Hiboux: One of my four rescued friends
"If you talk to the animals they will talk with you and you will know each other.
If you do not talk to them you will not know them, and what you do not know you will fear. Â What one fears one destroys."
--Chief Dan George (1899 - 1981)
The avatar I use is a photo of a kitten who adopted me last fall. She came to my door one night, hungry and cold and in need of shelter. I had already adopted a rescued dog and 2 fostered cats (I have a friend who works in animal rescue), but another friend told me that being chosen by a cat was a special thing, so, here she is in her new home. I called her Hiboux (French for owl for those who don't already know), since she reminded me of a snowy owl tapping on my door.
Sorry I need a new digital camera. The one used for this photo was one of the first ones ever made that utilizes a floppy disc. I am attached to it, but thought it was more important to show off my kitty here since this is merely my "home" page and not a display of my digital art. I'll update it as soon as I can.
I live in the US Midwest, have a degree in landscape design, compete nationally (only in the US so far)Â in dancesport, and choreographed contemporary dance for over a decade. I've been writing since childhood--mainly for my own amusement. A few of my poems have been published in obscure places and I used to write many interviews which were published online for years. None of my novels have met the public eye yet and that's OK because for me "the joy is in the journey." Â
I'm hooked on creating digital art. I stumbled upon it when I worked online for 11 years as a content editor and became intrigued watching the medium grow. 3D art feels like a good niche for me combining movement, landscape, my love of nature, history, art, technology, myth and storytelling . . .  I love to experiment with software and hope to continue to grow as an artist. I'm in awe of many of the beautiful works shared on this site. I've also begun a blog here called "A Novelist's Adventures in Digital Art" where I list useful sites and tools I find along the way:
My Blog
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I consider myself a beginner at digital art. We all have to start somewhere. I try to encourage other creatives on all skill levels as often as I have time. I learn a lot from the artists I favorite here and even from private emails with tips if you feel so inclined. I dont allow ratings in my gallery anymore, because I don't believe in "grading" art--it doesn't fit into my personal philosophy. That said, I do often admire many of the talented professional artists and am happy when they are showcased on the art charts here and feel the rating system--though it has flaws--is important to honor excellence.  I do appreciate any comments and appreciate constructive criticism and suggestions.
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"Every artist was first an amateur."
Ralph Waldo Emerson
 Thank you for visiting my gallery!
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Comments (38)
blankfrancine
Certainly fractaliciousness at its best! Looks like the trees have snow or icicles on them. A joyous holiday render.
bpclarke
Gorgeous! Splendid design and creation. Love those colors. Bunny
magnus073
Cathy this is really fabulous what it evolved into, so awe inspiring.
rocserum
fits very well these days, well done! RS
lucindawind
oh this is just gorgeous .. it looks likeits deep in a forest with the Northern Lights !
Mousson
Surprenant. Une scène remarquable!
e-brink
As soon as I saw this I melted! Cold and wintery though it is supposed to be - it is an image filled with love, warmth, light and joy. It seems to celebrate 'life' at christmas time - rather than all the images of just plain old 'giving and receiving. Looking at it makes me feel at one with the whole universe and also enormously happy - thank you Cathy. We shall not cease from exploration And the end of all our exploring Will be to arrive where we started And know the place for the first time. Through the unknown, unremembered gate When the last of earth left to discover Is that which was the beginning; At the source of the longest river The voice of the hidden waterfall And the children in the apple-tree Not known, because not looked for But heard, half-heard, in the stillness Between two waves of the sea. Quick now, here, now, always— A condition of complete simplicity (Costing not less than everything) And all shall be well and All manner of thing shall be well When the tongues of flame are in-folded Into the crowned knot of fire And the fire and the rose are one. From Four Quartets by T.S. Eliot
novelist
Lovely poem, e-brink. Thank you for adding this here. And as for everyone's comments: Thank you and Happy Holidays to all. : )
LBJ2
This is a fine composition, Cathy. A whole forest of xmas trees. Beautiful fractal and colouring. Impressive piece of software, that gimp thing.
novelist
So everyone knows, Gimp and Xaos are both free and are part of the GNU Project for creating freeware.
justme1212
This is fantastic, Love the colors
ledwolorz
Wonderful work.
three_grrr
Oh Cathy, this is so much more then a Christmas Tree Farm! It's a benediction!
Fidelity2
Thank you a lot for this especial image.
faroutsider
Marvelous design - fascinating and exquisitely beautiful. Thanks for the info on Xaos and Gimp - I'll have to investigate them...
Jollyself
wow very nice...the roughened spikes all angled up to meet that softened vortex at the top really gives this alot of depth ...bravo
Juliette.Gribnau
wonderful and mystical !
NekhbetSun
Wonderfully done, dear Cathy, and love the uniqueness and beauty of this !
kitzie21
Very intricate and fascinating pattern. I could stare at it for hours.
Zazou
WOW ! This is so original and beautiful !!! Like the reflexion of plenty of christmas trees in a winter ball !! Brilliant !
photostar
Like peering into a wonderful snow globe.
magichild2
Magical and amazing ...wow...nice job
Janiss
Really splendid Cathy!
stevey3d
Lovely image Cathy! Excellent colours!
farmerC
This is fantastic work.
Vanadis11
Fantastic fractal, gorgeous!
KarmaSong
Wonderful rain of fractal stars...A superb composition indeed. Happy Merry Christmas to you !
marcopolinski
there's so much to see in this image .. excellently done!!!!!
tennesseecowgirl
Lovely!
clintnewsham
an interesting image, full of colour and a feel of chrismas. im not familiure with the software your using but i have used gimp in the past and it is a fine bit of software available for free. i like the way you have processed this, the eye seems to be lead from the bottom of the image up through the trees to the disc at the top, in a way it looks like one of those balls that hang on a christmas tree. all the best, Clint