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Original Illustration by Goth Girl - Isn't she ~hot~?
gothgirlny@yahoo.com
http://www.bdsmnews.info/
SENSUOUS SADIE: You work closely with Lord Battista on a number of
projects, including the erotic power exchange dominion, the BDSM news,
and of course the Erotic Power Exchange listserv. Which of these are you
most involved in? What parts of this work do you particularly
enjoy?
GOTH GIRL: "My involvement goes in cycles of more and less
involvement. Sometimes I'll be researching Heterosexual BDSM History.
This is a hard topic to research. Progress happens in little bits of
info at a time. Other times, I'll lend a creative hand on any of several
ongoing sites and projects worked on by the EPE Dominion, EPE Dominion
Volunteer Team, and Lord Battista. Creative work is always more
enjoyable, whether writing or artwork. Currently, my focus is on
the BDSM News as Associate Editor. I'm known as Gothgirlny at BDSM
News. My enjoyment in working on the BDSM News stems from the tangible
results of helping to create a fine quality publication viewed by over
1,000 readers each month, and I take great satisfaction by taking an
active part in bringing this publication to the regional and local BDSM
communities for the betterment, education and entertainment of these
communities."
Sadie: In addition to editing the BDSM News, you are the art director
for the BDSM news. What is your role there?
Goth Girl: "It's my pleasure to oversee any of the graphics and
design work that will be a part of the BDSM News to ensure it will
enhance and flow with the content. Hopefully, I'll get a chance on
occasion to add a little artwork there myself. Look out, folks, are you
prepared for some pointed cartoons on our lifestyle issues?
Sadie: How did you get involved in this project? What are your hopes
for it in the next year?
Goth Girl: "EPE Dominion's enthusiastic sponsorship is one of the
main reasons I'm involved in helping with the BDSM News. I'm there but
behind the scenes. There are so many other folks in our communities that
are involved, too! The launching of the BDSM News signals hopeful
progress for our regional communities because now we all have a
prominent spot on the web to go for regularly updated lifestyle news
researched for accuracy, wide-ranging BDSM event schedules, and lively
commentary tailored to be of interest to local Northeast regions. The
events listings will be all-inclusive of our areas active groups.
Sadie: Your favorite quote is "the human race is a race of
cowards; and i am not only marching in that procession but carrying a
banner." Presumably you are also saying you are a coward? How can
that be, considering that you are so "out" in the BDSM
community?
Goth Girl: "Mark Twain will always be a favorite writer. I adore
that man's sense of humor and expression of views on humankind. The
quote is a good example of his particular way of thinking, not so much
about me. I'm only a coward when that mood strikes. In answer to your
other question, I'm really not 'out' in the community. Though some in
the local community would know me in person and personality, almost
nobody knows other than my scene name/nickname, and this is the way I
prefer it. Rather than 'out' in the community, I'd say instead I'm
active by joining in to help creatively on local and regional events and
important community projects, and my creative work is highly visible to
our neighboring communities."
Sadie: You are a graphic designer and have done a number of graphics
for the EPE websites & related projects. What are some of the
website addresses where people can see your work?
Goth Girl: "www.epedominion.com
www.albanykink.com
And those are just the start, as far as BDSM-related work. Definitely
much more to come on those sites, and elsewhere."
Sadie: You have drawn some darling cartoon drawings of various Albany
scene personalities. What got you started in this particular line of
art?
Goth Girl: "Thank you, Sadie! Portraits were part of my past
artwork, long ago. When you work up a portrait, you 'sense' out who the
person really is inside and choose the meatiest, best parts of that to
represent the subject of your work. It's not as huge a jump from
portrait to cartoon as it might seem. I think embedded in each little
cartoon is a suggestion of the person inside, if exaggerated. Included
in each cartoon is also the affection I feel for each of the subjects.
Sadie: What is the website address where readers can see these
drawings?
Goth Girl: "www.albanykink.com
Take a look in my Gallery section for the full sized work."
Sadie: You attended an internationally known artist's colony when you
were younger. How did that affect your perception of yourself as an
artist?
Goth Girl: "There wasn't much effect on how I viewed myself
artistically when at the colony, other than to be relieved that adults
could share the passion of art. That was illuminating to know, that as
an adult I'd also be able to continue doing what I enjoy. My epiphany
came in seeing what a surrealist friend had created, and how he'd lived
his lifestyle, when I was in my early 20's. That was my first
realization that anything is possible if you dare to be what you want
most to be."
Sadie: What are your specialties in terms of your artistic skills?
Goth Girl: "Stylized humor, warmth, macabre imagery when called
for, impressionism, realism, surrealism, rendered best in oils, pens,
charcoal, pastels, and digital painting with graphic software. I've had
a long time to cultivate these media and styles throughout life. Yet
still I'm learning and improving at all times."
Sadie: Your writing is in the horror, gothic, vampire genre. What about
this particularly interests you? How would you describe your writing?
Goth Girl: "Dark fantasy and horror are the genres I enjoy most.
I've seen many bizarre and amazing things in life, and feel it's a shame
to waste all these things by not sharing them in imaginative form.
Writing has always been another creative interest of mine. I realized
I'd never be happy writing solely about reality, but would best enjoy
writing with the imagination let go to fly. I am not a professionally
published writer yet, but I keep the keyboard warm whenever possible,
and keep at it, and sooner or later publication will happen. Writing
style is dry, dark humor, and vivid imagery.
Sadie: Your adult writing workshop is called flesh flowers. Can you
tell me about this?
Goth Girl: "Flesh Flowers is my own independent idea to help the
creative folks in our local communities -- an adult dark fantasy and
horror writing workshop held in a private online setting. This type of
workshop is specialized and the first of its kind for our area.
Membership is limited mostly to regional writers who want active writing
practice, to tweak their fiction up, and trade critiques. Regular
writing exercises are conducted, critiques are traded by private files
in our online workshop. Dark fantasy and horror subjects are a part of
every exercise. An erotic/BDSM element is present in all work, too,
making this strictly for adult writers. We'll also discuss writing in
its many aspects on our message board. Future plans include an
occasional in-person critique session of short story-length or
chapter-length work in a nice, convenient location.
The best part of running a workshop like this will be hearing about the
success of the writers involved, and getting my own writing skills
honed. I am hopeful to hear some great publication news from every Flesh
Flowers member eventually.
Sadie: You have commented that "the most enjoyable times happen
when one brings the darker fantasies to daily ongoing life." What
darker fantasies do you have that sometimes merge into your daily life?
Goth Girl: "It really is a nice thought, isn't it? However, many of
the darker fantasies that I have are better left in imagination or used
in visual and written outlets with only a select few worth translating
into a semblance of reality. I'm a fairly private person, and the
details of scenes Lord Battista would orchestrate on some of my darker
fantasies remain private. I will say this much, that we have day and
night to ourselves together and the dungeon is only a few steps away at
any given moment. Depending on Lord Battista's whims, even those few
steps can come into play...
Sadie: You have said that while talent comes naturally, skills need
to be kept up through practice and learning. How do you develop your
skills on an ongoing basis? What is the key difference that practicing
adds to your skill level?
Goth Girl: "Practice is daily. I focus on different ways of
speeding up the finishing touches to the work in digital form. Less
often, I'll practice the finer detail work in natural media. Practice
adds speed and allows me to learn the different ways around a visual
puzzle in the quickest time. Practice also leaves time to add an extra
bit of finesse in limited timeframe."
Sadie: Your sobriquet is "Goth Girl." How did you come to
choose this name?
Goth Girl: "Goth Girl is Lord Battista's pet name for me, due to a
pale skin, dark hair, dark imagination, and coincidentally a number of
black garments. Eventually folks see my lighter humorous side and the
Goth illusion is broken, at least for a little while. But I remain me
throughout."
Sadie: Can you tell me a little bit about your relationship with Lord
Battista? Slave or submissive? 24/7 or as needed? How long have you been
together?
Goth Girl: "24/7 submissive to Lord Battista. We've been together
for over a year now. The main things I needed to know as a 24/7
submissive are that I am what my Dominant desires and needs, whenever
and wherever he needs, and that I'm respected and loved as is. We have
that in our relationship, and I'm enjoying life.
Sadie: Please tell me about your BDSM practice. Any special
interests? How long have you been involved in the scene?
Goth Girl: "I'm submissive to Lord Battista full-time. Aside from
some much younger visits to clubs in NY back in late 70's, my
involvement is only over the past few years. Yet I have been fully aware
of BDSM practices for a long time indirectly through people I've known.
"My special interests? Experiencing the Dominant's verbal toying,
and the non-verbal communication of his will. Looking toward the
possibilities of fantasies enacted through predicament bondage.
Submerging into the subtleties of my Dominant at our most intense levels
in scene."
Sadie: How would you describe your philosophical approach to BDSM?
Goth Girl: "I view BDSM as a matter of choices to make in the most
intimate way of enjoying life. We each choose our lifestyle, alternate
though it may be. We choose our partners in our lifestyle, and hopefully
use great care and judgment in deciding on who's right for each of us
without stepping rudely on someone else's toes. We choose whether to be
discreet, and rely on our fellow community to honor that choice. Never
are we without choice in what we do, even if the choices are limited at
times. These choices include the behaviors we exhibit. My views on BDSM
are similar to my views on life in general.
Sadie: Do you integrate spirituality into your practice? If so, how?
Goth Girl: "Not in a religious sense. Balance, an internal balance
in the non-religious spiritual sense. I have always known my strengths
and weaknesses inside and out and also know where I bring my passions
from â " I make the best of that, mesh it all seamlessly into the
flow of daily life including my relationships, and Lord Battista takes
all this into account in his scenes with me.
Sadie: You write that you enjoy "exploring pain with great
delight." Can you expand on this?
Goth Girl: "I dive into my passions, no dipping of toes to test the
waters. I take great delight in my explorations."
Sadie: How did you discover this lifestyle? Was it always in you, or
something that developed?
Goth Girl: "Reading material and certain art books at a very young
age, and there are a good many books from times past that include SM or
D/s elements. The connection between these works that caught at my
imagination and the corresponding real life activities and events
happened much later when adult."
Sadie: Did your practice and your BDSM orientation change
significantly since you started in the scene?
Goth Girl: "I know that some folks view submission as only a step
in their lifestyle experiences, I think because they put off learning
about themselves until that very moment in life when they start their
lifestyle explorations. My orientation remains the same. It's only the
finer points of submission that are a learning process."
Sadie: Which BDSM groups in Albany are you a member of? Are you active
on an organizational level?
Goth Girl: "EPE DOMINION, although never running an event solo,
often provides support and co-sponsorship of community events for the
benefit of all groups and also offers educational and entertaining
resources on website and online Yahoo Group. I am an active part of EPE
Dominion in my own ways.
EPE DOMINION VOLUNTEER TEAM, a wonderful group of volunteers who stands
ready to assist in bringing any local BDSM group's ideas for events to
life. The Volunteer Team also creates some events during any lulls
in event activity, and additionally works toward bringing some valuable
educational materials to our communities. The volunteers give generously
of their time and energy to help the rest of the community. By the way,
there's always room for more volunteers!
ALBANY KINK AND PARTY CLUB, simply the most fun of the groups, where any
of the members who want to can express themselves in co-running some
outstanding events and parties. Team efforts do have their
benefits. Standards of discretion and courtesy are upheld nicely
in Albany Kink and Party Club. I am active in this Group.
ALBANY STOCKS AND BONDS, a friendly group that holds fine educational
demos and a nice munch, and is in fact the founding BDSM group in the
local community. I attend their events, but I'm not active on their
board.
ALBANY POWER EXCHANGE, a good group running two monthly munch events for
those who may be taking their first hesitant steps into the local
community. The atmosphere of these munches is friendly and openly
welcoming. I join in on the events, but I'm not active in their
organizational level as this Group is run by three people.
FLESH FLOWERS, technically not directly a BDSM group as far as any
munches or social events, but an active workshop providing a useful
place for writers to work on their BDSM-related dark fantasy and horror
works, with occasional in-person critique meetings in the works for a
future time. This is my group."
Sadie: Is there anything else you'd like to share with our readers?
Goth Girl: "I'll just share a few thoughts:
-"I'm not bad, "m just creative (with a wink to those who
understand).
-You can dare to be what you want to be in life while maintaining
courtesy for those you care about.
-Don't fear being the ideal version of yourself â " you don't need
to cut your own throat as so many do by holding back their best efforts.
-With all the choices presented you in life, choose well, choose with
care for yourself and those who will be most affected by your choices.
-Find a way to get something good from whatever happens, and you can't
go wrong."
Sadie: Thank you for speaking with me!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Sensuous
Sadie is the author of It's Not
About the Whip: Love, Sex, and Spirituality in the BDSM Scene (http://www.trafford.com/robots/03-0551.html).
She is the founder and leader (1999 - 2001) of
Rose
&
Thorn
,
Vermont
's first BDSM group.
Comments, compliments and complaints, as well as requests for reprinting
can be addressed to her at SensuousSadie@aol.com
or visit her website at www.sensuoussadie.com. Sadie believes the universe is abundant, and that sharing information
freely is part of this abundance, so she allows reprints of her writing
in most venues.
Copyright
2003 Sadie Sez Publications
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