In a dream you find yourself standing in the middle of an unfamiliar room. There are no windows, no decorations or furniture, just dull gray walls, a single fluorescent light fixture illuminating the drab surroundings and three doors on the wall facing you. You walk over to the doors and notice that the one on the left has no visible hinges, handle or knob. The door in the middle has a handle and a sign on it that reads “EXIT”. The door on the right has a handle as well and a sign on it that reads “ENTER”. You try the middle door but it appears to be locked as the handle doesn’t budge. What door do you try next...and why that one and not the other? Now create a short story about what you find and what happens on the other side of the door you chose to open. Post it here, I'd love to read it. Now my own answer to this is that I choose the door without a handle, sign or hinges and here's the reason why. If no hinges are showing there's a good chance that the door opens from the other side and into this room, meaning both handle and hinges are on the other side. I'm curious and adventuresome so with no clearly marked sign to "tell me what to expect" I instinctively reach out to the unexpected. Could there be bad things on the other side? Could there be good things on the other side. Both answers are yes, but I've got an ace up my proverbial sleeve. You see this in MY story about MY DREAM! In short it can be anything I want it to be because I'm in control. We often forget about this as we go through life only choosing the doors we're told to or that are clearly marked with what we expect. Yes, this may be safe, but it often lands us in a dull gray existence like the drab room I found myself in before I chose door number one! I encourage you to create a habit of always considering where your imagination will take you, not someone else's. - MDD Now it's your turn. Write your feelings here and share them me. I'd love to read what you think!

One of my favorite books about understanding, connecting with, and releasing the creative artist within is The Artist's Way by Julia Cameron. If you're looking for a beginning point for your creative journey pick up this book! Along with this excellent book I shamelessly recommend joining The Every Day Artist, a series of classes I facilitate here at my studio on Thursday evenings. We all have an opportunity to use our creative ability to make our life, and the lives of others, better through communicating through art. Email michaelddavis@mddastudio.com for more information.

Hello and welcome to The Davis Arts Legacy! My name is Michael D. Davis and I’m delighted to kick off this forum by introducing myself. As you may have already guessed I‘m the creator, author and owner of this site. You might be connected to me through my presence on other on line platforms like LinkedIn, Facebook, Tumblr, YouPic, EyeEm or Instagram. You may even be an existing studio client or a student of one of my in person classes or forums. If not here’s a short synopsis of who, how, why and what I’m about. - Professional photographer for 40+ years - Entrepreneurial studio owner since 1992 - Mentor, Consultant & Teacher for 20 of those years - Current endeavors: Visual Artist, Writer & Teacher/Mentor/Consultant - Studio Location: Medford, Oregon - Educational reach: World wide - Favorite Subject to Photograph: People - Why people?: The challenge and pure joy of portraying the uniqueness found within each of us I’ve spent over 30 years traveling the United States and the world photographing people, places and things. This is my passion and first love. My twin love, after all I am a Gemini, is helping others recognize and exercise their own unique artistic talent, not just in the art and craft of photography, but through what ever medium they choose, (or has chosen them), as their language for creative expression. I’m a military veteran, a husband for nearly a half century now, and a delighted dad to cat kids. If you love cats you understand. If you don’t, that’s okay and I promise I won’t hold it against you. Dogs can be kids too. I’m at the stage in my career now where I look back at the path I’ve taken and can honestly proclaim that this was the right one for me. I’ve successfully maintained the desire, ability and passion for the craft I’ve chosen and feel that I’ve now come into my own place where I’m blessed to call myself an artist. My desire is to help others have the same feeling as they look back at the path they’ve chosen. This is actually why I’ve created The Davis Arts Legacy. It’s time to share, give back, inspire and motivate others and I intend to do just that with whatever time I may have left on this planet of ours. It’s my hope that you’ll follow along and perhaps even participate in this endeavor of mine. I’ve got lots to share, and more importantly, lots still to learn from each of you. I believe good teachers teach because they understand the wisdom of learning as much from their students as they do through teaching them. As a creative person I’m looking forward to sharing and learning from each of you. It’s my sincere hope you’ll come back often as I continue building out this site with more images, more information, more ideas, more free stuff, more inspiration and more opportunity for each of us to learn, prosper and grow. Now it’s your turn. I’d love to read about you . - MDD