Gradient Lair is Black women and art, media, social media, sociopolitics and culture. I published over 1,000 essays when the blog was live for 3.5 years from 2012-2015 and on Twitter from 2012-2018. Though Gradient Lair is and always will be first and foremost a personal blog, and secondly, for Black women, by a Black woman, people of a variety of backgrounds and from a variety of walks of life mention the influence Gradient Lair has had on their lives. (Full Gradient Lair bio.)

Drift Sojourn is colour, cuisine and culture. Food photography, essays on photography, recipes and more. I am a professional photographer and food enthusiast. I have been a published pro photographer for over a decade, but several years ago, I created this new space Drift Sojourn and changed genres from portraiture/event and other consumer photography to primarily food photography. I especially love macro food photography. I published 3 photography eBooks in the past, a free photography education guide and two sets of iPhone wallpapers. driftsojourn on Instagram. I share my personal photography on my personal profile, thetrudz on Instagram. (Full Drift Sojourn bio.)

Cinemacked engages the entertainment, the aesthetics, and the sociopolitics of good film and television.  Fun and smart times. I publish both film and television show reviews, live tweet and analyze entertainment media, curate media recommendation/themed lists, and much more. (Full Cinemacked bio.) I also am now on Letterboxd.

thetrudz.com is my central site for all of my work. I publish pieces about art as inspiration, creativity, business, labor and self-care. (Full personal bio.)

Here on Patreon, I focus on people genuinely interested in what I create. More signal and less noise, if you will. I create and publish unique content (only available here) for long time readers/supporters and newly interested people. Excluding the public Patreon posts and some bonus content, everything I publish here is only accessible here. This is mostly separate from my existing work as an indie creator, professional photographer and writer, though some content on Patreon includes my general work (i.e. references my writing) or is part of my general work (i.e. photographs/wallpapers).

The content I publish here includes:

• Long essays on lifestyle topics, social media behavior/culture, labor, art, film, television or music etc. This is accessible to Blackberry ($10.00), Wine ($20.00) and Bourbon ($50.00) reward level patrons. This is for people who have engaged my long form writing over time (i.e past long time Gradient Lair readers etc) and for newly interested readers. 

• "Surprise rewards" for the 3 higher reward level patrons, which includes additional long pieces or book reviews.

• Short essays on lifestyle topics, social media behavior/culture, labor, art, film, television or music etc. This is accessible to Blueberry ($5.00), Blackberry ($10.00), Wine ($20.00) and Bourbon ($50.00) reward level patrons. This is for people who enjoy my perspectives—on a variety of topics and in quicker reads—as well as for newly interested readers.

• Bonus creative content published sporadically, which includes art-related tutorials, tips, iPhone wallpapers, recipes and more. This is accessible to Strawberry ($3.00), Blueberry ($5.00), Blackberry ($10.00), Wine ($20.00) and Bourbon ($50.00) reward level patrons.

• <s>"The Weekly Five"</s><s> with 5 tips per post on art as inspiration, creativity, business, labor and self-care, beginner photography education, or life/leisure tips. This is accessible to all patrons, including the entry reward level patrons, Leaf ($1.00).</s> This feature ended in 2019 with the publication of The Weekly Five: Tips For Labor, Leisure & Life (which was also Goal #01 for Patreon as a whole. A Photography Quick Tips series has replaced this one).

• Photography Quick Tips posts (new in 2020) that will help interested beginner and hobbyist photographers learn more about the craft and improve their work, whether via smartphone or dSLR. This is accessible to all patrons, including the entry reward level patrons, Leaf ($1.00).

• Reading Lists with curated reading list that includes great writing from around the web on some of my interests, which include photography, food, writing, film/television, art, politics/sociopolitics, and general life stuff. Each post this list includes some of my own writing as well. This is accessible to all patrons, including the entry reward level patrons, Leaf ($1.00).

• Public Patreon content that includes or is based on my thoughts and work that is already publicly accessible via Gradient Lair, Drift Sojourn, Cinemacked, my writing on my central site etc. This is accessible to all patrons and the general public as well.

I publish content for the different reward levels on a rolling basis in 2020 forward (versus by week/month etc in previous years.)

Thank you for your interest and support. Enjoy!

** New patrons must READ the Welcome post FIRST and before engaging other patron-only content here so that you clearly understand how to engage in this space and know the content use policy for patron-only content. Patrons should also read this post on payment policies: General Information About Pledges.**