Curie Community Building Support Application.
I love Steemit Contests. I love entering them and I love hosting them. Two months ago it was a great joy to begin a new weekly contest based around one of my artistic passions……..Digital Art. I was thrilled with the great response I received and was well rewarded with the positive comments of appreciation and hearing just how much fun participants experienced with their involvement.
My initial plan was to gauge the interest first, before deciding on how long to keep hosting this and I believed I could keep it going indefinitely, but as I was funding it myself, it became a little counter-productive for the long term. I started out with just one prize but it soon became clear to me that the level of enthusiasm and creative skill certainly warranted a second and a third prize, but after five weeks I had to temporarily suspend the contest due to outside commitments combined with the plummeting steem value.
One of the main reasons I enjoy steemit is that it is the ideal platform for me to express myself creatively. I find it all too easy to withdraw into myself when I’m not involved in artistic or creative activities and I am sure others feel the same on occasions. I have expanded my computer skills considerably since joining Steemit and have strived to improve my existing skills, and entering the various contests and challenges has done this for me.
Many people will attest to expanding their creative horizons here as well with pleasing results. Some are obviously more talented than others but if anyone can point a camera at a subject and press the shutter button, they are able to enter my digital art contests despite having had no previous experience.
I explained in my contest introductory post that ANYONE can do digital art but there are a few simple steps to make it happen. And for people who have not done it before, I include tutorials in my posts. After showing them what can be done, using very ordinary and even poor quality photos, they begin to get excited. That excitement builds when they step out of their comfort zones and find the digital artist within.
It is then my turn to get excited when I see the wonderful works of art which are produced. I have had the pleasure of meeting many new steemians since beginning this contest and I feel certain, that with all the potential digital artists likely to join us, along with those who are already enthusiastic, we will collectively build a strong community as we continue to explore and share this creative genre together.
Here is an example of a few submissions from my prior Digital Art Contests (chosen at random) produced by a talented and loyal bunch of steemians. Over the five week period I received a total of 67 entries.
I have also chosen (randomly again) a few comments given to me about my Digital Art Contests.
bluemoon (59) · 2 months ago
I congratulate you on the idea. This is a contest that invites innovation and creativity. I feel artistic.
ninahaskin (59) · 2 months ago
Upv and RSD!@trudeehunter Last week was so much fun and there were so many wonderful artistic entries!
losthippie (46) · 2 months ago
Thanks, this a really good way for artists to use their skills, really a cool contest, well done.
nelinoeva (55) · 2 months ago
Thank you so much
melinda010100 (62) · 2 months ago
I had great fun with them, my biggest problem was only picking two! This is such a fun contest! I knew it would be!😃
deerjay (56) · 2 months ago
This is so exciting. Thank you so much
beeyou (57) · 2 months ago
Appreciate the tutorial
sunscape (69) · 2 months ago
Love, love, love this. I have never tried any digital editing like this before.
Digital Art allows keen Steemian members to add another string to their creative bow and enables them to actually recycle old photos in a new and interesting manner. Some people struggle to find new content and others find it difficult to leave home to add to their photographic portfolio due to unfavourable weather conditions, ill health or a myriad of reasons. Digital Art is the answer!
This contest interests both males and females and I have learned that people who were not interested in digital art before have since changed their minds and are thoroughly enjoying what they can now reproduce........a few have admitted to becoming addicted to Digital Art which is what has happened with me.
Here are the links to my contests for your perusal:
4th Contest https://steemit.com/digitalartcontest/@trudeehunter/announcing-digital-art-contest-round-4-4d8af6ffb36b5est
5th Contest. https://steemit.com/digitalartcontest/@trudeehunter/announcing-digital-art-contest-round-5-2dce034e9453dest
I love Curie's mission to:
"Help grow communtites on the Steem Blockchain."
And I am encouraged to read the long list of current contests that Curie is supporting. I am also greatly honoured to have been the recipient of Currie Awards and know very well how much this motivates me to continue to challenge myself to do better. I see my involvement in continuing to organize my Digital Contest as a way to give back to the community and hopefully stimulate others to keep their eyes on their original goals for joining steemit and to enlargen their vision for the future. I'm often reminded of an inspirational quote when I feel discouraged.
"If Nothing Changes.........Nothing Changes."
It is up to ourselves as individuals become more self motivated if we want to see results and it is my strong desire to see significant changes happen in the lives of my steemit friends as they throw themselves back into the Digital Art Contest with renewed vigour and purpose and in doing so, attract new contestants along the way. The positive vibes are evident in the responses to all five contests I've held and that can only grow, especially if I can offer worthwhile rewards to those who put the effort in.
Judging is a difficult job when so many entries are equal in their flare, inventiveness and originality and I'd really like to have guest judges to assist me and I'd love to include them in the prize pool as a way of thanking them for their assistance.
In light of what you are offering in the way of monthly support, I am seeking 200 Steem per month to be divided up into 1st, 2nd and 3rd prizes, honorary mentions, a 'Thank You' gift for guest judges and something for an Encouragment Award which, in my opinion is as important as the others.
I would use some of your bi-monthly support to invite steemians who love art and are likely to be interested in joining the digital art contest with a small enticement into their wallets along with the invitation. I see this as a non-intrusive way of advertising the contest.
With the kind of support you are offering, I can envision this particular contest going ahead in leaps and bounds. The scope for digital art is unending and there are many sites available for digital enthusiasts to draw from.
I therefore submit this application in the hope it will be viewed favourably and enable me to re-start the contest. I'd also like to thank 
My Discord name is trudee hunter
Number is trudee hunter#3442