Well, what to say? I'm an old man now but brand new to putting my art online, and so far, I haven't really started that yet. I shot these waterlily photos almost two decades ago, with a Nikon D200. While I absolutely love them, and got very immersed into shooting them, it was more of a hobby, than my "art." In fact, I began just to test the Nikon to see if it would be good enough for commercial use. Fortunately, I had very good Nikon/Nikkor fixed focal lenses that I could use with the digital camera, which was a big thing back then. You see, digital camera used to suck! Bad! Especially if you were someone like me who shot 25 ISO Kodachrome, medium format when possible. That's film, if you haven't heard of it lol.

I've been a working artist my entire life, in several capacity as an artist; starting out painting and drawing, then graphic artist, Marine Corps photojournalist, designer for ad agencies, and art director for my own design firm. At this point I only shot some stuff but mostly art directed other photographers, especially because I had clients who could afford to indulge me in using 8x10 film, and anything else I wanted creatively.

Now though, I believe I'll be ending my career as a sculptor, if I can find people to fund my art. I've never had to find funding before, being mostly a commercial artist, and also because I was very successful. But in a word, that all changed, divorce, lol. Though, it's only lol much later! However, now I'm hopeful. I believe I'm going to create five sculptures UNLIKE any other. Literally. I know that sounds impossible, but I truly believe I will. I was inspired by Buddhism as well as a list of other life experiences, mostly losses, of just about everything I held dear. On this path though, I decided to venerate, or pay respect, to Buddhist ideas that inspired not just my art, but my life. I chose to sculpt five Buddhas, each representing one of the five Buddhist elements. On the, almost decade-long, path to figuring out how I could do something truly original to end my career, I decided that if I was going to sculpt a Buddha, the only way it can start out originally, is if I could make my own rock to sculpt. Otherwise, how does anyone know if they start sculpting a rock that it might not look very good on the inside? I don't have that kind of time to waste! I want to know the rock I'm going to use is perfect, inside and out before I start sculpting it!

It was a stupid idea, until it wasn't. Because I'm going to. I'm going to make my own rock and it will be perfect, not because it will look the way I want, but because it will be the perfect visual metaphor for a concept known as the Veil of Maya; that the nature of reality is an illusion. Thus, the Buddha sculptures I create will look, feel, weigh, and "be" like rock, in every sense of the word, but they'll also be illusions, because they will, in fact, be paper. Not paper mache. in fact, no glues, binders, chemicals, artificial papermaking supplies or anything else will be used. Only two elements will be used, plant fiber for pulp and earth for pigment. Pieces, weighing tons, won't even use any nails, screws, or any other kind of fasteners, to be connected. Each, entire sculpture installation will be, just paper... but, VERY MUCH LIKE ROCK!

Before long, I'll start posting some photos of the material studies and eventually explain why this process took almost a decade. Just because I thought of the idea didn't mean it was possible! Though I believe it is now! So, until then, anyone who is interested can feel free to send me a message with any questions -- thanks --greg