– D . L . S H E L L Y – 

“There is nothing in human evolution,
in which curiosity and creativity haven’t collaborated,
to nudge – music, art, architecture, an idea and a discovery,
innovation and invention –  forward.”

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– For Your Amusement –
{Fresh Fantastical Art and Musical Goods.}

My Imagination? It’s as old as it thinks it is. I’m nine years old. Twelve, seventeen, thirty-six and sixty-four. And creativity still works for me. It’s the only truth I know, and has been most meaningful in my life. The runner-up? Being alive. Which would be meaningless without the other. So the meaning of all this? I understand who I am through creative expression.

You, like I, were born into this world as creative beings. Soon, creating noisy music by banging pots and pans, singing and humming. Colouring, scribbling and making things. Playing in a sandbox or make-believing inside a large, empty corrugated box – our minds curious, thirsty to be imaginatively expressive.

Creativity and the act of creating art is either encouraged or discouraged through one’s life. Sometimes, it’s simply a matter of being inspired, or there’s an emotion – joy or pain – wanting to be expressed artistically. Through that process, I’m lured from reality with all her entanglements and obstacles. Away from committing a foolish, impulsive act when anger, struggle or deep sadness descends. And yes, 99% of my creativity blossoms from dark places. I’m with the small fraternity of artists/creators who create in thunderstorms, shadows, bleakness. Where light and beauty will eventually be released. And, sometimes the beauty will be dark, just like Obsidia, my dystopian art and story concept (born from the 2008 Financial Crises, the 1% and the Corporatism of the Earth Commons.)

Artifacts of someone’s imagination

On this website are examples of my imagination. If you hear a knock and a rap and a tap at your front door, it’s Dotti, Lotti and Lou. They’ve come to take you to visit their Uncle and Aunt at the Giggleoppolous Zoo. The Giggleoppolous Zoo, Single Load Only, Bull & Gopher: Defective Detectives, The Dreamettes of Pauline, Delthia: The Dollar Store Witch, YAK & ZAK, Lollipop; Country Girl Learning, Obsidia, and on and on. Never could find the pause button. Conceptually condemned. But hopeful, I, and my 758 million creative comrades pollinating this planet – obsessive about creative expression – our passion, hard work and personal sacrifice bears fruit. And as most often the case, the tree is bare.  But, enduring life’s hardships we’re content, using the good side of our brain.

A brief note about Obsidia art

Adobe Illustrator was the primary software used for 90% of the images. But there were limitations, and I very much wanted a hint of 3D realism such as one would see created with 3D software. I had no 3D rendering experience, however, my creative process is to experiment, and let accidents and possibilities reveal solutions. So with Adobe Photoshop, and unexpected – door hinges and picture frames, I had a solution. The hinges I curled, warped, layered and digitally “arc-welded”, building sculpted forms. I then combined them with the original illustrations and encased everything in the picture frame. I do hope you appreciate my time-intensive, turn-of-the-century, craftsman-like, 3D efforts.

Obsidia was a five-year day-in-day-out concept project and comprises sixty images. All untitled, and only a few do I know their meaning. Many far too emotional, connecting me to the time the piece was created. A story is being written.