Sometimes people trickle into your life unawares, stealthily, when you’re least expecting it, when you have no expectations, no real notion of who they are or how they will affect you over time. For me, luckily, this has happened on a handful of occasions and more often than not, it has happened through fandom. I have made connections and have come to form bonds with women and men who I consider family. They have cradled me, virtually, in their arms during the roughest bouts of my life. They have given me support, encouragement and have made my life altogether better just with a simple email-saying hello or a quick IM telling me they are thinking of me. What I never expected, what I couldn’t anticipate is that these friends, my bints and blokes, would affect my outlook on life or would help me appreciate the smallest pleasures in my life. They are my sisters, my brothers, my friends and one of them encompasses the role of friend, little sister and in many ways, adopted daughter. (If I were much, much older. ) I met Punkinart, (Randi), several years ago when I was scanning sites and looking for some good Harry/Ginny art. That little search lent me a gift, gave me the greatest thrill in the form of a young woman who has become very dear to me; someone who I doubt seriously I could do without. Some of you may read this interview and think, “well Tee is very biased” but one look at her gallery, one small glimpse of her work will confirm my assertion that Randi is, quite possibly, the most gifted artist in our fandom. Her pieces come alive; they enter your subconscious and live, laugh; are real and breathe with abundant clarity. What I’ve garnered from my friendship with Randi isn’t merely the joy of watching her grow as an artist. Rather, it’s the thrill of seeing her grow as a woman, as a beacon of light and laughter that shines brighter than the stars, that soars and moves like the fiercest wind. This fandom has given me so many wonderful gifts; one of the greatest is the friendship I’ve formed with this immensely talented, criminally funny, brilliant young woman. We are honored to feature as our January Artist of the Month, Punkinart. Love you, sweet pea!
Smooch, Tee Discuss her and her work here. |
