my art because of the magnetic pull that they have within their communities. Oddly, my day-to-day practice as an architect doesn’t include much religious work. I want to interpret architecture with meaning in my art. Each building that I include has a personal story. I love to share the story through my art and often I actually write something to accompany it.
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INTERVIEW
THE PIANO INTERVIEW WITH MULTI-GENRE AUTHOR H.J. H.J. is a multi-genre author, from Ontario Canada. Consistently rated 5 stars. She began writing with a professional legacy in mind at the age of 14 - by the time she was 19, she released her first full-length publication, which is a Fiction/Romance chapter book titled "The Piano". Along with her author work, she also partakes in social advocacy; primarily in the field of Disabled Rights and subsequent accessibility issues, but also environmental conservation. H.J. has also founded "Massive, Mutual Magnificence" and "the NEON movement" and she volunteers for Suicide Prevention causes.
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How did you become a multi-genre author? When did you figure out that you should not be limited to one genre in your writing?
So, you could say it helps with the writer's block
There was never a defining moment where I
Passion, true love, childhood trauma - the first two
''figured'' my path out; this wasn't a result of any
are challenging mostly because of societies cynical
sort of epiphany, I just simply had to go where ever
attitudes; I'm constantly dodging phrases like "that
the writing took me. My first book, as mentioned,
never happens in real life" and things along those
was a Fiction/Romance - so I started there. And
lines. Passion, alone, is difficult also because I just
then I found myself writing poetry, and things just
get so overcome with the emotion as I'm writing it;
sort of expanded from there. It seems, for me, that
it really puts me at a loss for words. which is ironic
poetry comes out when nothing else does; so, I
and incredibly frustrating. Lastly, the 'childhood
guess that genre is part of my ''roots''. Even 'The
trauma' topic is challenging just due to it's nature;
Piano' (first full-length publication) ends with a
this topic is never easy for anyone, but I am a
small poem!
survivor of multiple traumas, myself, so sometimes
and general inspiration.
Which are the three most challenging subjects to write about?
my own pain emerges. As do some flashbacks and
Besides writing, what else do you like to do? How does that help you in tackling taboo subjects?
such. All of it can get incredibly perplex and exhausting.
Apart from writing, I focus my time in advocacy which is also where I get my ideas or inspirations for each of the taboo things that I write about.
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To what extent do you practice in environmental conservation? How do you think we can increase the awareness to environmental protection?
Tell us more about your full-length publication, the Fiction/Romance book 'The Piano'. How did you craft the main character(s) in your story?
The bulk of my conservation efforts started through
this book are about 60 to 80% inspired or
a little bulletin board that I was generously given
modelled from people I knew personally, as well as
during elementary school. Every month for a year, I
some of my own childhood experiences - although
was permitted to write a piece about any
I'd like for people to focus more on the aspect of
conservation issue. The board would sit in the
love, as they read it. On a personal level, this story is
hallway for other students and staff and visitors to
special because it was built for someone that I love
look at. I also became part of the "eco-schools
- the love remains just as deeply, to this day.
team" for that year; which was a student-based 'club' of sorts that would work to get everyone involved in things like recycling or tree planting. As I got older and graduated, most of my efforts came in the form of charitable donations; although my third book (Kobo ebook, "Pawprint") tackles the environmental issues such as deforestation, and general extinction related to the tiger populations. On the subject of increasing awareness, I feel like awareness starts at home. I would suggest that others try to become more conscious of their own environmental mark before anything else. Alternatively, I hope that they may also be able to find some tips or guidelines within my books.
The characters for this book essentially ''wrote themselves''; meaning that they and the whole of
What is so special about this story? In terms of where it fits in the literary world; I would say that it's special in respect to its unique elements. It's unusual to find a romance that will branch out into some traumatic topics...That alone is 'special' but then it's unique for the fact that it can do these things without having the romance lose its impact. Also, the characters essentially "don't have" names, so that's special, too - meaning they're referred to only by their term of endearment for most of the time. Also, the word "dedicate" at the beginning had never been used in such context as mine, before. According to my knowledge and the knowledge of all my editors, it hadn't been - and still hasn't been, to date. So, that's also 'special'.
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About JaamZIN Creative JaamZIN Creative Studio is an online social media agency established in 2017 in Singapore.
We feature artists and creative people,Â
Contact us if you want to be featured!
Submit your art to JaamZIN Creative We are seeking for talented emerging and established artists to be part of the community of thousands of people who love art. We curate the submissions and the selected artists will be featured in JaamZIN Creative Contact us at info@jaamzin.com