The Masks We Wear

Had a wonderful day in Second Life on Sunday! Started off with a lecture/discussion by my fellow avatar Emile Sands on the topic of masks and how they relate to the concept of avatars in a virtual world. It was fascinating. Afterwards we had a formal masquerade ball at a park across the street from my gallery where the lecture was. A Second Life jeweler made 8 custom masks for the event that were free to everyone coming to the event. We had a great crowd that stayed all 3 hours and best of all... I sold a LOT of paintings!

I have made a lot of serious contacts in Second Life in relation to my work, but it's also so much fun just being able to fantasize. I live in a very "casual" environment, and have neither the time nor inclination to dress formally. But in Second Life.... it's a hoot!

Another avatar friend of mine in Second Life, Wynd Ling, who owns a sim devoted to creative design in a virtual world has written about the ball on her blog. Check it out here!

So how can I have two lives?

I got involved in Second Life after reading an article about an artist in the Boston area who used it as a marketing tool for his work. What I discovered was a world of opportunity for visual artists to share their art with the world. Unlike a website or blog, which are both great but static, this virtual world allows me to meet you, talk with you, personally take you to my galleries.... and allows you to get to know me and what I have been trying to accomplish through my painting.

It is at times hilarious, it is at times bizarre (EVERYTHING you see in SL is straight out of someone's imagination) but it is ALWAYS intriguing. Most importantly, it is the future.

I have 2 galleries (The Aries Gallery SG and The Aries Gallery STNY). I also exhibit my paintings at special exhibitions around the world. I will be teaching a real life painting workshop in February as well. All this to the global market from the comfort of my mountaintop studio. My work has always been about connections, so it only follows that the connections I am able to make through this virtual world is in complete keeping with my vision.

Life is good.