Year end in review

=soldierofsolace — Mon, 28 Dec 2009 13:56:14 PST

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"I believe in nothing. Not the end and not the start. I believe in nothing. Not the earth and not the stars.I believe in nothing. Not the day or not the dark. I believe in nothing. But the beating of our hearts. I believe in nothing. 100 suns until we part. I believe in nothing. Not in sin and not in God. I believe in nothing. Not in peace and not in war. I believe in nothing. But the truth in who we are..." ~30 Seconds to Mars

As another year has come and gone, I reflect back on my most memorable times in my art career. This will be my own art summary of personal favorites to commemorate 2009.

January- Let's begin this art journey...

February- The month I got my Nikon D40.

March- The month and year I turned 30 years old and got my puppy Kuma.

April- April showers and a slow month in art.

May- Dedication and hard work go a long way.

"This is a world of Dreams and reverie"

=soldierofsolace — Sun, 29 Nov 2009 17:38:45 PST

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**updated note** OMG 300 hundred deviations and 17,000 pageviews... Thank you all so much for the love and support! Couldn't have done it withoutcha.

Time to update this shizznat. T-day came and went, lots of good fixins' and time spent with family and friends. Loving the New Super Mario on Wii. Things might slow down a bit, so hopefully now I can get crackin' on some projects and work on those prizes for my winners. Might get me a sewing table so I can work on customs, plushies, and possibly clothes and accessories. Also If I do, I can make some meaningful Christmas presents, cos in my opinion, the best gifts are always the ones made from your own hands and from your heart.
I'm the giving type around Christmas, I rarely ask for anything because I usually get what I want ahead of time and I have pretty much everything I need. A great man, two dogs, a big house, an art studio, massive walk in closet(lol)... I have a great life and that's something I'm very grateful for. Gonna get me my first lens for my camera just a matter of which one. Most likely a high definition macro lens cos' I love macro photography.

Not much more to report so I will leave y'all with warm messages of a happy holiday season. Cuddle up to a teacup of yer favorite holiday beverage and think of the good times to come. Spend it with those you love and you'll see what a good life this can be. It's a time for giving so think about those less fortunate than you and try to help out as best you can. We may not be able to change the world, but if we change on person at a time for a better tomorrow, then you know that all of your efforts are not in vain.

With much love and warmest regards,
Strider the soldier of solace

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Features

Soundforms and Artwaves Winners!!

=soldierofsolace — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 14:42:47 PST

"Without music, life would be a mistake." ~ Friedrich Nietzsche

The moment you have been waiting for! Here are the winners for the Soundforms and Artwaves Contest.

First runner up is:
Second runner up:

These two entries came very close. Keep up the good work!

Third place winner is:

=YukiRamaro wins:
An original 5x7 painting by =soldierofsolace
1 month Premium membership by =soldierofsolace
A 500x300 pixel graphic design by ~ShadowFlame12
Journal Features by =soldierofsolace, ~15193, *oO-violetta-Oo, *GOSTEONER, =littlegett, ~pure-NERD, =PhantasmicRose, ~Aksika, ~Muzickjunki91, *Shawnmilazzo, `koffeeben, =cub69
News Article Feature

Second Place winner:

*oO-violetta-Oo wins:
An original 6x8 painting by =soldierofsolace
Graffiti Sketch by ~nazoe
3 month Premium membership by =soldierofsolace
A 700 by 500 pixel graphic design by ~ShadowFlame12
Journal Features by =soldierofsolace, ~15193, *oO-violetta-Oo, *GOSTEONER, =
"Dont stop, make it pop. DJ, blow my speakers up. Tonight, Imma fight, til we see the sunlight. Tick tock, on the clock.
But the party dont stop no..." ~Ke$ha

Stay tuned for the winners! Dun dun dun!

Halloween's come and gone. Had a blast. I was the kickoff model for our Made in Milwaukee Halloween fashion show. I got my face painted like a skull: [link] i started off the show walking like a zombie with a jack o lantern on my head, when i got to the end of the runway I "died". Then as soon as the music started, I started to poplock to life. It was mad fun. There was film crews there so hopefully I can find some footage and vids later once they are posted. Even Matisyahu opened up for the show! That was an awesome surprise!! After wards, I went to the after party which I pretty much danced the night away. Most fun I had on Halloween night in a long time.

Contest is officially closed! Judging will commence over the weekends and the winners will be announced monday or tuesday night. I'm pretty excited. Well I'm keepin this one short and sweet. See ya laters masterbaters!

The contest: [link]

View submitted entries: [link]

Journal Design by =DruidWu

PS Brushes: ~wyckedBrush ~Darkresources ~Shad0w-GFX

October Closing

=soldierofsolace — Sun, 25 Oct 2009 08:41:23 PDT

"You are the only good thing that I have ever done. We will walk until my blood runs out, until my heart is burned.
You are not alone." ~Matisyahu

As Halloween approaches, it also says that October is coming to a halt. Only 12 days til' my contest ends so if you have something you've been working on, get crackin' and enter it in the contest! Just to let you know the originals I will be awarding, will be treated as commissions. Meaning I will make the paintings with your ideals, so that the painting is genuinely something to call your own. Also lots of other great prizes by some very generous people. So what do you got to lose? If you know someone with talent that should be recognized, you should point them in this direction. Remember that prize givers are also encouraged to enter! So come one, come all! Show DA what you got when it comes to two major factors in an artist's life. Art and music. Good luck to all the contestants!

For those that need a refresh of complete rules and prize list, heres the article: [link]

View Submitted Entries Here: [link]

"IÂm On The Pursuit Of Happiness And I Know Everything That Shines AinÂt Always Gonna Be Gold. IÂll Be Fine Once I Get It; IÂll Be Good. ~Kid Cudi feat. MGMT and Ratatat

Competition is stepping up! Very nice entries are slowly creeping in. Please pimp out this contest and spread the word if you can! If you are a prize giver, let people know! Feature the news article in your journal and enter yourself if you haven't. Awesome prizes. Subscriptions, commissions, and ORIGINAL paintings!! Come on now! Get with it! Good luck to all the contestants!

*note* This will be updated frequently with new prizes and info so please excuse the annoying updates.

It has begun. Here are the details of the contest I'm holding:

"Without music, life would be a mistake." ~ Friedrich Nietzsche

Ever had a moment when a certain chorus or string of melodies of a song catches a scene perfectly, it's burned into your memory that when you hear that same song again, it brings you back to that moment? Or you had to paint something when the music was flowing through you?

Music seems to be a quintessential part in many artists lives. Music conveys a message that few could ever put into a picture or a canvas without having a connection to it. Sometimes songs explain the feelings we are experiencing when we can't express it ourselves. If you are like me, then you know that music is important for artistic endeavors and personal growth. What we call Indie, Hip-Hop, Electronic, Metal, Classical, Pop, Country, or Rock is the universal language of communication. We don't need to know the lyrics to understand or interpret a song with our own feelings. Sometimes we just like what we are hearing. It teaches us to love. It's there to comfort when to world has turned its back on us. It's a tool of understanding. It's a salve to sooth our emotional wounds. I hope that with this contest, deviants are able to share a message about music with the rest of us, through their art. So put on your favorite playlist, crank up the volume, and get creating!

RULES

Theme - Please include the lyrics or the section of lyrics with the artist who wrote them that corresponds to the submitted piece in your Artist's Comments. This gives a chance for the viewer to look up said artist and explore new music. Even your title may include the name of the song. Though certain exceptions can be made for instrumental bands such as Explosions in The Sky, Mogwai, Sigur Ros, etc. If you need an example please refer to this: [link]
Medium - Any Visual/Written medium is acceptable. While new deviations are highly encouraged, they are not necessary. Please keep literature entries to 500 words or less. How you incorporate lyrics into it is up to your own clever devices. Please limit 2 submissions per deviant. If you want to change your entries, please note me of changes before the final submission date.
Submissions - Please note me with thumbs images. No links.
Deadline - November 6th! That's a little more than a month, so get in where you fit in.

PRIZES

FIRST PLACE
An original 8x10 painting by =soldierofsolace
A digital graf piece by =facelessdrone
1 year Premium membership...

Summer turns to dust...

=soldierofsolace — Sat, 12 Sep 2009 17:36:16 PDT

"With my lightninÂ bolts a glowin, I can see where I am goinÂ to be...When the reaper he reaches and touches my hand." ~Arcade Fire

"The stars lean down to kiss you and I lie awake and miss you...pour me a heavy dose of atmosphere." ~Owl City

It's all we can really do right? So many people on here lately has been hitting blocks and doubting their presence here and their artistry. I've been down that road before and I'm sure we all have. We all really have to be honest with ourselves on here and ask what DA really does for us. Are we hoping to be successful? Get popular? Truly share art? To kill time and boredom? It's okay to ask for constructive criticism but incessant whining about not getting enough pageviews, comments, faves, emo blogposts, etc. really irks the eff outta me. Keep that on Myspace kids. I take art seriously. When I come up on b.s. like that, it makes me want to hit the delete button. (and sadly enough, I have) 'Nuff said.

If you question your skills and talents, then only YOU can really do something about it to get back on the right track. As you seen in my gallery I dabble in varied art. Don't tell me you don't have time because the amount of time it took you to complain and write about it, you could have invested that energy into a new piece. Don't tell me it costs money. I did pieces on left over cement board, scrap paper, cardboard... and please don't tell me it's cause you don't got talent. Stop being lazy and practice your craft. You don't get better by waiting to be inspired with an idea and do it right then and there. Inspiration is for amateurs. If you truly love art, then you just do it. It's a long hard battle and most of us won't be successful but we got to make the most of what we got. Complaining doesn't change anything but action does. /end

Now that I got that off my chest, yep this is the end of "Strider". That name has been through thick and thin with me but like most like every good thing, it has come to an end. I contemplated using my real name but it's just too darn lon...

Quick Update

=soldierofsolace — Wed, 29 Jul 2009 19:40:38 PDT

Hey all! How you be? Back from my San Diego/ Comic-Con trip and let me tell ya... I had a fucking amazing time. Met a few of my favorite artists like and Got lots of goodies. (I easily spent like 400 bucks at least) including a DC/Wildstorm grab bag from the tour my friend gave us at the San Diego branch location. Every new DC, Wildstorm, CMX, graphic novel or comic that is going to be released or has been released all year was in that bag! I missed my hometown a lot and we are seriously contemplating moving back as early as the end of this year if possible.

So now it's back to reality and to get cracking on many projects! Next post will be coming later but it's going to be my first (somewhat)rant on here. I came back to read so many journals about doubts of artistic abilities, questioning their presence here or in the art world, and just being downright emo about everything. Time for some positive words and clarity. Til' then... Stay Creative!

~Strider

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LASTFM
FACEBOOK

Swimming In the Flood

=soldierofsolace — Mon, 22 Jun 2009 18:00:27 PDT

"Then I lie naked in a rampage. In the flesh, face to face with the onset. I forget everything that's ever made me. Rise again. Now slowly leave my memory." ~Passion Pit

Time never stands still and I'm always pushing against the currents of time. Summer is off to a wonderful start. My Art exhibition is well underway. We're looking at August 1st for the opening night. I have the main paintings set up and working on a quite a few small ones to fill in the negative spaces around them. The showcase for my dance company is also in August. Just about 4 more weeks til' my San Diego vacation. San Diego Comic Con should be incredible knowing I got the four day pass. Anyone else goin? Would love to hook up and meet ya if you are. Holla atcha boy!

I got a new dog as well. So yes, I have two now. He is a 6 year old Yellow Lab. We took him from my partner's cousins. The story is that the dog snapped at their baby when it was near his food bowl. Which doesn't add up. My mom in-law has said she witnessed the father punch the dog in the face on several occasions. Yes dogs need discipline but not abuse. He has separation anxiety issues and is overweight due to being kept outside on a constant basis. He is the sweetest dog. I go by his food bowl all the time while he's eating and he doesn't show signs of aggression. So we both think it was just an excuse to get rid of the dog just because they are really white trash and don't know when to stop when it comes to procreation. (They have 5 kids now.) But he is getting along with my pup who is now in puppy training to be a even greater dog. I'm glad he has a playmate and a better home.

My house is coming along, slowly but surely. We got the garden beds built and who knew I would have such a green thumb! I have herbs planted in one and veggies in the other. I also planted wild flowers along the borders. I will also be growing my own gourds to dry out and try my hand at making stuff out of them. So know we will be moving on to the backyard BBQ patio area. I love summer cookouts so I can't wait for this to start.

Other than that not much more to report. Just truckin' along and doin' what I do. Hope summer is off to a great start for y'all. Keep true to what you do. I'm out.

Til' next episode,
Strider the soldier of solace

P.S. I've entered my first two contests on here:[link] and [link] If you think you got a shot, i say give it a go coz the prizes are pretty cool. Wish me luck!

Only one feature in this entry only because I think that it's amazing how two people from two different places and have two different lives, share the same artistic vision. I came across this deviation browsing the newest entries and left a message on it. Here's mine:
and here's his:

Trip out yo. Coincidence? Maybe but I like to think that great artistic minds think alike.

YOUTUBE
LASTFM
FACEBOOK

The days go by... make them count...

=soldierofsolace — Mon, 18 May 2009 12:59:48 PDT

"If you call this love, then show me some feeling...and if it all goes numb, just keep on breathing..." ~ Swimming With the Dolphins

Summer's slowly creeping in and I couldn't be happier. December is when the year ends, but I believe that life is most alive during the days of summer. People are out. People are smiling. The sun is beaming and shining. Goals are accomplished and new goals are thought of. It's full of love and possible heartbreaks. Summer is the time when memories are made for me. "A summer to remember" as they say.

My summer looks like it's going to be awesome, insane, fun, memorable, emotional, full of love, and full of life. My vacation to San Diego in July is slowly becoming a realization. I can't wait to see my old hometown. My family and my friends. It's going to be great. Mom's homemade food. My sisters laughter. The beaches. The familiar feeling of home. *sigh*

While that's about 2 months away, everything on the forefront is equally just as amazing. The hubby and I have been working on the house and it's coming together nicely. We decided we won't leave for about another year so we agreed on building garden beds for herbs, fruits, and veggies. Being green always makes you a step up above the crowd in my book. Our water barrels are installed. We got our compost going and dry hanging our clothes. Clothes smells so much better when air dried from the sun. We are also building a backyard patio for summer cookouts to have with our friends. Since we both love cooking and entertaining. The front porch is in the process of being repainted and it looks much better already. The front garden is mine and I want to add more flowers and maybe some chinese paper lanterns (the actual plant). Inside looks like a walking gallery. I hung up all the paintings and framed prints up all around the house. One things for sure, we still have plenty of wallspace for artwork.

As for projects, things are trucking along. My gallery show is still in effect sometime in June. I will be holding a contest here eventually so be on the lookout, you can win a strider original painting! Customizing a water barrel or a coworker. Lots of WIPs to finish and lots of pictures to edit. So I'm def keeping busy. Life is great. Want to send a shout out to all my friends, watchers, and inspirational artists on here. DA is such a great place to be and I can't thank you all enough for the continued support and love. if you are on facebook, check out my fanpage: [link] it's updated pretty regularly. cheers!

*goes back to listening to this awesome song*

~Strider

FEATURES

Excellent question!

Well sometimes, style is a talent that comes naturally and sometimes it's learned through a series of trial and error. Techniques can be taught and learned by anyone respectively. It can be a simple brushstroke or an advanced silk screen print, but anyone can learn it with patience and practice. Its knowledge that can be passed on for generations to come.

Style in my opinion is a process that is, through continued practice, is something that shows in your work that you can claim is your "trademark". It's hard to claim originality because art has been taken, reused, and recycled throughout history. Wether it's a certain photography capture or a certain lettering font, all artists in my opinion, has used other art to give them a jump start in the art world. But it's when that individual takes the time to experiment and find out what calls out to them naturally, and refines what they learned, that it comes to them like second nature.

Style is when you can recognize something and exclaim, "Hey that reminds me of X person/thing!" It's like how a person may wear something differently or dress up. The same can be said about how a person creates art. An artist who has a unique style has found a system that works for them. I also feel that style is ever evolving. Sure artists maybe good once they find their style, but life is a learning journey. I think its great when you can mix everything you've ever come across in your travels, that way you have a much greater story to tell, that will keep the masses engaged in your life canvas.

I never went to art school. I rarely paid attention in art class in high school. Maybe it was intuition, curiosity, and drive to be best of my ability. I can tell you that I was a major wannabe in the beginning which ended up in major frustrations. But unlike some, I kept on trying. I learned what worked for me and what really appealed to my taste. I was never one to deny trying anything new or different because it got me to where I am today. I've grown to appreciate art in all it's entirety because I know that art is subjective. Artists can blow the minds of many with intricate detailed pieces and some can get away with the most simplest of designs. Everyone is an artist. You just have to dig deep and find out what art means to you and just do it.

Featured below are selected works that i feel, has a certain style that demands attention. Works from certain artists that i feel took the time to discover their style.

stay true to what you do.
~Strider

¿?¿? March is Question Month !¡

=soldierofsolace — Wed, 04 Mar 2009 16:43:36 PST

ask me a question, i dare ya!

this meme is goin round on my other blog so decided to spread the epidemic here. I'll answer all questions. Feel free to leave your questions here or note me. Let me know if you don't want to be identified. Im an open book so no question is too taboo or stupid to ask. you have a a nagging question or just somethin' out of plain curiosity? ask away! ill be updating this post when questions get answered. til next episode...

~Strider

Capture these moments in time

=soldierofsolace — Mon, 16 Feb 2009 09:45:47 PST

Photography Feature

As most of you have seen, i uploaded a bunch of photography. thats because my man got me a brand spankin new Nikon D40. w00t! so im restarting my journey in photography all together. i will be taking random pics of many things so dont hate me for spamming up yer deviations inbox. i am going to discover my style yet all over again and see if i can relay the emotions that i put into my paintings, just as good into my photography. a photographic journey if you will. i am really taking my time this time and learning bout all the stuff my cam is capable of. the aperture, white balance, long exposure, etc. as with my art, im learning this all mainly on my own with the exception of my man and internet sources. let the good times roll. i got quite a few projects lined up, of which i had mentioned before that i want some of you in on.

As for other stuff, life is good. Valentine's was pretty chill. my man made one of my favorite meals: Spaghetti n Meatballs. NOM! he slow cooked all the sauce and omg... *drools* weather has been slowly warming up and just counting down the days for my vacation in july. make sure to take my new poll and show some love in my shoutbox y'all! XD i hope everyone is well and Stay Creative!

HUGE and i do mean HUGE! photography feature is of the continued aspiration and reminder that creative inspiration is all around us. enjoy!

~Strider

Move against the masses...not with them.

=soldierofsolace — Mon, 19 Jan 2009 17:20:39 PST

father winter is getting old...

i miss warm weather. wearing shorts and hangin' out on the beach. summer sky with blazing hues of oranges and reds. july cant come soon enough...how i miss San Diego. i will be there for Comic Con, so if you see me, make sure you dryhump my leg. tho i may give you a (o_O) look...i'd be entertained. lawlz.

OMGzzzzz!!!1! 8000 views!

is the awesome girl to ding that bell. thanks love!
thank you to all whose supported me and continue to make me feel all speshulz! d'aaaaaw. your thoughts and support are what i look towards to each and everytime i sign on DA everyday.

as you can see, i have uploaded a lot of new art. most of it was for a gallery weekend exhibition show. which got me a lot of exposure. ill be working with 3 gallery moderators in my city in the near future. woo hoo! so its shaping up to be a pretty good year for my art. and i will be doing a project on here for photography. its a concept ive had in my head for awhile, so if you want to be involved note me and ill give you all the details. otherwise ill be hitting most of the photographers up. when its all done, expect a great feature!

well thats the extent of it. i had to update since i havent wrote in awhile. hope y'all are keeping warm in winter's breath.

~cheers!
Strider

Keep up with the changing times

=soldierofsolace — Thu, 11 Dec 2008 14:20:47 PST

New Year abound...creative endeavors well underway.

So as the this year comes to a close, i think i have come to the conclusion to just work on my art in the 2 thousand and nine. after our big showcase is done for my dance company, i will be taking a break from dancing and focus on all my art. wether it be things i already do or new mediums. i really want to push myself in that area. with my recent passing of my pup Uber and no intention of getting a new dog anytime soon, ill def have alot of time on my hands to which i would rather be doing something creative.

so this is where you, my awesome and loyal watchers come in. please take my poll and it'll give me the push to get things done. and if its anything specific please say so, im more than happy to try anything.
as for the future, i will be involved in a gallery showing in january. also my website is in the process of a much needed facelift. hopefully it will be launched by late winter.

til then, Stay Creative and happy holidays to all!

~warmest regards
Strider

Pop Surreal State 101

=soldierofsolace — Mon, 03 Nov 2008 22:08:14 PST

Pop Surrealism 101. you think you know, but you have no idea.

So ive decided to start sketching/drawing again. i also decided to make it into a series. it can be completely random, thoughtful, precise, or just plain stupid. whatever i feel at the time and youll see alot that goes through my head and how my thought process works when im gettin' creative.

it will be good practice for when i hit up my work in other peoples blackbooks. gotta git back to my roots yo. in a world of digital techies, we should never lose touch with our traditional aspects of art. keep in respect, faith and in history, before us who didnt have the means to bust out art like some do nowadays.

there will be times when im inspired and ill dedicate a piece to someone or maybe jus coz i thought of you that day.

and yeah add this to all the other projects i got goin on...such is the life of the artist. that how i roll yo. never stop growing. cheers!

°°SubSrcr!ber°°

=soldierofsolace — Tue, 28 Oct 2008 14:47:30 PDT

Zomg! im a cool kid nao!

hehe. yeah right. im a subscriber now. w00t! jus checkin out the nifty new stuff you can do and whatnot. so plz forgive my dumb-dumbness when some of you got re added. i iz a n00b. ^_^
but yah ive been meaning to to get a sub so i finally went on wit it. so that means better features and a better looking page. (ima haveta hit up my homies on here to help me with that!)

but whats new with me? i just had a dance showcase that was a big success. so go me! woo hoo!
now thats done i can focus on my art a bit more. which is important coz ive had so much creative energy lately but end up in frustration coz i havent had the time to do anything. T_T i hope y'all are ready for some new shit coz i have been working with mediums i am not used to at all. but you wont know what types til i post em on here. haha suckas! you know i love you but i love SPAM and eggs more...wait thats not it. whatever. oh and i gots new hairz! well ive been growin mine out and its jus finally starting to look right. look like some emo skater hipster wannabe. haha. im such a loser, but my man loves his long haired crazian boys and he makes me happy so why not eh?

so yah git ready, by next year ill be doin up it with lots and lots of new things (i hope!) wanna say thank yew to the new watchers. mad love to you all. stay up, stay real, and stay true to what you do.

Im Strider and i approve of this message. seeeee yaaaaaaaaaaa!

Feature: Nathan Davis

=soldierofsolace — Tue, 09 Sep 2008 15:54:26 PDT

Aight y'all. i need to get more involved in the DA biz. (i should git me a subscription first but i'll worry bout that later. hehehe.)
anywhoz, on to my very first feature! i would like introduce y'all to a real good friend of mine and fellow superdeeduper talented artist and all round great guy so ima pimp him out big time!

Meet . with a graffiti background, this fool rocks mad skill on and off the canvas board. keepin' up to par by busting daily sketches, he's a formidable force to be reckon with. so all you toys back the eff up!

but wait, hes got more skills in his repertoire! check it. He also paints in abstract mediums. the amazing blends of color show me much emotion dealt with every brushstroke. truly awesome. and it doesnt stop there! hes got an incredible eye for photography. remember this piece:[link] He's responsible for that awesome capture and inspiration. yup that be my homie nazoe!

i had a chance to ask him some question via interview style, so read on to take a further glimpse on the kick ass artist.

"Who are ya and how long have you been a creative genius?"

- nathan davis... since around the late 80's and definitely not a genius.

"Who are your inspirations and what has helped you develop your talent?"

- I've mostly been inspired by other artistic friends I've met over the years. A lot of my graffiti style work is inspired by other Vancouver, LA + NYC writers... Kaput, Cameo, Cosoe, Acrow, Stage, AA Crew, Neos, Shiver, Reel... to name a few.

My photography is mostly inspired by my Grama Laura (RIP) and my watercolors are inspired by Kris Parley (kristoferparley.ca...who is also on DA!).

Having other artistic friends around me and getting constant encouragement from them is how I've developed my style. In whatever medium I'm using I try to evoke emotion and put my heart into all my artwork and photos.

"Tell me bout your proudest achievement in the art world."

- After most of my life being told that my artwork sucked I recently had an abstract acrylic of mine go to the home of an awesome, supportive lady who turned out to be high up in a Museum of Art. She could have just told me she liked my artwork and that would have been awesome in itself but to have her like a piece so much that she wanted it in her private collection is not only a huge emotional boost (like a big EFF YOU to all those who told me to "stop doodling and grow up") but she told me that my artwork is very emotional and it touched her nerve. If I put my heart into my artwork, my pieces will keep finding the right homes for themselves.

This couldn't have come at a better time in my life and she is the inspiration behind my 'Fate and Timing' blackbook sketch.

"Does it help or does it clash to have a creative partner?"

- For me it has always helped to have another creative person around you... not only inspiring but good constructive criticism is what helps you grow. Whether I am creating artwork by myself or in a room with friends sketching + dj'ing... as long as there is a positive creative vibe going around it can only help an artist in my opinion.

"Whats 3 things youd like to scratch off yer wishlist as done before
this lifetime is over?"

- Hmmm, hard one to narrow down...

One : would be to travel to some exotic place like New Zealand and spend some time creating artwork in a completely different environment from what I'm used to.

Two : make a positive impact in someone's life, the way my Grandparents impacted mine.

Three : leave my mark behind... hopefully some of my artwork will still be hanging up or rollin' on steel when it's my time to go. I'd hate to leave this World and be forgotten. Everyone has a story and my artwork speaks for me, tells my story. Stay Creative!

There ya have it. so show some love and check out his work. He's new to DA and in for the long haul and im glad that he can continue to be an inspiration to my creative outlets. also be on the lookout for some collabs with this one. i know we'd tear up a canvas together.

love,

[link]

this is choreography i have to teach to a couple classes. and its a breaking point for me coz i have yet again reinvented my dancing style. and it seems to fit well. hope y'all like!

cheers!

~Bboy Strider

backcabackcabackcaback/treat for yas

=soldierofsolace — Wed, 30 Jul 2008 09:40:12 PDT

im back from vaca and slowly catchin' up on msgs on here.

comic con was a-mah-zing and fun as always and leaves me inspired and full of new ideas. im gonna go back to drawing in books and paper. i didnt realize who much ive missed it. im also thinking bout gettin up in the streets again. not necessarily all out bombing walls, but tags here and there and stickers everywhere. i need to come up with a ghost writer name tho. im too well known as strider.

so check it:
the first 7 to reply to this will get custom sig, banner, or graphic. ^_^ jus to keep my motivation goin.

if you dont get to it first, no worries ill be doin this from time to time and will take the underdogs into consideration over ones who already hit this. i give to the needy and not the greedy. hehe. sorry En Vogue moment. gay i know...but thats what i am so whatcha gonna do?

also im down for collabs and once i get my flow goin commissions will be in the works. so git to it kiddos. summers half over, lets go out wit a donkey punch to someones head...or somethin'.

Summ3r Madn3ss/message to the new peeps

=soldierofsolace — Tue, 15 Jul 2008 15:16:07 PDT

Well wow, people have been poppin' up on my deviant stuff like crazy and im jus mad as all hell busy gettin ready for my vaca this weekend. ill be going back home to San Diego for bout 10 days. cant wait. gonna be headed out to Comic-Con for a day (friday) to grab some goodies and fill up my guest artist blackbook. squuueeee!

For all those new to my deviant: WELCOME and thank you for the support. ^_^ please forgive me for slow replies but please dont think im a jerk for not responding right away.

jus got alot going on. not only with my art, but with my boy and my pup, my dancing, and life. but many thanks in advance for taking the time to check my art out and for getting to know me. its quite the giddy feeling. im always evolving and i dabble in many things artistic. if you want to check out any other sites and stuff im into here ya goes, i dont mind new peeps on my list and getting a bigger network.

livejournal:[link]
myspace:[link]
facebook: [link]
youtube vlog and dance videos: [link]
my website:[link] (which i will be working on updating very soon.)

so yah, add away or jus check em out and let me know what you think. my dance vids seem fun and my vlogs are pretty deep or jus plain silly. again thank thank you for all the peeps watchin me and stuff. *HUGS* til then, have a freakin Zawesome summer!!! <3

~Strider

new avatar

=soldierofsolace — Fri, 04 Jul 2008 13:15:47 PDT

thanks to the awesome

he's all bout the bears and anime, so hes badass in my book. hes got a pretty dope style too, so be sure to check out his gallery.

you rock man! *huggles*

The Story behind "Cant Candycoat Your Own Death"

=soldierofsolace — Mon, 30 Jun 2008 21:26:46 PDT

im sure people askin' whats my deal...so here it is:

Suicide is rather a sensitive subject.
it affects those left behind tremendously.
they would wonder why would said person,
that they know do such a selfish act?
desperation. loneliness. for a moment to be finally noticed.
what would i know?
im a survivor.
there was a time when i felt so disconnected to world.
i was alone and on my own entirely for the first time.
my family was too distant or too busy to notice the signs...
and my 21st year was possibly the hardest step into adulthood.
yeah me. i tried to say fuck you to the world and life.
if life at that moment is how it would be for the rest of my existence,
then i did not want it.
i dazed out and then...
i stepped into oncoming traffic
without missing a beat and without holding my breath...
got hit by a sports truck.
flew and slid about 80 feet back.
knocked unconscious for about 20 minutes.

but it failed.

i woke up.
i got away with nothing worse
than serious skin shreds and bruises
that lasted for almost three months.
what i learned...
is that i wasnt meant to die just yet.
that nothing is as bad is it seems.
life had a plan.
and here i am.
alive. happy. living and experiencing
every brand new day.

and with that said
it is a relic, a momento
to those gone passed in anyone's life.

and for those that feel like there's no other way...

Artist Bio

=soldierofsolace — Fri, 20 Jun 2008 08:46:18 PDT

Here is my Bio Statement for my most recent artshow. i did pretty well. i sold eleven admission tickets and sold three paintings. the atmosphere was great and i had a lot of people give me positive comments about my artwork. one person came to me and said "Ah yes, finally the good stuff!" which made me giggle. i had doubts being in a new area but Milwaukee is a rising factor in art. and im glad to be part of that movement. cheers everyone!

"Art is love. Art is the message. Art is what you can get away with but can also be what you take away from it."

A San Diego transplant, Louiegee Faustino aka Strider, a self-taught artist wanted to tell the world a story. A story told through everyday people. Everyday objects. Everyday situations. Everyday life. Every brush stroke emphasizes what it means to be alive, what we don't understand, what we fear, and all for that which we hope. With only 5 years in the making, the divergent journey has only begun.
Mixed media is the core factor in which one should never limit themselves in art. With deep-rooted influences in graffiti art, the canvas before you will possibly have your facial expressions in lowbrow. Throw in a little surrealism which will leave you wondering or even shrugging. What you are perceiving is an epiphany and epitome of art. bound by all things surreal, no punches are held back as you delve deep into a mind of offset creation. As you are only seeing whats on the surface, dig a little deeper and you may find a better understanding of not only the artist, but of yourself. This soldier of solace hopes to show you all things that seem unseen.

what inspires you?

=soldierofsolace — Sat, 26 Apr 2008 10:04:18 PDT

I dont know bout y'all but music plays a major part of my creative endeavors. i always have music playing when im painting, blogging or jus thinking. artists like The Album Leaf, Sigur Ros, Ulrich Schnauss, Vitamin Strings Quartet has been on repeat as of late.
ive had this idea for awhile, and i think i will use it for a possible upcoming gallery in september and what better way to ask than the artists themselves.

So heres my question to you...
If you are like me and music is a big part of your creative process, what music drives you to be creative or what song would you like to see as a painting?

and it doesnt matter what song or artist it is that moves you. i want to know how music is such an influential part of someone's character coz i myself, couldnt not live without music. and who knows you just might see a painting of yer song choice.

The show will be called Soundforms and Artwaves. bring some light into my world and you might even introduce me to something new that ive never heard before and im always on the verge of finding new music no matter how long the artist or song may have been around.

*cheers*
~Strider

up and coming...

=soldierofsolace — Sun, 30 Mar 2008 11:51:19 PDT

i guess i should write in here since its been too long.

well many many projects coming up. even tho ive been playing on the digital front, i really do have a passion for most things artistic. including traditional art. gotta stick true to my roots yknow? many new paintings will be in the works, as winter hit hard here in milwaukee and it put a damper on many things involving that area.

but be on the lookout since this is the year for many new mediums for me. including customs.
anything from sneaks, to DIY munnies, plushies, and many more. i hope that i can produce many fun and creative things and i def am looking forward to the challenge. i need to update my website a bit too.

dont stop rockin y'all!

til next episode,
~Strider

my place in the intarwebz

=soldierofsolace — Wed, 27 Jun 2007 11:39:03 PDT

well thanks to my awesome friend Jojo, he took the time to to make a website for my art n stuff! what a cool guy. even tho all my art on here is on there i also have some other stuff to check out. so take a peek and let me know what y'all think:

soldierofsolace.com

*cheers*

Visualeyez...

=soldierofsolace — Sat, 05 May 2007 02:25:54 PDT

Bout a month ago i was asked to participate at a collaborative show of sorts. i gladly agreed. The first half of the show i did live art and the second half i danced in the open bboy circle. It was mad ZAWESOME.
May 25th im doing it again. they asked me to come back. so 1nce again ill be doing live art and dancing. So anyone that will be in the area of san diego friday 25th. come join us at the Honey Beehive in downtown. Support your fellow artists and show some love. hope this finds everyone well. *CHEERS*

~Strider

Strider vs SisterRez artshow

=soldierofsolace — Sun, 04 Mar 2007 16:10:45 PST

collaboration show with fellow deviant SisterRez.

if yer in san diego for the month of march check it out. thanks people!

*cheers*

[link]

All Things That Seem...Unseen

=soldierofsolace — Thu, 30 Nov 2006 21:58:18 PST

for anyone that maybe in the area at the time or interested:

[link]

there's the details of my december artshow.

much love and thanks for the support! <3

~Strider

lets git this started...

=soldierofsolace — Wed, 24 May 2006 17:43:21 PDT

hello everyone. thanks for checkin out my deviant page. its exciting to be here.
tho i doubt ill be bloggin on here much since i have other blogs that i write in.

if you really want the skinny on me check out my livejournal:

[link]

keep yer creative flow movin.

~Strider

deviantART: by:soldierofsolace