I obviously don't check in here with the frequency that I used to, so I only just got caught up on the DD that I was so kindly given last month. Thank you to =XenoPhotography for the suggestion, and to ^quietchildae for the selection. I was astounded and delighted to see this older image chosen. Thank you.

I very much appreciate the thoughts and feedback that people have offered on that image, both good and bad. It is clearly not one of the "prettier" images that I've been part of creating, and it was difficult for me to look at for a long time for that reason. Many of you have expressed a similar sentiment, and I understand that. It's a shocking kind of visual, even for those of us who have spent years seeing a reflection like that in the mirror!

For a long time as a model I wanted to be pretty. I wanted to show that all different kinds of people could be pretty. But that's such a subjective standard, varying so wildly depending on the perception of the person viewing, that it's kind of an insane thing to aspire to. I think it's better to aspire to be joyful, and fulfilled, and loving and beloved, valued and kind, and all those other happy-ass things. When I was barely 18, I got a tattoo that says "Joy," so that I would have something to remind me of what I was striving for in life, what my goal was. It seemed inconceivably far away at the time. It's not, now. There's a lot more of it, now.

It's quieter than I thought.

Now if you'll excuse me, I need to paint my toenails and pluck my eyebrows before I go to bed.

Okay, five months is about long enough in between journal updates! This feature is near and dear to my heart. Emerging art model ~StellaDean is a good friend of mine, and one of my favorite people on the planet. I encouraged her to join dA, because of the incredible community of artists I found here, and I have no doubt that in a minute miss Stella is going to be a full figured superstar.

Please go give her some love, and show her how groovy the dA kids can be.

Welcome, Stella!

Okay, sorta. *grin*

Leonard Nimoy was on The Colbert Report last night talking about The Full Body Project, and word on the street is they flashed my goods repeatedly.

Wanna see? Follow ze leenk: [link]

I haven't watched it yet. I'm savoring the anticipation.

Let me know what you think!

xoxo

I'm obviously going to go check it out. Seeing pictures on the internet is nowhere near as cool as seeing them big and beautifully printed.

Want to support body positivity in the world? Move those feets and go check out Leonard Nimoy's Full Body Project, on exhibit in Los Angeles until March 1st at the Louis Stern Gallery.

Link to info: [link]

A couple of the images from the book and exhibit are posted here in my gallery:

In my time on dA, I've been lucky enough to meet and get to know a tremendous number of very sweet, and very talented artists. Some of them have been inspired (or sweet-talked into) drawing me, and though all of those drawings and paintings are in my favorites, I wanted to collect them together and send out a big thank you. I have other pieces of art uploaded in my gallery, but these are the pieces that are found elsewhere, and some of them you may not have seen.

Big thank yous to those talented people who found something about me they wanted to capture. I am honored.