AN EPIPHANY IN THE DARK

Many artists say they had a life-changing moment. This is such a story. Joel Conison saw something in the blink of an eye that changed the direction of his life.

What if you were brought up in a traditional household and never thought of yourself as an artist. You had the advantage of a mother being an award winning sculptor in both stone and marble. Your father is a CPA. A career in art never crosses your mind because you are too busy being a kid.

Going to Ohio State, he did what any normal college boy would do, and trust me, he didn't write home about it.

He will admit he had an interest in photography. BUT - when taking a photography class, the teacher had a lesson called "art in the dark" - showing famous photographs on a screen. It was here he saw the famous photograph, Pepper 30 by Edward Weston. At that exact moment he knew he was meant to be a still life photographer. Truly an epiphany in the dark (that is the photograph above).

After seeing that photograph, he moved to Chicago and apprenticed for five years with several still photographers (and yes, one worked for Playboy).

Joel became a successful commercial photographer in the Cincinnati area, photographing prestigious clients like the Cincinnati Symphony and the Cincinnati Ballet, But, after 20 years, he found himself a little bored and he knew the advertising business was changing. He had been teaching adults in the evening and realized he liked it. So, he sold everything and moved to Brooklyn and pursued his MFA at Pratt. (This is the highest you can go as a studio artist)

Fast forward to today, he has come full circle. After practicing commercial photography, getting an MFA, teaching on the college level, he went back to what originally made his heart beat - still life art photography.

At this moment he is photographing taxidermied birds. (see them and read his artist statement here) Yes, I didn't understand taxidermy either, but trust me - animal lovers out there - they are the biggest animal lovers in the world.

So - compare Pepper 30 to what Joel is doing now (see below Empire on the left, Raven on the right)

I'd love to hear other stories of a moment that changed your life!

STROKE OF THE BRUSH AWARD

My blogging friend Kim Bennett forwarded the Stroke of the Brush Award to me. She writes very inspirational blogs about painting as well as travelling between the UK and the US. Thank you Kim for your generous award.

Of course, it comes with a catch! I have to list 7 things that are not really known about me, and send the award to 7 bloggers. So, here goes.

1, I don't know my right from my left - and I've always blamed it on being left-handed!
2. Being left-handed is what made me pick up a pencil to draw. When I found out your creativity is in the right side of your brain, I began to understand why I've always been drawn to art and artists.
3. I hate to fly. It makes me nervous.
4. Jeopardy is my favorite show on television - yes, I love it more than Law and Order
5. I secretly would like to win big on Jeopardy.
6. I want to put together a class on the History of Atlanta to teach to adults.
7. My dream job is to be a dog-walker, to make enough money to support my art life and get out of the corporate rat race! or replace Alex Trebeck!

I want to pass this award on to some of my favorite bloggers

Of course, I have to include my life partner Joel Conison. I think he is really one of the best photographers around anywhere. He knows his stuff!

Lance Carlson and I have exhibited together repeatedly. I love his work, and his quirky sense of humor. I hope his recent fight with a runaway car resulting in a broken finger doesn't waylay his creativity for long.

It has been fun to watch Jacqueline Allison really grow as an artist and really pursue her art education seriously. Her work is amazing to me, and she really loves to experiment new techniques.

You have to check out the vibrant colors in Alisha Kay Ard's shoes!!!! I'm glad she found me on Facebook so I can continue looking at her work!

Someone else I connected with on Facebook is Suzanne Clem-Wheeler. She recently took an art vacation in Europe and it was a pleasure reading her blog throughout the trip. I highly recommend you scroll through it and find the story about painting and attracting a group of children!! I hope someday to actually meet in person!!

I connected with Magdalena Castaneda through taking a class on blogging from Alyson Stanfield's BLOG TRIAGE class (I highly recommend the class!) and was instantly struck with her passion for art.

Last but not least, Kipp Mullis's blog BoyohBoyohBoy. I felt Kipp could be included in this because he paints with words. I've known Kipp the longest on this list, being co-workers for quite awhile. But unemployment has shown us all a talent we didn't know he had! Take a look at the blog and subscribe to it - all the posts are beautiful

So - you guys need to write on your blog seven things about yourself and send the award to seven other artists of some sort. If you don't have seven to send it to right now, then take you time and get out there on the internet and start following other blogs like yours. You will be amazed by who and what you will find!