Artist of the Mind, Life, Fine Form and Figure

In my early 20's I took 2 years of art school. Even though this changed the way I viewed the world around me giving me "new Eyes" I did not use it as a living, I instead became a design drafter. I however acquired a film camera with a micro zoom. This started my art through a camera. It was a perfect way for me to capture the new way I witness life around me as I took images of perspectives seen in architecture. Then there were the animals, flowers, portraits, weddings, shapes, tones in color, dark room experiments in photo manipulation. I found one of the favorite things to do was creating and design into a piece, "concept". Time passed and point and shoots came onto the market, photoshop was downloaded and I found myself doing digital art with the images as a hobby.. 3 yrs ago I bought my first DSLR a Nikon D5000, I am ready now for a Canon 5D mark 2 category as I feel stifled a bit with the D5000 level. Not long ago I saw my first HDR and knew the direction I was to head in, just had to learn how. Bought all the programs associated, Photomatix, CS5 Topaz and the likes. Now,,, it is today,,,,,,and I have found texturing and I must incorporate and find the way to excellence using this wonderful look. My goal from the start has been to create images that do not look like a photographs. 2 years ago unemployment hit and I lost my career as a Union Interior Finish Carpenter and am trying to move the imaging into my lively hood. I am open as a book welcoming advise and guidance's from those with knowledge above mine and am giving, willing to share mine with the lessor experienced. Give me once and I will return twice, colored by my rainbow. Thank you for reading