Tenth Anniversary on YouTube!

In October of 2005, upon returning to the New Orleans area, I purchased my first digital camera. At the time I didn't realize the camera had a digital video feature. Once I discovered that ability, I learned through trial and error how to shoot and how to edit video. For 6 months I experimented with the medium, drawing inspiration from an assortment of videos I watched online.

Then in May of 2006, I made my first ever YouTube channel, dotdude. Over a ten year period I've shot video subjects that interested me and poured over that statistics provided by YouTube.

Along the way I purchased a couple of Flipcams and more recently a Sony camcorder. Some of my videos are simply observational, while others are more experimental. At times I’ve added music and sound to my videos. As the software changed, I tried new features.

Below is the first videos I shot. It includes an angel statue next to a small lily pond with a fountain. A number of homes in New Orleans have patio gardens that include fountains and/or ponds. A still image of the statue with pond served as my initial channel avatar.

dotdude Channel Seventh Anniversary!

Seven years ago I decided to create a YouTube channel called dotdude. The digital camera that I bought in the fall of 2005 included digital video as one of its features. Through trial and error I taught myself how to shoot video and how to edit video using Apple’s iMovie software.

As the years have passed I purchased a couple of Flipcams and more recently a Sony camcorder. Some of my videos are simple observational, while others are more experimental. At times I’ve added music and sound to my videos. As the software changed, I tried new features.

Below is one of my first videos I shot. It includes an angel statue next to a small lily pond with a fountain. A number of homes in New Orleans have patio gardens that include fountains and/or ponds. So, I decided to make a still image of the statue with pond as my channel avatar.

AIM Profiles Converted to Bebo Profiles

A while back AOL bought Bebo. At the end of February AOL began switching AIM Profiles to the Bebo format. So, basically I had to recreate my profiles. Here is a shot of my new Bebo profile for the same screen name I use on Blogger, dotartdude.

Dot Art Workshop Second Round

Since Tropical Storm Humberto scared off some of the artist participants in September, I was asked to present a second workshop for the ARTinA November meeting. Here are my students working on hard on their dot artwork. I have more photos on my blog dot art. Also, I have photos of the artists with the pieces they created during the workshop.

Dot Art Hands On Workshop

This past Thursday I conducted a “hands on” workshop with my fellow artists of ARTinA (Art in Algiers). First I discussed the artists that influenced my dot art and then showed some examples of my completed works. Next I demonstrated how to use wood dowels with cotton to paint different patterns. After that, all of us painted on small canvases that were provided for the workshop. For more information see my blog dot art.

AIM Pages

In light of some new innovations by AOL’s AIM Pages, I have revamped my seven pages. Because there is no way to simply switch from three columns to two columns, I had to reset the page settings. That means that I had to rebuild my pages from scratch beginning with the beginner page layout. I then modified the layouts in Advanced Mode. There are always new modules being created for AIM Pages. So I will be adding more as I go. In the meantime, here are the newest versions of my AIM Pages:

Chez Collage

Dance Floor

Dot Spot

Eye Play

Mo's Studio

Rest and Motion

Splatter Studio

Chez Collage

Tonight I’ve added an AIM page devoted to my collage art. The default format is two columns instead of three. The page has many of the same items as the other ones.


Chez Collage

Two More AIM Pages!

The blurb about my AIM Page, Splatter Studio, brought a lot of traffic to my page. Well, I decided to create two more AIM pages for my other types of art. Already my blogs have experienced more traffic.

Dance Floor

Rest and Motion


I also revamped one of my earlier AIM Pages. There is no need to have two devoted to my “dot art” when I do create other types of art.

Mo's Studio

Featured AIM Page

AIM Pages is featuring one of my pages today:

Splatters of Art
Weird. Wild. View the fantastic art of Throwsomepaint. He will try anything to make a beautiful painting come alive.

AIM Pages

Since I am allowed one AIM Page per screen name I decided to experiment with three more “profile pages.” For one I used the same content, but changed the background. For the other two I played with some of the other art images I’ve created and also changed the background. After all the dots are not the only kind of art I do.

As in other processes I generated ideas for the old page while working on the new page. I guess in a few months I’ll overhaul the pages.

The slide module gave me fits today as well as the custom list module. I hope this is temporary glitch. Over all I’m enjoying tinkering with the new pages.


Eye Play

Mo's Studio

Splatter Studio

Social Networking

There has been so much buzz about “social networking sites,” I decided I had to see what all the fuss was about. I tinkered with two different sites and the results of my efforts are linked below. One is from MySpace and the other is from AOL’s AIM.

MySpace
Mo

AIM Pages
Dot Spot

For all the hype about MySpace, I’m amused that people have to work around the interface to do anything creative. The site is not built for easy customization. I did a search for “how to’s.” Then I tried to change things on my page. By using code I lost some page formatting I liked. I would prefer controls that would just modify the colors that are already there. Argh.

AIM Pages is still in the testing stages, but I like the module concept. There are basic modules that come with a page. Then there are those that individuals create for the group. Some of the modules are generic enough that other people can do what they want in the module. Now if I can just think of a poll to add to mine.