I have a new permanent home for my art work as it will be on display for a period of 6 months starting 5/19/12 at the brand new art gallery in Tarpon Springs, FL,  Artistic Studio 30!  Its a real pleasure to be showing here and returning to Tarpon Springs.

9 S Safford Ave.
Tarpon Springs, FL 34689
727-207-4855
http://artisticstudio30.com

On 5/17/12 I had the pleasure to talk with James Lowe on the Jiggy Jaguar Show, nationally syndicated, talking about my book “A Haunted Soul”, my art series “Dreams, Nightmares, Fears and Fantasy” and paranormal investigating.

The human body is an amazing work of art and with this series I want to show off the beauty diversity gives when it comes to the human body.

About two weeks ago my art came under attack.  I took some seriously insulting criticism from a friend who said to my face how much he loved my work; then told another friend of mine what he really thought of me and my work.  Needless to say it got back to me.  I’ve been waiting for criticism to start flowing because you can’t go years without it.  I’m sure it was there, just maybe not being told to my face.

Regardless, it was a true test as an artist for me.  Its one I passed, and I am proud of how I handled the situation.  I guess the best lesson here can be summed up by a TV show I saw.

Many of you probably don’t watch Nickelodeon, but I do.  I can’t help it, I’ve watched it since I was a child.  Anyways, one show I like to watch because it does give some good advice for artists is “Victorious”.

When Tori started at Hollywood Arts, she had to learn to do one specific scene before she was allowed to tryout for roles in the school plays.  That scene was the “Bird Scene”.

Tori got up and performed the scene.  She did a fantastic rendition for her first shot.  However, when she asked Sikowitz how she did, he told her she failed.  That pissed her off.

The second time she did it, she had a fake bird, a background and a costume.  She was even better the second time.  Again, she asked her teacher what he thought and once again he said, You fail.

The third time she did it.  She had music, a real bird, background, costume and even curtains.  She nailed the piece again.  Once again she asked Sikowitz what he thought and he said “you fail!”.  Tori became upset and said you know what I don’t care what you think… I know I did a good job.  If you don’t like it, then that’s your opinion but I liked it and I am proud of myself.

Then Sikowitz stood up, clapped and said… you just passed the bird scene.  See Tori, as an artist it doesn’t matter what anyone else thinks of you or your work, because you must please yourself.  That’s the only one that matters.  People will love you, people will hate you, but you must do this for you, and be proud of your work.”

Let me tell you, it’s so true!  I didn’t see this particular episode before this criticism, but I’ve been saying that to artists all over the place through my interviews and through my lectures on this website.

I don’t care if he doesn’t like my work because there are lots of people who do.  He said he’s shocked people aren’t calling me to take down the hideous work I do, but I have galleries begging me to hang that same work on their walls.

What I told this critic was this.  “You may think I have the skills of a three-year old, like you said but I am proud of my work and my accomplishments.  Sure some work is better than others, but that’s the same for every artist.  You may not like my work, but there are plenty others that do.  I am proud of my work, my skills and I am not going to stop, or let you intimidate me to stop.  If you don’t like my work, fine stop looking at it.  Stop following my website, UNLIKE me from Facebook, but don’t go around and betray me behind my back to my friends.  I accept your opinion, but I must disagree.”

I passed the Bird Scene.  Watching it come to life on Victorious was even funnier.  My advice to artists, photographers, and performing artists everywhere is this.  People will like your work, people will hate it.  People will think you are the best in the world, some will think your work could be done better by an uncoordinated elephant.  Either way, don’t let that intimidate you, and silence your work, your passion and your message to the world!  Art isn’t about who’s better or not, it’s about you and your voice.

Ghost Towns

In the mid 1800s, thousands of Americans left the East coast of America for the gold found on the western coast.  Miners that migrated into the areas of Colorado, Arizona, Nevada, California, Wyoming and Utah created towns designed for the mining of gold and other precious metals.  After the area went dry, these towns were abandoned.  Their significance is huge, because they are the remnants of the western movement across America.  They are the reason the west coast has the population it does today.  Many gunfighters like “Billy the Kid” and other great names like Wyatt Earp and Doc Holiday called these towns home.

My project is to photograph these towns.  In doing so I will help archive the towns as they now stand, preserving their history.  The book will be compiled of my photos and research about each town.  If possible, I will include photos from the towns in their prime – pending that photos exist.  The project will document and archive a pivotal time in American history.

People that donate will receive a gift from Dowd Studios.  The more you donate the bigger the gift.  To donate to the cause, visit this link

http://www.crowdfundingservices.com/Projects/DOWD/Dowd.html

My photos are designed to tell a story.  Alone, some of the photos just don’t make sense but together they do.  The problem of this particular series is that it goes from a perspective of someone sleeping, looking at this entity entering their room and attacking them.  The POV is the problem.  It didn’t make sense even inside the group of photos.  If I have a hard time understanding the series, I know it won’t make sense to others viewing it.

Not all of the photos were removed.  I removed all but the one where the Sleep Hag sits on the chest of her victim.  I kept this one because its the best representation of what a “Sleep Hag” would do.  You can clearly see the interaction, rather than the view from the victim.

In removing some of these photos I think the picture and its intent is better focused and understandable.  I truly see the entire event can be summed up in one picture.  Since I never officially “finalized’ the series and copyrighted it yet, I was able to make the changes.

Both my website and Facebook has been updated with these changes.

We decommissioned her photos and provided a removal demand to her for the photos unless she repaid the studio the money that was stolen from us.  After denying to pay, and making herself incognito, we had no other choice but to pull the photos and void her payment agreement.  In return, we reshot the photos with model Cristina Vasquez.  Those photos were “Face Off” and “Shock of Death”. Another series we removed was “Hear No Evil, Speak No Evil, See No Evil” and we replaced her with Lauren Jemison.  There are still photos we have to re-shoot including the “Psycho” series.

Through out the last part of 2011, we gave her ample opportunities to repay the money.  We even offered a payment plan, but she denied it.  Right after the money was stolen, she remodeled her kitchen and started a new business.

We went above and beyond our means to get in touch with her and make things right.  When that failed, we turned her over to a collection agency.  She has just told them to “sue me”, and that is what we intend to do.

This theft caused us to raise our fees to recoup the money lost.  It also forced us to cut back on our art series, we had to stop production of our 2nd Volume DVD till all the photos were reshot and many more hardships arose.  It’s sad that this happened, but I hope its going to be over soon.

Dowd Studios launches our new APP for iPhone.  To download it, simply scan the barcode above with your smart phone.  It will take you to the app site where you can download it.

The App has a “tap” call us button, about us, coupons and more – right at your finger tips.

If you don’t have a barcode scanner you can click here

http://ibuildapp.com/web-Dowd_Studios

I go on the CORE Business Show and talk about my book “A Haunted Soul”, and describe some of the experiences I wrote about in the book.  I also talk about my art collection “Dreams, Nightmares, Fears and Fantasy” which many of the images were inspired from those experiences.