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.  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) 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." ÂÂ
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 (28)
magnus073
This is such a wonderful morph Cathy and what a beautiful scene you created. Love the Mother Earth theme your going with a lot :)
blankfrancine
Lovely nature myth image, Cathy. That character is fantastic. The plants and bird really make this stand out, too. Very lush.
e-brink
A wonderful character and smiling expression, showing a real talent for such things. The warm lighting on this is very well done and totally in sync with the palette and the season expressed by it. The composition to is also extremely good. Very nice work indeed.
stevey3d
Wonderful character Kathy! Superb expression and composition!
wannes
Very beautiful scene, very well done!!!
Fidelity2
Very cool and by you. 5+.
pops
Fantastic-love all the birds
adrie
Wonderful piece of artwork my friend, great pose and background....excellent work.
Miska7
Really nice image. Great character, lighting and expression! Very well done.
SIGMAWORLD
Excellent work!
lucindawind
wow fabulous work !
mgtcs
Amazing image, excellent character and lovely colors!
JaneEden
Cathy this is a delightful scene, and I love the colours and the lighting very much. A wonderful mother earth theme, very beautiful, hugs Jane xxx
tofi
Such an incredible and most artistic scene and image! The details are truly remarkable, each and every one so perfectly suited to the rest --- she glows, absolutely, and emits such a radiant and positive energy about her. The natural earth that surrounds her is so very soothing and lovely to behold. The cyclical design in the background is most beautifully textured and presented in the composition, truly remarkable artwork!
Thetis
awesome
tulipe
Fantastic image! Great morph for V3 and so much warmth in this image!
KarmaSong
An exquisite and delicate composition with plentiful of details! Superb work, Cathy!
magichild2
Great work...lovely birds
rds
Wow, this is great. So rich and full of color depth. Well done.
Zazou
WOW ! Fantastic composition !! And her smile is sooooooooooooo beautiful !! Bravo !
Jollyself Online Now!
how lovely....love all the filler detail. I would love to see this in its natural lighting
faroutsider
Excellent character morph, and the details are just incredible. A wonderful celebration of life....!
kasalin
Dear Cathy this is a beautiful scene and image !!! Hugs Karin:)
anahata.c
a beautiful primal image, filled with gaia-spirit and life growing all over it. If she has dreadlocks, they seem to have autumnal plants growing out of them (which is how I picture goddesses & gods of life). Her coloring is almost a peach-gold (peach having touches of blue and being very reflective), the growth around her is sumptuous, the birds are rendered very well, with the cardinal speaking to her & balanced by the flower (similar hue) which seems to be receiving its words...Your shadows are quite sensitive, and she's backed by what can only be called a mandala; better (yes, I'm getting Eastern here) the great 'wheel' that's often found behind buddhist icons. Which doesn't say that this glorious pagan earth imagery derives something from Buddhism, but rather that Buddhism derived something from the former The wheel is the wheel of Law (dharma), but here it reverts to its original state, the glow of all life...(The halo probably goes back to the same collective source...) It's quite beautiful, your background leaves (beyond the 'halo') have fine dark detail; and you show here that you know when to 'stop', you didn't push the hues towards a saturated or more bright place: You allowed the subtle peach-red hues to remain, thus bathing your image in a patina of quiet inwardness. She's a god of trees, guarding the birdsongs flourishing within their eaves: But she's wholly content within herself. Thus the hues can be delicate but still contain the world within their confines...
Mondwin
Looks a very delightful image my Friend...bravissimo!:DDD.Hugsxx Whylma
popeslattz
Another beautiful Mucha-esque image. Although the picture contains lots of elements the placement allows the eye to travel around freely to enjoy them all. I really like the way that you're using the circular fractals.
amota99517
Outstanding work!!!
three_grrr
I am left speechless in admiration .. so I will just sit here and gaze a while longer ...