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Xcetera

YOU! CAKE OR DEATH?
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4 min read
Can I ask you to take a moment of honest reflection and step into another life, for a moment. Forget your current concerns, the daily grind, whatever it is. You're home. You're safe.

And then, can you take a moment, and imagine that it was all ripped away from you. Take a moment and imagine your home - it's gone. You've got nothing, but the clothes on your back and the palms of your loved ones - but at least you have that. And you hold them tightly, because the next second you could lose them too.

Take a moment and imagine that your government and an organized group of people who look like you and claim to worship a higher power are actively trying to kill you. Actively. You and your loved ones. You have no home. You have nothing. You run.

You grab those palms of those people you love and you run because nothing on earth matters more than keeping them safe.

Imagine a small child in your life, your child, a niece, a godchild, a friends child. Imagine them being unable to sleep for fear of their own goddamn pillow because they can't disassociate it from the horror they experienced in the dead of the night when they should have been safe.

Imagine, arriving at where you thought you would finally find some solace, some form of peace, where you finally thought that yours and your family's lives would no longer be a stake.

Now, imagine that you were turned away. The door slammed in your face. Feel the sinking in your stomach, your heart drop, your despair.

Feel, for a moment, that surely you will die this way, as so many have. Look at the faces of your loved ones, and tell them there's no hope.




Please, I beg of you, stop your hate. Stop thinking you know what a human is or isn't, because you can see them with your eyes, because they do not reflect the true intent of a soul.   

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Because it never hurts to let people know a little more about you, I suppose

  1. How long have you been on DeviantArt?
    I joined dArt on March 30, 2007 on a previous username. So, it's been about 8 years. Time sure does fly. 

  2. What does your username mean?
    "Xcetera" is a play on "et cetera", which essentially means "the rest of such things" of a similar type or theme. To me, Xcetera was meant to mean whatever was left behind, overlooked, or unthought of. 

    Since I was small, I always thought broken things were so much more beautiful than things that were whole, because of the stories they told, and how being broken represented that. I was a storyteller even then, inventing the reasons why those things were broken and the adventures they went on. I feel that being broken is something that's taboo, overlooked, left behind, when in fact, it's these stories that are the most beautiful, relatable, and strong. And the truth is, we're all a little bit broken. 

    I didn't understand the implications of that username when I made it. I just simply thought it was "whatever's left behind". It's grown to have a lot more of a personal meaning. 

  3. Describe yourself in three words.
    I'd have to say I'm introverted, but fiery and passionate. The fact is that being around people takes a lot out of me, and I have a lot of trouble being always "on". But I'm a spit-fire, and you can be sure as hell that nothing is going to stop me. 

  4. Are you left or right handed?
    I am right handed, which I am very thankful for, otherwise being a photographer would be a heck of a lot more complicated (I imagine). 

  5. What was your first deviation?
    :lol: I don't even know because I have EMPTIED that first account, but I'm sure it was totally awful. In exchange, my first deviation on this account? It's funny, I was making fun of how bad this deviation is just last week.

    A Crack In The Line by Xcetera

  6. What is your favourite type of art to create?
    I don't think anyone will be surprised to say photography.

  7. If you could instantly master a different art style, what would it be?
    Digital Art (as in drawing and making digital paintings), because this would not only infinitely make my life easier when explaining concepts to people without them thinking I'm completely insane (although most people just take me at my word at this point), but also because I think I would be able to make a crazy cool marriage of the two art forms. 

  8. What was your first favourite?
    This. It was also my first daily deviation suggestion, and it received it.

    Carciphona - Too Late by shilin

  9. What type of art do you tend to favourite the most?
    These days, photography. But I'll do digital art when it catches my eye as well :) 

  10. Who is your all-time favourite deviant artist?
    laura-makabresku, hand down. Never fails to stop me in my tracks.

  11. If you could meet anyone on DeviantArt in person, who would it be?
    I think I'd want to meet zemotion or larafairie, because these were the women that helped me dream of what was possible when I first started.

  12. How has a fellow deviant impacted your life?
    I think any of the above mentioned people have done just that. 

  13. What are your preferred tools to create art?
    My camera, photoshop, and literally anything I can get my hands on to create props. It's a labour of love. 

  14. What is the most inspirational place for you to create art?
    My favourite space to work is anywhere that has other artists to bounce ideas off with. The flow of inspiration is so powerful. 

  15. What is your favourite DeviantArt memory?
    It was a Christmas event, when we were supposed to talk about memories. So, given that it was a Christmas event, I spoke about my mom, who is an amazing woman and immensely powerful in my life. The admins were giving out prizes, and sent me a beautiful notebook, which I gave to my mom. :)



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Recently (and by recently, I mean about ten minutes ago), a photographer I know IRL posted about a conversation she was having with someone about how she photographed something that person found sinful.  And you know, she was right. This guy is just a bigoted idiot. But something she said really got under my skin and I NEED A SOAPBOX to say it that's not on my personal facebook page.

It's not as bad as shooting a half naked woman.

What? How is that not a bigoted statement in itself? What the heck is wrong with a nude woman? 

You know, I can understand how a person can not like to look at nudes. I can understand how there are some uber-sexual nude images of women all over the world and that can make some people uncomfortable. Each to their bloody own, as far as I'm concerned. But I also believe that some of those people are completely closed off to the idea that their might be nude photographs out there that they COULD be comfortable with, that are not sexual in nature, that are beautiful, artistic, and empowering. 

I guess what I'm saying is #notallnudes are about the same thing. Not everyone ticks the same. And it's not okay to impose your religious beliefs on others no matter WHAT they are and all the power to the people who are doing what they love. 

I'm going to keep that short and sweet, and in lieu of this, here are some of the BEST nudes on DA (in my opinion) :happybounce: 

Caged by AbbeyMariebird III by SlevinAaron1 by annashakinaA Forsaken Touch by Tristin-Vitriol2 by Limetastic

'Waterfalls' by KatarinaBathorycat by ChuchaBabuchina
Nothing but... by j4d3katrin in despair 4 by suo-me

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Thank You

3 min read
I've been back on DeviantArt for less than a month, and I think this is the best way for me to say thank you for the outpouring of love I've had come back at me. I have just over 700 notifications after all the comments I responded too, and I don't know where to begin.

Thank you to Kaz-D for the Daily Deviation and to Ellysiumn for the suggestions. That was such a great surprise! 

But even aside from that, before that happened, I noticed that people were responding to how my art has changed. When I left on September 1st,  2014, I was barely starting to reboot the way I look at creation, my process, and now it's completely changed. I'm not sure I can ever go back to my old ways. My work is better for it. 

I'm really excited to begin sharing that process with you guys :heart: So, I want to share a speed edit with you guys from one of my shoots this year!




If anybody has any questions about my process, or about photomanipulation in general, I'd be happy to try and help! Just sound off, let me know. :) 

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Yesterday marks 10 months away from social media, and today I'm officially ending that. I had originally intended on being off for 12 months, but in light of a nagging idea that took light in my mind months ago, I've decided to take action.

I had the idea of starting a online conceptual photography magazine. One that provides constant inspiration to photographers like me around the world, and that gives back to that community by supporting those artists by paying them to publish their work. And hopefully one that can teach photographers new skills to further develop their work.

And to me, that idea became a very, very big deal.

I'm lucky to live in an area that has a very involved art community. I've met some incredible people, and without this community I wouldn't have become the artist I am today. I would not have pursued those photographs that I imagined I'd be doing when I first picked up a camera when I was fifteen. I would never have imagined what could be done also without the online world showing me simply what was possible - which was anything.

But I also see a world where that work in which we throw ourselves so passionately into is not respected.

I don't expect people who are not artists to understand how it's not just something we like to do, it's an overwhelming and impossible need for us to create, how we keep our sanity and how we feel free. But if I can do just one small thing to give back to my community and maybe help show that art isn't just something easy or free, then I want to do that. I do not want to wait. I don't have much to give right now, but hopefully with time that will change.

So, dear world, I give you...

www.facebook.com/thecrookedlen…
thecrookedlensmagazine.com/

The first issue will launch (hopefully) on August 1st, will cost 5$ per digital copy and 20$ for the printed version. The magazine will feature 5 portfolio's and interviews with artists, who are being paid for their work. The magazine will also have submissions for single images, which are unpaid, but maybe that could someday change. (I'm just poor myself).

This is both incredibly exciting and terrifying, and I hope that means it will be an amazing and fulfilling journey.

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Featured

Hate by Xcetera, journal

DeviantArt Questionaire by Xcetera, journal

Someone give me a soapbox by Xcetera, journal

Thank You by Xcetera, journal

The Crooked Lens Magazine by Xcetera, journal