I made my first edit as a registered user on February 14, 2005 (correcting the spelling of Jackson Pollock in the Robert Motherwell article).
A week later I created my first article, Maurice Denis.
In November 2009, I made my 50,000th edit (giving a Barnstar to a deserving user).
In December 2009, for the first and only time, I made over 10,000 edits in one month.
In May 2010, I submitted my first DYK, for John McLaughlin (artist); when it appeared two days later, the article was viewed 2.6k times, making it the most-viewed DYK of the group.
In June 2010, my place in the list of the all-time most active users entered the top 100.
In June 2010, I made my first DYK nomination for an article (Edward Weston) which I did not write.
In July 2010, I made my 100,000th edit (giving another long-overdue Barnstar to a deserving user).
In December 2010, I wrote my first BLP, rewriting and expanding Chantal Joffe. The DYK for this article was my most viewed so far. (This was also my first DYK which mentioned pornography. Coincidence?) At 4.7k views, it was just short of qualifying for inclusion on the DYK Stats page. I'm sure it would have done better if not for its unfortunate timeslot: it was about an English subject and appeared in England from midnight to six a.m.
Continuing the tradition, my 150,000th edit, in February 2011, was used to award another well-deserved Barnstar.
On April 1, 2011, the "Batman" DYK hook which I wrote set a new record as the most-viewed non-lead hook of all time. (I did not write the article, though.)
The April 15, 2011 Colin Campbell Cooper hook was my first to qualify for the DYK Stats page. It generated 12k views for the article, plus 13.5k for the image. This was also the first time I had two hooks appear in the same calendar month (Charles Angrand had been featured on April 7).
In June 2011, my position in the list of Wikipedians by number of edits hit number 25.
In November 2011 the DYK for Frederick Carl Frieseke received 17,500 hits (plus 10,600 for the image), despite the fact that the hook appeared on Thanksgiving, a low traffic day when Americans were spending time with their families rather than looking at Wikipedia. This hook which generated the most views for any of my articles was my first to feature a nude painting.
On April 1, 2012, I had my first April Fools' Day hook for an article I wrote. I composed a total of four of the April Fools' hooks, including two which I plucked out of the regular nominations when I recognized their AFD potential.
On April 1, 2013, Walter Baxter became my first article which I began to write solely so that it could appear as an April Fools' Day hook. It was also the first article I ever wrote which was not related to art.
On April 1, 2014, a hook which I had nominated on April 3, 2013 appeared as an April Fools' DYK. I believe I set a record for the longest any article has ever been held for a DYK.
Note that these appeared when DYK sets were on the Main Page for just six hours. Currently, hooks generally appear for a full day, or sometimes for twelve hours.
Hook
Image
Article / nom pg
Date
Views
Img views
... that for the last two decades of his artistic career, American abstract painter John McLaughlin did not use curves in his paintings?
... that artist Orovida Camille Pissarro preferred to be known simply as Orovida to distinguish herself from the many other artists in her family, including her renowned grandfather Camille Pissarro?
... that American abstract artist Frederick Hammersley devised three categories for his paintings (example pictured): "Hunches", "Geometrics", and "Organics"?
... that English artist Chantal Joffe, who sometimes uses pornography for source material, created such large paintings that she required scaffolding to work on them?
... that a critic said that landscapes by Rinaldo Cuneo(self-portrait pictured) "are the very soul and essence of California materialized in line and color"?
... that American artist Colin Campbell Cooper helped rescue survivors of the Titanic, and during the rescue created several paintings (example pictured) which document the events?
... that Barbara Longhi's painting Saint Catherine of Alexandria(pictured) is believed to be a self-portrait, presented as a devotional image to avoid the appearance of indulging in the sin of vanity?
... that Georgia O'Keeffe praised her art teacher John Vanderpoel, whose book The Human Figure is a standard reference for art students (example drawing pictured), as "one of the few real teachers I have known"?
... that Paul Kelpe was criticized for painting murals which were too abstract, but an abstract arts group asked him to resign because his work (example pictured) wasn't abstract enough?
... that a large sculpture (smaller version pictured) by Caroline Shawk Brooks was listed by customs officials not as a work of art, but as "110 lbs. of butter"?
... that an Albert Swinden mural (pictured), one of very few of his early paintings not destroyed in a studio fire, was painted over and thought lost, before being rediscovered and restored?
... that a fellow artist said of Allen Butler Talcott that "no one was his peer in the knowledge of trees and how to paint them" (painting of oak pictured)?
... that Dutch artist Wim T. Schippers is responsible for Pindakaasvloer, a 4-by-12-metre (13 ft × 39 ft) floor covered in peanut butter, and Torentje van Drienerlo(pictured), a church spire sticking up from a pond?
... that Albert Dubois-Pillet added the "Pillet" to his name when signing his paintings (example pictured) in an attempt to hide his art-related activities from the military?
... that, when asked why he opened his studio in Tropico rather than nearby Los Angeles, photographer Edward Weston replied, "I'm going to make my name so famous that it won't matter where I live"?
... that in Thomas Eakins' Self-portrait, the contrast between his formal attire and his unkempt grooming alludes to a rebellious nature restrained by cultural mores?
... that a 1911 show of paintings by Max Weber(1916 painting pictured) resulted in "one of the most merciless critical whippings that any artist has received in America"?
... that Jean Metzinger's painting En Canot(pictured in black and white) appeared in the Nazi Degenerate Art catalogue with the notation "Even this was once taken seriously and bought for good money!"?
... that, while a portrait by Thomas Eakins of his brother-in-law(pictured) was described as ugly and awkward, a critic later singled it out as "the most restrained, most classical of all the Eakins canvases"?
For rescuing Bert Glennon from a CSD, I, LAAFan, award you this barnstar LAAFan 14:43, 18 August 2008 (UTC)
The Defender of the Wiki Barnstar
This is being offered in appreciation of your excellent work within the WP:UAA sector of Wikipedia. Thank you very much for your wonderful input. Pastor Theo (talk) 09:53, 7 August 2009 (UTC)
The Tireless Contributor Barnstar
Well deserved and congratulations Mandarax on 50K and for all of your excellent work on visual arts and related. Modernist (talk) 23:09, 11 November 2009 (UTC)
The Tireless Contributor Barnstar
For helping in the elimination of euphemisms. Kittybrewster (talk) 12:52, 14 December 2009 (UTC)
User:Mandarax has been identified as an Awesome Wikipedian,
and therefore, I've officially declared today as Mandarax's day!
For being such a beautiful person and great Wikipedian,
enjoy being the Star of the day, dear Mandarax!
Mandarax has been identified as an Awesome Wikipedian, so I've officially declared today as Mandarax's Day! For being a great person and awesome Wikipedian, enjoy being the star of the day, Mandarax!
You've won a Wikimedia t-shirt (not this t-shirt, but an equally lovely t-shirt) as part of the Great Backlog Drive. Thank you for your hard work and perseverance and we hope to see you next week!
All Hail The MuffinNor does it taste nice... 13:40, 9 February 2011 (UTC)
The Working Man's Barnstar
You haven't had one of these in a while, yet you keep plugging away. Thank you. Drmies (talk) 21:41, 9 February 2011 (UTC)
For your tireless work in the DYK project area, which does not go unnoticed, and for writing the Batman 1 April 2011 hook. Materialscientist (talk) 03:47, 4 April 2011 (UTC)
The Anti-Flame Barnstar
i think you need this one qwerty1219 chat 19:42, 9 June 2011 (UTC)
The Tireless Contributor Barnstar
For everything you do on the visual arts (including correcting my mistakes), and related. Modernist (talk) 20:57, 3 July 2011 (UTC)
The Fearsome Jurassic Thesaurus award
For your tireless copy-editing in DYK! AshLin (talk) 18:25, 16 July 2011 (UTC)
The Do-I-Really-Have-To-Explain Award
For their fantabulous gnoming, now over 178,000 times. Drmies (talk) 00:59, 19 July 2011 (UTC)
The Graphic Designer's Barnstar
Thanks for always helping me with my formatting problems. LadyofShalott 20:40, 11 August 2011 (UTC)
The Original Barnstar
Awarded because it looks like you did a few hours of very boring looking work today. bodnotbod (talk) 13:38, 22 August 2011 (UTC)
Richly deserved for your many contributions. Best wishes, JNW (talk) 18:47, 30 November 2011 (UTC)
The Minor Barnstar
This is for your many, many, many minor edits that add up to major improvement of the 'pedia. Thank you for all the work you do. LadyofShalott 22:46, 21 January 2012 (UTC)
The Editor's Barnstar
For picking up after me, time after time after time. WP would be a badly-running place without you. Drmies (talk) 22:14, 28 January 2012 (UTC)
Protector of Wikipedian Sex Workers Award
Some moral crusader almost stripped me of my already non-existing status as one of the last Wikipedian sex workers, and you saved me. You are my hero. Ms. Drmies (talk) 01:00, 11 February 2012 (UTC)
knowledge and precision
Thank you for sharing your profound knowledge, your viewpoint on art, your patience in repairing the same formal mistakes over and over, your review of one Bach cantata to improve them all (with more patience, of course). Did you know that there is now a better list of the Bach cantatas, transferred from Germany? --Gerda Arendt (talk) 21:03, 14 February 2012 (UTC)
The Copyeditor's Barnstar
Yes it was. Well spotted. These are the kinds of games I like to play with the kids. Drmies (talk) 14:42, 16 February 2012 (UTC)
The Copyeditor's Barnstar
For cleaning up all of my typos, spelling, and grammar mistakes on Eddie's House, I award you this barnstar.Thanks for all you do! Found5dollar (talk) 13:36, 25 February 2012 (UTC)
Thanks for fixing the wikilink on Pink News and helping with an important LGBT article! I most likely wouldn't have noticed it. Jenova20 22:51, 9 April 2012 (UTC)
The Original Barnstar
I haven't barnstarred you in at least a week or so: this is so you don't forget that the wiki will break without you. Thanks for remembering my anniversary: I had no idea it's already been a year. Thanks also for your continued advice and support; if I've done anything right it's in large part because of help from editors like (I could list a dozen more immediately, but you're top of the list). Mandarax, I worship you. Have a great holiday weekend--if transponsters have holidays, of course. Drmies (talk) 13:04, 27 May 2012 (UTC)
The Original Barnstar
Thanks a lot Mandarax for helping me correct and fix my user page quickly! Your efforts have been very helpful :) TheGeneralUser (talk) 10:30, 29 June 2012 (UTC)
Navigating on storm tossed seas
Just like Saint Brendan, you have been a savior. Thank you. 7&6=thirteen (☎) 19:36, 11 September 2012 (UTC)
The Random Acts of Kindness Barnstar
Aw shucks Mandarax, I'm all flushed. Drmies (talk) 04:26, 6 October 2012 (UTC)
for tirelessly fixing minor changes to DYK nominations & ensuring that editors errors are fixed Dan arndt (talk) 09:40, 7 March 2013 (UTC)
The Minor Barnstar
It may seem completely trivial, but thanks for catching the en dash on the DYK — little things matter! NorthBySouthBaranof (talk) 09:09, 31 May 2013 (UTC)
The Original Barnstar
Thank you again, Mandarax, for looking over my shoulder. I'm kind of pissed: I went to school with him, and he's a thousand times more notable than me, and better-looking to boot. (Well, with hair he was; he got ALL the girls.) Drmies (talk) 01:22, 12 June 2013 (UTC)
Earlier this year, I began presenting the Golden Editor Award to editors who have made a significant contribution to this project. While I don't recall ever having talked with you, I believe that you meet the criteria for this award (you should probably be given an award simply for hanging around this place for eight-and-a-half years). Your userpage shows you've done plenty of content work, but I'm sure that's not the only way you have contributed to the 'pedia. I have been impressed by the respect shown to you both on Drmies talk page and also in the "Admin" section above. I certainly hope you will at least consider presenting yourself to the community as a candidate for adminship. While your hesitance to give it a try is understandable, RfA isn't always as bad as it's made out to be and this community needs more quality candidates. Either way, I am quite pleased to dub you a Golden Editor (even if chocolate is better than cheese). AutomaticStrikeout ? 02:01, 13 August 2013 (UTC)
The Tireless Contributor Barnstar
For always fixing my DYK formatting errors, and everyone else's, I award Mandarax this barnstar! Matty.007 18:59, 4 September 2013 (UTC)
The Writer's Barnstar
Nice job expanding Maximilien Luce and for nominating it at DYK. It is a very interesting article. Keep up the good work :) ComputerJA (☎ • ✎) 00:58, 29 September 2013 (UTC)
The Barnstar of Diligence
I want to thank you for the work you do around here. It truly is pleasing to know that I have someone that can always help and support the articles and the DYK nominations that I have done. Keep on editing friend! Proudbolsahye (talk) 04:54, 13 October 2013 (UTC)
Editor of the Week
Your ongoing efforts to improve the encyclopedia have not gone unnoticed: You have been selected as Editor of the Week, for despite frequently recognized content contributions, underrecognized behind-the-scenes work, particularly at DYK. Thank you for the great contributions! (courtesy of the Wikipedia Editor Retention Project)GoPhightins! 00:14, 18 November 2013 (UTC)
The Guidance Barnstar
With my 300,000 edit, I want to thank you for helping me reach the dubious plateau. Without your help and guidance, I would never have found my place that keeps me around here. Bgwhite (talk) 23:12, 22 January 2014 (UTC)
Welcome to the club of people who not only write brilliant content (and you even won the DYK medal for tireless work around the nominations, correcting countless mistakes), but who also make the extra effort to present facts accessibly and visible for people with broad interests. The beauty and expression of the arts comes across in your articles, and understanding for the creators' background in works such as John McLaughlin and Albert Dubois-Pillet. We look forward to more of your creations for brain, eye and heart. --Gerda Arendt (talk) 19:45, 29 January 2014 (UTC)
The savior of lost causes award
Thank you Mandarax. You are a kind man. Drmies (talk) 14:11, 2 April 2014 (UTC)
The Minor barnstar
For outstanding patience and for a wonderful page. A barnstar for you! Hafspajen (talk) 21:37, 18 June 2014 (UTC)
The Tireless Contributor Barnstar
The Tireless Contributor Barnstar is awarded to especially tireless editors who contribute an especially large body of work without sacrificing quality. Hafspajen (talk) 15:01, 19 October 2014 (UTC)
Thanks for your encouragement and suggestions. I cite myself mostly because that material is published and therefore has some legitimacy but I completely understand the suggestion to be very conservative doing so and to branch out and add different materials. The conflict of interest information was very useful. Thanks, again. SummerTigress 14:25, 20 December 2016 (UTC)
The Random Acts of Kindness Barnstar
Hope you are well, Mandarax. Drmies (talk) 18:02, 10 October 2017 (UTC)
The Original Barnstar
Mandarax, thank you so much for your help on a million articles including this one, Tugelbay Sydykbekov. Drmies (talk) 00:07, 18 May 2019 (UTC)
The Teamwork Barnstar
Witch-hunts in Nepal was featured at DYK yesterday and received almost 10,000 views! I really appreciate your help in improving the article during the approval process. Thank you very much! Usedtobecool✉✨ 18:29, 13 August 2019 (UTC)
The Original Barnstar
for helping with DYK nomination Sm8900 (talk) 01:32, 9 September 2019 (UTC)
The da Vinci Barnstar
For all you technical DYK work --evrik(talk) 04:27, 9 June 2020 (UTC)
The Random Acts of Kindness Barnstar
Thank you so much for helping me with my first DYK. I owe you a million! Zakaria1978 ښه راغلاست (talk) 03:12, 12 December 2020 (UTC)
The Special Barnstar
For outstanding work in the fine arts related articles. MRRaja001(talk) 09:28, 29 December 2020 (UTC)
The Barnstar of Diligence
Thanks for catching those small (and many times not so small) but important mis-edits in the DYK nominations! Much appreciated. Ktin (talk) 22:24, 31 January 2021 (UTC)
The Minor Barnstar
There's a reason that ants are considered some of the most vicious, warlike creatures in the world—even the tiniest of things can have a massive impact in numbers. Your edits at the prep sets of DYK, while not earth-shatteringly flashy, are a boon for the project and I can't express my gratitude for them, especially when I was just starting out in August. Thank you! the ants go marching one by one, hurrah, hurrah theleekycauldron (talk • contribs) (they/them) 22:07, 10 October 2021 (UTC)