Each month the Renderosity community votes on The Renderosity Artist of the Month — August’s AOM is Photography artist, Kimarie Chartier [kimariehere]. We congratulate kimariehere for her outstanding Photography gallery!

Who is 'kimariehere'?

Hello my name is Kimarie Chartier. I am 40, and have always loved anything to do with art. When I was a child, my Mother told me I always had something to draw with in my hand and would cry when the paper ran out!! I am a Mom of three girls and try to live life to its fullest. I am spontaneous, adventurous, loving, easygoing, have lots of energy, and am always on the go! I am told by my friends I am very enthusiastic and basically a happy person. My world has always been about creating and art -it's what I am all about!

How long have you been involved in photography?

Well I have had three digital cameras since '01, but only seriously been into photography for about 14 months now!

Do you have any traditional art experience?

Yes I went to art school, taught art, had professional oil painting lessons, and have self taught myself with any kind of material I could get my hands on. I am also a musical person and play guitar, flute, and piano, as well as write stories and poetry. I have won creative writing awards. But I must say photo art is still new to me and I am still learning here!!

"Serenity"
(I felt a real peace when I shot this, so i love it for that reason!!)

What are you currently working on?

Right now as I am typing this, I am 2500 miles from my home on summer vacation for a few weeks and taking a rest. But before that, at home I have been working on learning more extensively Adobe CS2 and just got a new Canon SLR camera yesterday that I am looking forward to learning about more in the upcoming months...

"Waking Lotus (blanketed with a Lily pad)"
(This shot is special to me as it is my first ever SLR shot. It is hanging in my living room!)

What equipment/software do you use and why?

I have been using a Nikon 7900 pocket cam the last year, because it is what I could afford at the time. It goes with me everywhere in my pocket.

Starting next month, I will be using a Canon Rebel XT dgt 8mp, as I have just purchased it! This past year I have been working primarily in Paint Shop 7, as it is like an old friend ( been playing around in it since 1999), but now have Adobe CS2 so am trying to grow and learn from that.

What do you think your best piece of work is and why?

Gosh, I am not sure but the one that quickly comes to mind first is:

"How am I ever to get the key? ( Alice)"

I think I love this picture the most 'cause I really worked hard for this one ...and that it is of my daughter Janel who really does look like Alice in wonderland. It is not photo-manipulated, but in a store that had an Alice in Wonderland theme. They do not allow photography in that store. I got special permission that day and had to go through four managers! The funny thing is that my daughter looks like she is upset about not being able to reach the key. She was really quite upset 'cause she was tired of the fact that I had taken so many pictures of her that day and that eveyone was staring and wanting her attention in the store. I had to look all over for this costume and paid much more than I wanted to for it. It was a fun experience as all the kids kept pointing and saying "Look there's Alice!!" (lol!! It was a surreal experience and remains a highlight in my memory of photoshoots...)

Who/what inspires you?

What is most inspiring to me is looking at all your work each day. I look at the images on here and sometimes find myself in tears or laughing 'till my sides ache. Sometimes I will see something that moves me so deeply that I dream about it. In fact, some of my favorite childhood artists/writers are Monet, Charles Russel, Maxfield Parrish, Samual Clemmons, Lewis Carrol, Dr suess... Then there is Georgy (Georgia, my best real life friend, her work that I see in person inspires me to no end)!

But back to the work on this site. It is what has motivated me to go out and do photoshoots and learn and grow more than I could ever tell you I am grateful for that.

"Red rock canyon thru the Juniper tree!"
(This is the kind of shot I love to take with a naturally framed window to Godglorious creation!!)

How has this online community (Renderosity) enhanced your work, relationships, and learning?

I look at my work a year ago and compare it to what I know now, and cannot believe how much I have grown. I am the sort of person who learns by just doing and I have spent hundreds of hours on this site and have come further in the last year than the 20 years before - being on Renderosity is better than any art school I feel !! To me, this site is also more than just learning, it is like a family that shares so beautifully. It has changed my life. I am a happier person since I found this site and that is the truth. I have gone on many adventures and done things I might have never done, seen things I would have never seen, and been motivated to do it all beacuse of this site! For that I thank you, for it is a gift that is priceless! My friends on here mean the world to me and my world is a better place and richer because of it!

"Proud Mama of Four!"
(This shot was not wasy to get I had to Slowly crawl on my belly in the dirt and duck poop and got a foot away . it felt like a surreal experiance as that Mama trusted me that day . I will never forget it!!)

Do you have any parting comments or advice to other artists?

Let go of all fear. Be free, let it all come naturally...that is when the magic will happen! Don't worry about what people think or say, just follow your heart as you open it. As you love the world around you and the miracles that happen everyday, look for them and you will surely find them then they will be brought to life through your work.

We invite you to look further into Kimarie's Renderosity art gallery!