I’m less of reader and more of a looker. I’d choose a film over a book, or a photo over a poem, it’s just how god built me. There is some babble that circulates about men being visually oriented and women aurally oriented. I don’t know if this is “true” or not. I just know that I’m more see do than hear do 🙂

For me looking at chocolate is more satisfying than reading about it, and eating chocolate is very much more satisfying than either of the previous. Visually imagining something is to me more enjoyable than imagining imagining something … if that makes sense.

So why Cupcake Writer ? Because she asked me, really … politely. I couldn’t also detect that she “wanted” something, more than my help because she’s fairly new to blogging – three months I think. I’m also a more than a little bit into art/graphic design myself, so not calling us “kindred spirits”, but I can understand what she’s doing.

She left this comment for me :

Wow! This is an incredible shot. Obviously you’ve got lots of photography experience 🙂 I don’t take my own pictures, but I’m a graphic designer who also tries to capture feelings in pictures and make things look visually wonderful. It would be amazing if you could look at some of my work and tell me what you think. My blog is http://cupcakewriter.wordpress.com/, and thank you so much for the follow. Have a great day! Cupcake_Writer

https://doncharisma.org/2014/03/28/strangely-surreal-ocean-sunset-panorama/comment-page-1/#comment-35299

So I’ve looked at some of your work Cupcake Writer, and I like it. That’s what I think. But people usually want more than that. They think you’re lying if you just say – I like it. It’s a bit like, well prove you like it. Which I aim to do even thought I don’t reckon I’m all that good at proving it !

Art/Design critic I am not, so please forgive me if I’m getting it totally wrong 🙂

Weeklies #3: Galaxy Girl

“Galaxy Girl” is Cupcake’s latest space-age creation. I’m a sucker for a pretty lady, but that aside, I like these for the same reason that I like the street art lady I posted  – “Street Art – David Walker”

Girl-beauty is wonderful, but without personality, well it’s like a diamond without a setting. The ring the diamond is set in, it’s a major part of it’s personality. Without it it doesn’t truly “sparkle”.

Cupcake has chosen this one as the background for her blog, and I suspect probably her favourite. I like what the colours and textures add to the photo. I don’t know what the astronomers call this effect, but it’s similar to what I see when doing my sunsets and sunrise, like a kind of rainbow thing.

This one she has that kind of paint thrown at a canvass effect – speckled ?. The colours and effect for me give a sombre tone. It also reminds me of a kind of vintage/aged look.

And lastly the planets and galaxies or milky ways, give a kind of really positive glow, like mother nature herself. It’s like cloud watching, or for astronomers I guess they call it star watching or galaxy watching. What will pop out in god’s canvass next, will it be a beautiful woman or will it be a house with a white picket fence ? Who can tell on God’s canvass !

Life Goes On

I’ve a good friend here on WordPress – Suz Jones. Her favourite quote is “It Goes On”. So Cupcake’s motto, “Life Goes On” reminded me of my friend, so why I’m mentioning it and showcasing it out of the work on Cupcake’s blog.

For me both of these variations are a reminder that life changes, it’s about the only thing that is certain is that things will change. Embracing this universal truth is a pretty wise move.

The vintage photo style is cool, and I like the lettering appears as if it’s “lit” like an important sign. The wavy lines add a hint of “changing” to the image.

Bottom Line

I like Cupcake Writer’s work. It rings a chord with me because of some of my own graphic design and photography – Looking at how the visual is composed and how we can present something beautiful to the eye. Trying new ideas, experimenting and learning.

I hope she will continue to blog, and it’s my pleasure to give her a hearty welcome by way of showcasing her a little bit to you guys. I’m looking forward to seeing what she comes up with, and I love the arty direction that she’s chosen with her latest post. She describes herself as a graphic designer, but I’m certainly seeing the artist too.

As for critical appraisal, I don’t do that in public, I don’t think it’s in the individual’s best interest. Also a lot of any criticism is subjective anyway. So don’t ask me for my “feedback” publicly, I don’t and won’t give it. IN ANY CASE, I could find very little in the way of critical appraisal for Cupcake Writer’s work and how I’ve experienced her as a person. She’s polite, charming and her work, is in my opinion very good.

Advice for her – Keep on doing what you’re doing, try as many new things as you can and please do try and take your own photos. Taking your own photos is great for your visual skills and it means that you can start to build your own library of copyright free images. And don’t forget about your audience and promoting yourself, that’s very important.

That’s probably enough telling the world and Cupcake Writer what I think for now !

Please do visit Cupcake Writer – http://cupcakewriter.wordpress.com/

Warm regards

Don Charisma

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Resources & Sources

Three Galaxy Girls & Life Goes On – (c) Cupcake Writer
David Walker Street Art – (c) David Walker
Writing & Cupcake Writer Graphic (c) Don Charisma (photo courtesy morgueFile)

Notes for commenters:

Comments are invited. BUT you are reminded that this is a public blog and you are also reminded to think before you press the “post comment” button. 

Good manners are a mark of a charismatic person – so please keep comments civil, non-argumentative, constructive and related, or they will be moderated. If you feel you can’t comply, press the “unfollow” button and/or refrain from commenting.

I read ALL comments but can’t always reply. I will comment if I think there’s something that I can add to what you’ve said. I do delete without notice comments that don’t follow rules above. For persistent offenders I will ignore you permanently and/or report you.

Most decent people already know how to behave respectfully. Thank you for your co-operation on the above.

Warm regards, Don Charisma

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