The Art of the Personal Project is a crucial element to let potential buyers see how you think creatively on your own.  I am drawn to personal projects that have an interesting vision or that show something I have never seen before.  In this new revised thread, I’ll include a link to each personal project with the artist statement so you can see more of the project. Please note: This thread is not affiliated with any company; I’m just featuring projects that I find.  Please DO NOT send me your work.  I do not take submissions.

Today’s featured artist: Christina + David elevenfootsix

“Every fall David starts growing a beard, keeps it through the winter, and shaves it once the air starts hinting of warmth in the spring. He’s been doing this as long as Christina can remember. The beard portrait series started in the spring of 2012, after Christina and our friends launched a full-fledged campaign to convince David to grow his beard for an entire year without trimming it, just to see how big it would get. A year-beard, or a “yeard” if you will. David made it through the winter, but finally gave up in March—much to everyone’s disappointment. And so just like every other year, it was time for the overgrown whiskers to go. We felt the need to document the 5-month-old face foliage, and used the opportunity to get creative with a portrait. We’ve kept it up every year since; a portrait of an annual beard and its inevitable demise. (Also, sometimes gif-making. Because, who doesn’t like mini animations?) We’ve really enjoyed this little project as it gives us a chance to just have fun and work out lighting techniques at the same time. It’s also a creative challenge as we have to push ourselves to do something different with a subject that remains the same year after year.”

To see more of this project, click here.

APE contributor Suzanne Sease currently works as a consultant for photographers and illustrators around the world. She has been involved in the photography and illustration industry since the mid 80s. After establishing the art buying department at The Martin Agency, then working for Kaplan-Thaler, Capital One, Best Buy and numerous smaller agencies and companies, she decided to be a consultant in 1999. She has a new Twitter feed with helpful marketing information because she believes that marketing should be driven by brand and not by specialty.  Follow her at @SuzanneSease.

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