•••••• I AM AN ARTIST  ••••

I am an artist.

An artist possesses a unique soul. They see the world differently. But more than that, an artist feels a deep desire, a calling to invite others into that world. An artist is driven by the pursuit of shared vision: to allow others to see, feel, and experience life as they do. To accomplish this, they choose a medium. That medium may be music, writing, painting, sculpting, or countless other forms. Whatever the choice, it becomes the vessel through which their inner world is expressed.

What makes a talented artist? It is not skill alone. Skill is important, but talent lies in something deeper—the ability to use that skill to evoke emotion.

We have all encountered individuals who are technically masterful yet never fully succeed as artists. And then, seemingly out of nowhere, emerges someone whose technique may be imperfect, yet whose work reaches straight into the soul. Their art inspires, unsettles, or even plunges the viewer into darkness. But it moves them. Emotion follows, and then recognition. We do not describe such individuals as merely skillful. We honor them with the moniker  “talented artist”.

I am an artist.

I live in Silicon Valley, surrounded by engineers. My own son scribbles equations that I can barely begin to follow. My family is divided between blue-collar workers on one side and doctors and engineers on the other, neither side fully understands my life choices. Or me.  Still, I remain an artist.

Photography is my chosen medium, though my creative path has led me through poetry, sculpting, painting, and many other forms over the years.

I attended The ArtCenter College of Design to refine my craft.

My hope is that others who view my work can see the beauty in the world as I see it. The graceful movement of a dancer, the wisdom etched into the eyes of an elder Native American, the quiet serenity of a waterfall at sunset. Across thousands of images and a wide range of subjects, I have tried to bring to life the allure I witness in this world, in the hope that others might see it too.

Have I succeeded?  You tell me.  www.melphoto.com.