Interviews With Creative People Page Two

Click on a person's name or image to read that article: (images copyright original owner)

 Mikki Senkarik, painter of "Billboards of Happiness"

Tom Atkins, Creativity & Spiritual Gifts

Jackson Tarver, Painter of "visions of fantasy"

Andre West, Dream Quest One Writer's Contests

These interviews may not be reproduced without including the following credit: copyright Gregory Huff. Please visit www.CreativeHelps.com for more interviews like this and resources designed to energize your creativity.

ANOTHER COLORFUL LIFE ~ Mikki Senkarik

Artist Mikki Senkarik’s paintings burst with the joy of living life to the fullest. I believe her work also brings peace and healing to any environment in which it is displayed. Her life story proves that a person can truly overcome great obstacles and emerge victorious in all aspects of life. Be sure to enjoy her website and her work. Read her life story, "Silent Scream" on her website along with this interview.

What do you look for in a subject?

Since I show my work in areas that attract tourists the first thing I try to do is capture some of the local flavor on canvas. In Napa I paint the vineyards. In Taos the feeling of the old buildings and small streams. In Myrtle Beach I paint some of the 170 golf courses. Sedona the red rocks. Palm Desert and Las Vegas I tend to go with Tuscany and Provence.

I look for a subject that connects to people visiting the areas where I sell my art. We are very commercial. We know people come to Sedona to view the red rocks and for the spiritual healing they believe they find in them. It is not for me to say if the rocks heal. I try to let the people coming to Sedona go home with a touch of what they discovered on vacation. Likewise in all of my gallery locations.

Are your subjects based on actual scenes or idealized impressions of reality?

Yes, my subjects are based on real places. When we travel I fill sketchbooks full. We also take a jillion photos. Last year we spent six weeks in Europe. I filled five big sketchbooks and Jack took over three thousand digital images. I will take a real building and put a scene from another location in the painting. We are very fortunate to have traveled the world. I have a wealth of reference information. I find my biggest problem is deciding on what idea to paint, not what AM I GOING TO PAINT? I have more ideas than I can paint in five lifetimes.

One thing I try to do is give people a romantic view of the area I'm painting. I don't paint angst. I don't paint ugly. My collectors call my paintings Billboards of Happiness.

What is unusual about your technique?

There is nothing unique about my technique. I use a double primary palette that Jack (my mate) developed. Two yellows, two blues, two reds and white. All of my paintings are made from six colors plus white. I use the largest brush possible. Many of my flowers are painted with a #18 bristle filbert. I use a great deal of paint, which gives my work texture similar to a palette knife. I paint boldly. Many people think a man painted my paintings because of the strength of my brushwork.

I paint my skies first because they set the color range. Then I block in the base painting. When I paint floors I first put the base color and then freehand the floor tiles cutting lines in the wet surface with the tip of my brush. It can be a challenge on larger pieces. Especially when I choose to do a curved sidewalk. Keeping the lines in perfect perspective freehand does take concentration.

One tip Jack taught me. We keep a large mirror behind our easels. We study the paintings in the mirror. This allows us to view the work as if someone else had painted the piece.

Have you ever created any art that dealt with the issues you bring up in your story, Silent Scream?

I have not set out to deal with Silent Scream in my art. When I first started painting all of my doors were closed. Slowly I opened one door and then both. Now I paint vistas. I think I was afraid of what was behind the door. As I healed and grew I was able to open up. I was not aware of this until one of my collectors saw the changes and brought them to our attention.

Seldom a week passes that I don't deal with some artist who is facing a similar story as mine. That is one of the reasons we posted such a graphic and open story on my Website. I wanted to help those hurting and tell them there is hope. There is a light at the end of the tunnel.

Someone says to you, "There have been times in my life when I've felt like I was taking up space on the planet for no reason, like I was in everyone's way. I just don't feel like my art or my life really matter to anyone." What would you say to encourage them?

We get similar messages several times a week. The messages mostly come to Jack because of his articles and books. Frankly I cannot understand how anyone could feel they are just taking up space. That their art doesn't count. I have seen Jack write mini books to depressed artists. There is no one patented answer for all. Each person has individual needs. We take the time to answer to the best of our ability all who come to us. We point out the God didn't make a mistake when He allowed them to be born. Rejection is part of being an artist. We all suffer rejection if we try to do anything. I tell them those doing the rejecting are not being personal. Some people love what I do and don't care for Jack's high detail work. On the other hand others think he is a Master and my work okay. We don't allow peoples choices to affect us.

To answer your question, "What would you say to encourage them?" Each case has to be answered according to their fears and needs. In the body of the message we will give them hope and do our best to show them this too shall pass.

In your story you mention a point where you switched from painting horses to painting florals and scenery. Was it difficult to switch genres mid stream?

Not at all. In fact switching for equine to my current voice was liberating. I no longer had to paint perfect paintings. I could grow flowers out of season. I could put the Big Sur out my front door. My number one goal was to produce art that connected with people. Unless my art connected with enough people then we would not earn a living making and selling art. Frankly it doesn't matter what I paint. I just love the feel of a brush full of pigments against a fresh canvas. If we won the Lottery I'm confident Jack and I would both keep on painting.

What is the most challenging part of the creative process?

I find it interesting you use the challenge of the creative process. I personally don't think we create. To create is to make something from nothing. I simply put parts together. In my seventeen years as a fulltime easel painter I have never once had a painters block. Perhaps I'm lucky. I go to bed knowing the next morning what I'm going to be working on. We keep a board with my gallery's inventory. I can glance and see who needs what. Knowing I have a commission or one of my galleries is getting below the magic number stirs my painting juices. We have found the ideal number is for me to keep between 5 and 9 originals in a gallery. Under 5 and the sales slow. Over 9 and they slow. The past seven or eight years I have never been able to get any gallery 9 pieces. I paint about 175 originals a year and we sell that number. Most of my work sells before the paint dries.

The most rewarding part?

When I pull the masking take protecting my signature framing. Perhaps that is not entirely true. I get pretty pumped when I get a fax or email saying a piece has sold. The ultimate test is someone liking what we do well enough to spend their hard earned money to purchase what we make.

How has living is so many wonderful places inspired and informed your work?

I cannot say living in the exotic places inspire my work. I painted one of my best pieces in a motel room. I would be not truthful if I didn't admit living at the tourist destinations has been fun. I don’t draw inspiration from locations but from the blank canvas. We get up and go to work. There are days when I start I'm not all that revved up but I keep on painting and in an hour or so I'm deep into the mood. I think artist inspiration is a big myth. It is a cop out for those wanting an excuse not to produce. I am a professional and I produce. If I were a professional athlete I would be expected to perform at my maximum each game. Well, painting is my playing field.

What would you say to someone who compares your art to Thomas Kinkade?

I would take that as a compliment. Thomas Kinkade is an excellent draftsman and skilled painter. I wouldn't like to be compared to his mass marketing. I have no problem with Thom. I do know he has recently had to admit to heavy drinking and womanizing. I would not want to be associated with his darker side. But if someone told me I was equal to Kinkade as an easel painter I would take that as a compliment. It is easy to throw rocks when someone like Thom lives in such a big glass house.

How do you see your artwork evolving in the years ahead?

I strive to improve with each painting. One either grows or withers up. As I have matured my work has improved. The first 90% is easy to see. The last 10% is what separates us from the masters of the past. I am still young and plan to keep on growing until the end. Each time I finish a painting and after it is shipped Jack and I go over the image and talk about what I could have done better or different. My goal is to be the very best I can be. My only competition is with myself. To improve we must be willing to look at our work from an outsider's eye. That is not easy because we tend to think our babies are cute no matter how ugly. This is why I'm so lucky to have a mate who is a true master artist at my side. He is m biggest fan but also my toughest critic. Nothing escapes his eagle eyes.

We are currently putting together my second tabletop art book. This book will be much larger than my first book. The Senkarik Signature Collection #2 will be 192 pages on 200# paper. In the new book I have added scores of pen and ink sketches delineating our travels. Lots of travel photos of Jack and me in dream locations with the remainder of the book filled with oil paintings.

My biggest scare came two years ago when doctors discovered cancer in Jack. He is my world and I'm his. We tell people we are a world of two. I am thankful to God for sparing him and letting me have my soul mate for many more years to come. As long as we have each other no enemy can defeat us. No art economy can be too slow. No negative outside influence can touch us.

Contact information: www.senkarik.com    senkarikart@SBCGlobal.net 

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ANOTHER COLORFUL LIFE ~ TOM ATKINS

Tom Atkins is truly a man of many talents. From teaching to ministry to media consulting to blogging, this man sometimes finds it difficult to describe what he does to others in a concise sentence. I would simply call him a master juggler. An important part of his ministry is teaching others about the relationship between creativity and their spiritual gifts.

How did teaching creativity and spiritual gifts become so important to you?

About ten years ago, I was asked to teach a class on spiritual gifts. I had never studied them before and took a lot of time to develop the course. When I finally got to teach it, the transformation in the group of students (all of whom were young adults) was astonishing. For the first time, they realized that they were created with a specific purpose in mind. And when they applied their gifts to life, work and ministry, they found themselves happier and more fulfilled. Watching that transformation made a profound impact on me and I began to regularly lead groups.

Creativity came out of that same experience. I am a creative person by nature - an artist, poet, and writer. And as I began to watch people, I saw their creativity grow too. Since God is in his essence, the creator, lessons on unleashing that creativity became part of what I taught.

What is the definition of "spiritual gift?"

It's a biblical term, actually, and I use it that way. According to the New Testament, Paul tells us that the Holy Spirit gives us sixteen different gifts that are specifically for building the church and uplifting believers. The idea is that God asks things of us, but he also equips us to do those things by giving us the gifts to do what he asks.

These gifts can be used for other things of course, for instance, the gift of teaching can be used to teach quantum mechanics as well as new testament theology. And it's Ok (probably good) to use them elsewhere, as long as we don't neglect their purpose.

What is the difference between a spiritual gift and a vocational gift? Is it more than a process of finding out what you're good at or taking a career assessment test?

The difference is that a spiritual gift comes from God (the Holy Spirit) and is given to us to help us do God's work, whereas a vocational gift or some other talent may be (and because I am a Christian, I think is) from God, but may not be given us for a specific task that God has for us.

There are several good ways to learn your gifts. I do it through workshops and such, where I lead people through each gift and tell them for things to look for in their lives.

Often too, asking the people close to you if they see specific gifts in us can help. It's amazing how rarely we see a gift in ourselves that people around us see clearly and strongly.

And there are several self-evaluations on the web and in print. I often use: Finding Your Spiritual Gifts: Wagner-Modified Houts Questionnaire which I get from Amazon.com in bulk for workshops, classes, etc.

What is the relationship between creativity and spiritual gifts?

First, they both have their source in God. God is called by the name creator in the bible more than by any other name. It stands to reason that if he created us in his image, we too will be the creator. And spiritual gifts are very specifically given to us by the Holy Spirit, one of the three manifestations of God in the bible.

Second, they are innate. Everyone has both. We may not develop them, but they are there in each of us. In over ten years of teaching, I have never had a single person leave a class not seeing and understanding that they have a specific gift.

What do you say to the person who believes he/she has no spiritual gift?

They are wrong. Period. We all have spiritual gifts. Most of us have two or three that are strong in, and a couple more that are less strong but still presence.

Many of us have trouble seeing our own gifts, but put that same person in a group of friends and the friends almost always see the gifts. That's why I like teaching Spiritual Gifts to smaller groups that know each other well, because they help each other see their gifts.

How does knowing God’s will for your life change the way you live?

Knowing God's will gives you purpose. At the same time, it makes doing God's will easier. If you apply your gifts to God's work, it becomes a joy, not a burden. Why? Simply because you are doing what you are made to do. You are being fulfilled as a person at the same time that you are doing God's work here. I believe that's what God planned, and that it's part of what Jesus speaks of when he talks about an abundant life - a life with joy that also is within God's will.

In what ways are time management, achieving balance, and organization pivotal to your mission?

Huge. I run an engineering business, a creative consultancy, a ministry, and I have a family, and I am active in my church. Balance and managing my time is important. It took years to find that balance, I have to admit.

What are 3 general principles that, if practiced, can help lay the foundation for success in business?

First, do what you have a passion for. Otherwise, it is a burden and at some point you will crash and burn. If you have a passion, the long hours and work have purpose and bring you joy. If you don't, they will wear you out and drain you.

Second, tell people what you do. Marketing 101. I went to a seminar recently held by SunTrust bank. They had done an exhaustive study of small businesses that had grown consistently at 20% or more for 5 years running, looking for commonalities. Their thought was that knowing what they had in common could help other companies generate that same level of growth. The one thing that they all had in common is that they spent resources on marketing.

Third, and this is my whole philosophy of business: Business is about promises made and promises kept. Never forget that and you'll develop customers that will take care of you as well as you take care of them.

In your opinion, is there a trend of churches becoming more creative in their ministry and outreach?

It's mixed. The new "community church" movement is developing a lot of creativity, and a few individual mainline churches are. But it's spotty. Many churches still look on creativity as a dangerous thing. But my reading of the bible and of history is that the early church was very creative in everything they did. There was remarkable diversity there, and the church flourished and spread in those early days, even in the midst of great persecution.

Why? Creativity solves problems, but it also draws people to you. A creative church, and by this I don't just mean a contemporary worship experience, but creativity applied to the whole church experience, will be attractive to many, many people who are not normally church goers, but have deep spiritual needs.

You are a man of many talents. Do you find that naming each individual talent interferes with your ability to transition smoothly between them all, or are they all connected and how?

To me, they are inseparable. I tried to compartmentalize them for many years, and that never worked. It wasn't until I accepted that God had made me this way, and that I needed to accept myself as a whole and share myself as a whole, that life began to click for me. And doing that has allowed me to bring creativity into my technology work, and spirituality into all my work. it allows me to bring my technology and business side to church. As a result, it's a much richer experience for me and the people I touch.

What is the most frustrating thing about being multitalented, and how do you deal with it?

The only frustrating thing is trying to tell people what I do in a neat phrase. Twenty years into it, I still don't know what to say when someone asks me what I do.

What are a few of the testimonials you’ve heard from your clients regarding your retreats?

I love it when someone stops me on the street, and introduces me to whoever they are with, and then goes on and on about what I did for them. It doesn't matter to me what it's about, hearing that kind of personal testimony is a joyful, affirming thing. I also treasure the notes and letters people send me, and I save each one.

Any upcoming projects you’d like folks to be aware of?

Two. I've just launched a website focused on elegance in all it's guises. I love elegance and there is far too little of it out there. It will touch on elegance in art, photography, and living. The trial run site is up at http://www.aneyeforelegance.com/ but I suspect it will develop and change a lot over the coming year.

And my daughter and I are working on a project very dear to me, photographing and cataloging the history of old churches in our county. The county where we live has an abundance of these old churches from the last century, and it was in such churches that much of our country's character was formed. We don't have a site for these yet, but there will be a link to it once we launch at my personal site, www.summitmanor.org/tomatkins

Contact information: Tom Atkins, Summit Manor http://www.summitmanor.org

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ANOTHER COLORFUL LIFE ~ Jackson Tarver

Artist Jackson Tarver specializes in visual effects, textures, and patterns on paper and other textured media. His works demonstrate a vivid and vibrant use of color. As a person who enjoys looking at details and technique in art, I find that Jackson’s work provides a feast for the senses. His struggle with mental illness has not impaired his ability to create art that provokes thought and is sometimes whimsical.

Do you find that the life obstacles you have overcome contribute to your art? In what ways?

Life obstacles have taught me a lot and although I hate them when they arise, I have learned that there are times that I need to be flexible and succumb to life’s pressure and times when I need to stand my ground. To me, art is a two way communication between the artist and the world around him. Obstacles are a way of forcing me to listen to the world and the forces that be and then respond without losing my integrity. In my mental illness, I have psychotic periods where I feel like I am dying or talking to the dead or telepathically communicating with others. I believe my brain is wired differently where the subconscious gets confused with the conscious and causes me to lose touch with reality. This makes me a prime candidate to be an artist because I am already so closely in touch with the subconscious.

What is the most challenging part of the creative process? The most rewarding part?

The most challenging part is getting started and knowing what you want to convey with the piece.

The most rewarding part is when it’s hanging somewhere and people send you emails and tell you that they love it because it makes you feel like you put this message out and there are people out there that get it. It’s like throwing a "Hail Mary" (play in football), and you have no idea whether people will understand it or not, and then someone catches it in the end zone and totally get what you are doing. That is a great feeling.

Your art appears to have a lot of texture and movement. Do you also incorporate found objects into your work? How?

Usually, when I incorporate found objects into my art, it’s from piles of paint tubes, paint bottles, latex globs, ripped up old paintings, ripped up old canvases with latex globs and super glue wads. Most of it is already painted. I keep it in metal trashcans around my studio from the past several years.

What materials and supplies do you use to create your work?

Most of the time, I use cellophane mold, then I pour a bunch of it in there with latex and polyurethane. Sometimes, I use trash bags and make a big ball, then saw it into several pieces. I use a lot of watercolor paper and almost all the paintings I’ve done have to be on watercolor paper. Then, I use watercolors, watercolor pencil, speedball ink and light body acrylic.

How would you encourage someone who wants to get their work in to their local Starbucks? What was your approach, and how was it received?

For Starbucks, you first have to identify the locations that hang art. They usually have hanging systems. For the first time, you have to schedule a meeting with the manager or the person that handles the art and show them a portfolio and/or samples. Sometimes you can do it by email if you have a website. After that, if you know them, you can usually just schedule a time to hang. It’s important to follow their rules on times to install and de-install and be very professional because they provide a valuable service for local artists. Starbucks does not handle sales, you need to make sure there is plenty of contact information available. All installations were very well received. Some Starbucks worked better for me than others, and some times of the season are better.

How do you decide what to title your work?

To title it, I figure out what I think it looks like, then I get a thesaurus and come up with a really good name. Sometimes, I just make up words with hidden meanings.

If you were awarded a $2K grant to create a major work of art, what would you create?

If I were given $2000, I would create an 8’ x 10’ wall of paint tubes and all kinds of knick knacks which would have big dried sheets of latex throughout. The whole thing would be made of canvas and paper which would be ripped open in layers like a book.

At what point in the creative process do you know your work is "done?"

It’s done when you’ve sold it.

Contact information: www.absolutearts.com/jackson ,  e-mail: jdtarver7@aol.com  phone: 214-923-4864

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ANOTHER COLORFUL LIFE ~ ANDRE WEST

Andre West is a writer, a poet, a dreamer, creator and founder of Dream Quest One, a poetry and writing contest. Visit http://www.dreamquestone.com for details and to enter. Check website for contest deadlines.

1. What was your inspiration for starting Dream Quest One?

My inspiration for starting Dream Quest One goes as far back as my early childhood education. Besides playing with Lincoln Logs and Army Men toys, I remember reading books and learning nursery rhymes. Particularly, I really loved the times when my mother would read bedtime stories to me. So about the age of five or six years old, I began reading books on my own. This is when my mother let me read bedtime stories to her. She told me that she enjoyed my reading so much, I would put her to sleep instead. Enthusiastically, with childlike confidence, I wanted to read stories and Mother Goose Nursery Rhymes to my dear mother in order to show her that I can read. In doing so, it made me feel good to start and finish reading a complete book. As a child, my favorite book to read was The Bike Lesson by Stan and Jan Berenstain. I guess you could say that I was hooked on phonics at an early age.

I learned that a picture is worth a thousand words. Noticing that many children’s books contained illustrations, I saw that those pictures only reinforced what I had already read. Discovering my imagination took me to far off places in the universe where I could visit by reading words alone. Therefore, in my youthful mind pictures had become redundant. Not that there was anything wrong with a colorful illustration but pictures seem to replace words I could be reading. I then asked my mother to get me books without pictures. Since a picture is worth a thousand words then a word is worth a thousand and one pictures I could imagine, I thought. And she brought me all sorts of new and exciting tales to read.

My imagination began to grow and develop while opening my mind. During this time, I lived with my family at a government housing project building in “The Village” called the “Row Houses” in the A.B.L.A. Homes at Chicago, Illinois. Located on the West Side, I lived right across the street from Fosco Park. My big brother and I use to play in the dirty field, ride bikes, skateboard, roller-skate, fly kites, and even ice skate during the winter months. We always had what we needed so being poor didn’t bother us that much. We hardly even thought about it sometimes, but we knew. We use to eat maple syrup and bread sandwiches back then. Hey, it kept us alive. I’d still eat one until this day.

As years went by, I was considered a “gifted” child at Medill Elementary School. I really didn’t know what “gifted” meant since I didn’t receive too many gifts back then. All I remember is that a few other students and I had to take more advanced classes than our regular homeroom peers. I went to different instructors for reading, music and art classes. At this time my reading comprehension, vocabulary, and verbal skills were considered above average. I didn’t understand what that really meant because all I wanted to do was have fun with my friends and play. It was nice to take a break from the monotony of being in the same classroom setting all day.

So from first grade class through junior high school I remember attending Junior Great Books classes. We read stories such as The Velveteen Rabbit, The Ugly Duckling, and The Emperor’s New Clothes, discussing what happened in those stories as a group. It helped develop the essential skills of reading carefully, thinking critically, listening intently, and speaking and writing persuasively. I had fun participating in those group discussions and did very well in English Grammar subjects. I wrote essay compositions and poems for classroom exercises and homework. I never stopped reading books. My teachers would always praise my ability to produce very creative writing. It felt good to write, whether it was a short story or poem; to transform thoughts and feelings into words, convey messages to readers, producing a desired outcome or effect. I love writing. It’s that simple.

I remember having my essays, stories and poems posted in my classroom and on the hallway walls at my schools. I continued writing but there was something else about me. I always wanted to fit in with the popular students. And being smart was not very popular in these circles. Also, there were some negative influences from family members and so-called friends that steered me to mischief at times. So I became shy and timid about showing my gifts and talents to those around me. I tried to please everyone as I grew up. In doing so, I was never fully able to express myself or “be myself” so to speak. I usually wrote a story or poem as required from my teachers. Once in 5^th grade, I kept a composition book full of essays I wrote throughout the school year. There was a time when I went home with a note from my teacher to my mother. She told my mother that she didn’t believe I had written a certain composition and ‘please don’t do your child’s homework for him.’ Well, my mother didn’t help me. I wrote the story while sitting alone in my room. My mother couldn’t believe I had created such a great story when I showed her before turning in my homework the following day. Nonetheless, I wrote it, only to have my composition book thrown into the trash can on the last day of school. I really regret throwing those stories away. My mother said she really wanted to keep that book too. Usually I write a story or poem when I’m inspired or motivated by a profound person, a memorable place, a wonderful thing, or an outstanding occurrence in my life.

Mrs. Smiley, a strict and disciplined school librarian, at Gallistel Language Academy once pulled me aside to say, “Andre, you really have a talent for creative writing. Keep it up. I want you to remember that.” She even wrote her wonderful praise to me in my elementary school graduation autograph book. Writing a book became a somewhat of a dream that might be possible, like unicorns and fire breathing dragons. But I never went deeper into the thought of it back then.

During high school, I continued occasionally writing poems and stories about my life and the things that I have done. There was a local writers’ newsletter that sponsored a poetry contest. I entered a poem not knowing what would happen. To my surprise I won an honorable mention and received a big red dictionary. That contest really gave me a healthy dose of inspiration to continue writing. I always loved poetry and writing even through college. I wrote more stories while taking English courses. Receiving an A.A. degree in Liberal Arts Education it really didn’t dawn on me until I paused and reflected about the direction I have been going in life. To support myself I have been a landscaper and a front-end maintenance worker for a major supermarket chain in Chicago, Illinois. In whatever job I’ve done, I like to do it right or I won’t do it all.

There was always the fear of rejection that haunted me all of my life. I always sought approval form others for fear of being criticized. I was also afraid of failing and succeeding, thinking disaster would come to bring me down and out. I was scared to take a risk, to make mistakes, to let go and live life as I believed in my heart. Sometimes family members mean well, but they may also discourage one from pursuing their calling in life. They may sound like Glum from Gulliver’s Travels saying, “You never make it”. All the wasted time I spent trying to be whatever someone else wanted me to be has passed. I got tired of being afraid to venture off into the unknown. I always have been and always will be writer, a poet and a dreamer, not in that exact order though.

I know that there are others out there like me who have let negative thinking and criticism hold them back from becoming the writer that they truly are. There is someone right here and now who needs to know that dreams are not just for other people. Dreams are for you too. It’s okay to dream for dreams do come true. You can write until your heart is content.

On March 17, 2005 I decided to launch the Dream Quest One Poetry & Writing Contest (www.DreamQuestOne.com). This is my avenue to connect with poets and writers from all walks of life. All are welcome to share poems and short stories with the world today. I encourage anyone with a dream of writing to give him or herself a chance. This contest is a labor of love to me. I put my heart, spirit and soul to make it so. Somehow I try to reach out to everyone who enters this contest. This is my connection to humanity. My gateway to all writers, poets and dreamers is Dreamquestone.Com.

2. What works have you written?

Up until now I have only written short stories and poems for myself. I am a work in progress. Recently, I have just started writing on a deeper level in my pursuit of being published. I hope to complete and publish my book in the near future. So stay tuned to Dream Quest One for updates.

3. How long have you been offering these contests?

I created and established Dream Quest One Poetry & Writing Contest on March 17, 2005. So far I have held four previous contests. Now the contests are being held semi-annually. The closing dates are usually July 31 and December 31.

4. Who judges the entries and by what criteria?

I have a unique panel of randomly selected independent judges. Having a background in education, I choose students from colleges and universities to become members of the Dare to Dream Master Selection Committee. Judges may be picked from the University of Illinois at Chicago, DePaul University, Loyola University, Roosevelt University, Harold Washington College, Chicago State University, Florida A& M, Columbia College, and National Louis University to name a few.

5. How many entries do you typically receive?

The Dream Quest One Poetry & Writing Contest is still relatively new to the world of literature. It typically has received from 300 to 405 entries in this unique dual contest. I am working toward spreading the message out to anyone who writes and dreams of writing.

 6. Describe the most unusual entry you’ve received.

Although there have been many entries that made me “think,” sometimes well-known authors, poets and people most notable in all walks of life from around the world have entered this competition. However, I would say that Mr. Lester Colodny sent the most unusual entry I can think of right now. It is a story titled, “What’s Funnier Than A Barrel Of Monkeys?” It was a hilarious and unusual short story. Also, Lester Colodny happens to be a producer, director, writer actor and advertising maven, with several Cleos (the academy award for advertising) and an Emmy to his credit, has written a memoir about his life and the people he helped while working with the William Morris Agency in New York (people such as Neil and Danny Simon, Mel Brooks, and Woody Allen). He created, produced and wrote “The Munsters” and wrote episodes for the “Get Smart” and “Love American Style” television shows. Wow, the list of his credits goes on. He received an Emmy for Best Director, Writer, and Producer for The Baja Marimbas and Jack Benny Show. Now that is usual!

7. Can participants recycle their entries for other writing contest?

Yes, the beauty of this contest is that all participants retain the rights to recycle their literary works of art as entries for other writing contests. See Official Rules at http://www.dreamquestone.com/page2.html for details.

8. How do you promote the winners of the contest?

The winners of the contest are announced and their stories and poems are published online in the Dare to Dream pages at http://www.dreamquestone.com/page9.html. People from all over the world may visit the website to read winning poems and short stories. It’s kind of neat.

9. What is the largest prize you have ever given?

Dream Quest One awards six prizes totaling $1275.00 in this poetry and short story competition. The largest prize given to contest winners in the Writing Contest is the First Prize in the amount of $500.00. Second Prize is $250.00 and Third Prize is $100.00. The Poetry First Prize is $250.00. Second Prize is $125.00 and Third Prize is $50.00.

10. Why is encouraging writers so important to you?

Encouraging writers is very important to me because I believe there is a potential for greatness in everyone. There are people who are talented, gifted with the ability to write the most beautiful poetry and creative stories known to man. However, some people like me have felt oppressed, repressed or somehow not able to express themselves due to people, places, things and circumstances. Maybe someone keeps telling you that you will never make it as a writer. Well, I have news for you. Yes, you can. You can change your mind, change your world, dream and make it a reality.

11. What have you learned as a result of starting your contest?

I have learned many things as a result of starting Dream Quest One. First, I have learned to get outside of myself and consider that the next person I meet just might be a potential present and future great writer or poet. I learned to keep an open mind about people and their cultural and geographical backgrounds. No matter what we think, we are all human beings and have a whole lot in common. It is the similarities, not the differences that help us to understand and relate to the human condition. And we can learn to live together and through our differences. I learned that people share the same hopes, dreams and aspirations in world of writing. Others dream and may need to be awakened to a new beginning in their lives. Writing, whether fiction, non-fiction, science fiction, fantasy, journals, essays, screenplays, diaries or any of the over 50 types of poetry is therapeutic and good to expand the horizons of the mind. By quoting the words in Richard Bach’s story, Jonathan Livingston Seagull, when he discovers the technique of flying: “We can lift ourselves out of ignorance, we can find ourselves as creatures of excellence and intelligence and skill. We can be free! We can learn to fly!”

12. What is the ultimate goal of your website? What do you wish to achieve?

The ultimate goal of Dream Quest One is to inspire, motivate and encourage anyone who has the desire or love of poetry and writing to continue doing so without fear of failure or success, regardless of negative criticism from others or ourselves. I hope that all who enter will exercise their right and power to dream and work toward making them a reality. That goes for setting realistic and attainable realistic goals in writing. A dream is nothing but a goal with a deadline.

13. What happens to entries that do not win prizes?

I honestly believe that all those who choose to enter the contest and put forth their best efforts to produce a great story or poem are actually winners themselves. Realistically, there are a total of 3 winners chosen from either poetry or writing contest. However, the entries that do not win may be randomly featured on a page at Dream Quest One from time to time. So be on the look out for more outstanding stories and poems.

14. How long are winning entries published online?

All contest winners will be showcased on the Dare to Dream (D2D pages) http://www.dreamquestone.com/page9.html from the day of winner announcement until the end of the following competition. In the case of the current competition, all winning entries will be posted from January 31, 2008 until July 31, 2008. Thereafter, all winning poems and stories will be kept in Dream Quest One’s archives. In turn they may be brought out at random as featured literary works of art.

15. Can participants have more than one entry in the contest at a time?

In this unique dual competition participants may enter both the poetry contest and writing contest at the same time.

Thank you very much for your time and attention to Dream Quest One. If you so choose to enter this contest we will be eagerly looking forward to seeing your literary work. And remember, in whatever you do, “its okay to dream”, for dreams do come true.

CONTACT INFORMATION:

Contact: Andre L. West

Dream Quest One

Poetry & Writing Contest

P.O. Box 3141

Chicago, IL 60654

Email: alwest56@hotmail.com

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