Yume no Chikara...

It's great when those little things happen in life that you're not really expecting.

Take this morning.
The man will all know and owe a great deal to for making this place as excellent as it is
(commonly known as 'The Wizard'), sent me a little message to inform me that I'm currently the most viewed Photographer at MOL,
and that really means something.

Let me try to give a few thoughts as to why.


Before October last year, I had done a fair amount of spade work, setting up websites for my local muses and portfolios on places like OMP, and it had certainly generated some 'window gazing' - around 280,000 hits on the OMP portfolios alone - but there simply wasn't much in the way of actual inter-action or communication taking place between those of us generating the work and those viewing it, and it most certainly wasn't creating a furthering of our artistic endeavors here at Unison. Frankly, it was a cul-de-sac, and I realized we so needed to find a new direction which would allow quick and constant updating of the Unison portfolio for people who really wanted to see and engage with the medium. Thankfully, three things happened around then that have really allowed progress...

1. Starting my own Apple website.
2. A growing involvement with Universe D'Artistes, and
3. Discovering Miss On Line.

Whilst I have other portfolios, MOL has become the hub in relation to virtually immediate presentation of new work,
and that has allowed for something very special...

Me at Unison's Lightworks Studio, Plymouth, UK.

I never really understood when I really picked up a camera a few short years ago where it would lead and the world it would open for me in the shadow of the loss of my late wife, Kay, but MOL has certainly aided in making that a very immediate and vibrant reality - a vital means of expressing my art - and for that, I'd like to say a heart-felt thank you to all of you here who have made this possible, and encouraged me by your words and friendship. It is very, very much appreciated, and thanks to the MOL team for all they do to keep this particular and special home alive.

I also must say an enormous thank you to my muse, Magenta:

The Japanese express it well - "Yume no Chikara", which is all about the power to see a dream made real, the strength to follow outrageous ambitions. Artists know all about that, so I hope I'll continue to have the strength and vision to continue to trigger some of your own delighting in the beauty for many days to come.

With kind regards,

Howard.

Continuing to paint with light.