My career began as an Art Director, in advertising, mostly working on beauty accounts. At my first ad agency job, I was partnered with a very talented writer, Bill. We were a creative team, and became very close friends. During our professional partnership I collected art books as inspiration for each assignment we were given. One year, as a gift, Bill surprised me with a hand-embosser to use on the first page of my books, marking its ownership. It read “Library of John Mark Dixon, JMD”. It was a thoughtful and elegant gesture.

After working together for 5 years, Bill announced he wanted to pursue a dream; Open a flower business, which he had cleverly named “Billy Buds.” Not long after Bill had shared his plans with me he became ill. He was in his early 30s, successful and seemingly healthy. I expected him to recover and fulfill his dream. But, one evening we received the heart-breaking news that Bill had died.

Jump forward to the fall of 2017 after a successful and fulfilling career, I left the world of beauty and advertising. I had the honor of working with some of the most talented photographers in the world, and had gathered knowledge of photography through these experiences. It helps that I’m still a good Art Director. I picked up a camera. Flowers became my preference. Followed by an unlikely fascination with corn.

Rather than signing my photographic prints, I choose to emboss them with my gift from Bill. Over a period of 30 years, moving with me from job to job, apartment to house, city to country, this hand-embosser has remained in my possession. Its subtle impression is in memory of a gifted man who loved flowers.