In my time on dA (wow, 4 years now) I have seen many fads come and go. One that will never leave is beauty and narcissism. Every 6 months or so the newest latest greatest appears on dA. Most are moderate artists but they overshadow most everyone here for one reason: Their parents DNA pool created true beauty.

So, they keep creating endless portraits of themselves and because of their beauty they get 500 comments on each piece about how hot they are, how gorgeous their eyes are and how much someone would like to pounce on them. It has very little to do with art and very much to do with lust.

I've come to the conclusion that dA is really 2 sites. One that houses some of the greatest unknown artists I've ever seen in my life, and the other that's nothing better than a modified TRL. The first site is about art, the second is a David Cassidy fan site with rotating David Cassidy's.

I have to admit that it bothers me for a couple reasons. First, I don't see art as a fashion statement. I'd like to think that good art should out weigh anything and that it should never be over shadowed by bad art. Sorry to say, that does happen. It's a shame.

The other reason, I'll admit, is a bit of jealousy. I was never considered 'the good looking guy' and never will be. There have been times in my life where I wanted to be that guy. I guess we all have. But I'm older now and with that age comes some enlightenment. Some greater power has given me the ability, for some reason or another, to create art that seems to touch some people. I hold that gift sacred and thank god often for it. I'm allowed, through a camera, to show people how I feel and show them my life. It's an amazing pleasure and one that I take very seriously.

I was thinking tonight about how lucky I am and what art has done for me. I get emails from all over the globe, about 25 a day telling me how an image I've created has touched someones life 10,000 miles away. I'm often dumbfounded by it and so thankful.

So, an email telling me how my image 'Cancer' helped someone get through their own bout with the disease or an email about how great my eyes are?

I realized after that email (that I just got earlier) that the "fads" that run on dA should be jealous of us, the artists. Yeah, they have lot's of people wanting to screw them, we have lots of people who want to thank us.

Looks vanish. Emotions live. Art Rules!