We are very proud to announce the winner of this months "Artist of the Month" - Jacomina de Graaf [dochtersions]. Jacomina received the highest number of votes from the Renderosity community and when you view her gallery of fractal art and photography you can see why. She is a passionate and light-hearted artist who uses her imagination to create works of art that reflect her love of life and of her surroundings. I was fortunate to interview her and enjoyed the experience immensely.

 

Renderosity: Tell us a little about yourself; who is dochtersions?

Dochtersions: Hello everybody! Under the name "dochtersions" I started, at the suggestion of my dear husband, in sharing my photos, fractals, and also some paintings, and other 2D art here at Renderosity. That was in January of 2010. I still use my two owls as avatar, which is a reduced image of one of my oil paintings.

The name "dochtersions" came into my head as only one, when I was looking for a name for my blog that I started in 2007.
This name is not that strange, as I know that God is my real father and mother at the same time, and I know that God loves me more and deeper than a man can aware of (or at least Ithink this way)

I live in the South of The Netherlands together with my retired husband. I've had various occupations. In my last job, I was working as an assistant to a paediatrician and a rehabilitation specialist. When I had children, I graduated 'health awareness', and gave lectures on various topics, plus vegetarian cooking classes to teenagers.

My husband and I have together two daughters and four grandchildren. Which all live abroad, to be precise in Lacey (WA-USA) and Davos in Switzerland.

I've always been busy with all kinds of creativity. As a child I drew a lot, later pottery, needle art, tapestries, weaving, batik art, macramé, etc. Painting with oil was my lastgreat hobby.

Around about the year 2000 I started having unexplained physical symptoms as well as insomnia, which was later diagnosed as having PTSD. It turned out that I had repressed a traumatized youth. However, the physical symptoms made that I no longer could be busy with my passions, the real painting, and other activities (f.e. reading books, gardening, travelling), which I was doing without a limit.

What I can stay doing well in limited form, is playing music on my mandolin and my guitar, and also to enjoy/listen my favourite music, which is including the cantatas of JS Bach and his sons , f.e. also music from G.F. Handel, G.Ph. Telemann, a.s.o. This is also the kind of music that my husband (on its church organ) and I (on my mandolin) play together.

After being diagnosed with PTSD a lot changed and I was forced to look for alternatives in which I could express myself. That is, that for years I started writing, and poetry, which go quite intense and as a sort of automatic. Unfortunately, my knowledge of the English language is not sufficient enough, so I write in my mother tongue, with sometimes a few exceptions. The thoughts come to my mind right at unexpected moments, and it's wonderful, to surrendering to your train of thoughts.

In the encounter more and more of impossibilities, in connection with, f.e continuous pains, I learned to shift my gaze. Searching for distractions and alternatives, I learned to focus my happy mind on all the wonderful and admirable little things in the world around me.

My husband since 1968 Karel (kareldg on RR) bought a small pocket camera for me, and taught me to work with Fractal Explorer. Through my little Sony camera I learned to look differently, to see deeper; to see the details, the structure, how refined, and just so unique the small ones are in God's creation.

What is one of my daily tasks is trying to support people who suffer from PTSD, but they suffer more in an emotional way, and I can understand them and listen to their story (digital).They trust me.

Renderosity: What projects are you currently working on?

Dochtersions: Of course I would love to take more concrete technical knowledge to me (to acquire), and follow tutorials, how to work with Ultra Fractal, Mandelbulb, etc.. The capabilities of PSP investigate and experiment with it.

The manual of my current camera (Canon PowerShot SX50HS, and as pocket camera Panasonic DMC-TZ35) I would like to sift through, and experiment with it. But exactly that kind ofthings, such as reading comprehension, concentration, makes this especially, by the constant dominating intense facial pain, really impossible.

All in all, I continue to look for improvement, while in the meantime trying to be light-hearted, happy and hopeful, to be open to everything that's coming my way.I enjoy art, stay in the nature, the outer man/woman in me, the love that I've been given, to realize this, and to be thankful for. Wherever I am happy with is that I am able to meet so many lovely people through RR. Unfortunately, only digital, but I'm also grateful.

Renderosity: What is your fascination with fractal art and photography?

Dochtersions: So it is with the creation of a fractal, in all its facets, the things you're going to pay attention to, what I try to bring out;
a dance of colour, a playful tone, joy, warmth, to show the emotions they are there. Always there is the delight of discovering something new, sift through, investigate, and experiment with it, light up, to make appearing and emphasize what is; both with my camera, as with a fractal program, which currently Apophysis 3D Hack is my favourite. You lose yourself in it, and yet you are continually surprised in the experiment what is called "life".

Renderosity: SEAVIEW is your most popular image at Renderosity, how did you create this image?

Doctersions: About "Seaview", that was nice. It was the first time I made an Apophysis with a hole in it. Usually I render an Apo as a png. Then I open it in PSP, and combine the png with a jpg FE fractal, or one of my photos. And with "Seaview", it was the first time I did that; behind this Apo I did an FE fractal. It is a collaboration of the right FE, or to choose the correct picture, to shine through it. And with a hole in the Apo, it can give a separate entity, (or whole).

Renderosity: What computer hardware and software to you use to create your artworks?

Dochtersions: Oh my, I know nothing about software and hardware. To be honest, I mess around at it. I know I have a composite computer with Windows 8. Close by is a small computer shop for everything which you do what you want to work with, andKarel has consulted with the owner when I got a computer of my own. Before that I did everything on a very old p.c. that had belonged to Karel. I use, Apophysis 3D Hack, PSP, Fractal Explorer, and seldom Wildfire.

Renderosity: How has being a part of the Renderosity community helped you in your life and artworks?

Dochtersions: Oh, the community feels good, we finally have a lot in common; it actually enriches, stimulates, and gives ideas. The personal contact is also something to be happy about. Frankly, I'm always amazed when people give me compliments, in a way it embarrass me, just because I've never experienced this in my youth. But it stimulated me a lot.

It is also interesting to see what others do, and that they show their world on the community; I love to see how others live, and their environment, plus milieu. And I like to have contact with other people, which in itself is enriching and interesting.

Where I obviously longing for is that I can work longer on my PC, to enjoy the uploads from others, as well as it more often giving comments on the work of my "colleagues" here. It is so disappointing, and it always gives me a sense of guilt / default. But it's really impossible with so many intense headaches to concentrate.

So, dear people, it has a reason that I can sometimes be little present between your artwork.

Renderosity: Any final words of advice for someone who wants to start creating fractal art or photography?

Dochtersions: The only thing I can tell you is that you always can do more than you expect from yourself, or think. It's a matter of doing, and continue to try and inventing. Take advantage of everything that spontaneously comes to your mind, and you will automatically discover your own fascination.

Do everything just for fun, and not from "should", or want to be the best, or want to triumph. Respond to what your feelings say to you (tell you), and you'll be fine. :)

 

Be sure to visit dochtersions Gallery and Homepage. 

  

And if you are interested in Fractal art be sure to stop by the Renderosity Fractal Gallery and Forum. 

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Artist of the Month is highlighting a talented Renderosity artist that has been nominated by mods and admins, and voted by the community. Recognition is given to this member for their collection of works for that year. Since we only select one AOM per month, it is not about their works for that particular month. Instead, it is about highlighting a talented artist's works for that year, and they are recognized during that month.

To learn more about Renderosity's Artist Of The Month [AOM] award, and to view our past AOM's, please visit the AOM page.