Who is Lorraine? Lorraine in the "other world" is Lorraine
Purviance, mother of Tricia Konings, born in 1975 (who always
remains "Beany" to me) and one of the six Longbehn children.
Although my family came from Minnesota, we moved to San Diego area
in Southern California, where most of my memories of ideas about
art and childhood occur. As I grew up I was urged to learn a
career, something "practical" that I could support myself with, art
was a nice "hobby" but there should be more than one way to earn a
living with practical skills. Even though I have gone on to pursue
a "practical" way to earn a living, I have also held on to the idea
that someday I would be able to learn to be a "real" artist. In my
"day" job I am a family lawyer which requires me to rely upon my
education and experience to guide people through the court system
as they divide up their property, time with their children and
hopefully move on with their lives. I have a BBA in accounting,
Juris Doctorate by way of MBA/JD which includes Master of Business
Administration courses. This job suits my mind-machine because it
allows me to constantly input information for processing. It also
allows me to research legal issues, organize information, write and
argue for a particular view in the activity of dividing and
distributing assets, custody and visitation disputes, or
application of the law. My drawings hang on my wall in my office
and people sometimes ask, why are you doing this when you could do
that? Why indeed! Is it not better to do both? Through all this
schooling, thinking, learning and through all my wanderings in
life, I have drawn or created images through drawings, stories and
poems. Although I have worked at different jobs, traveled different
places (real and imaginary) I have consistently enjoyed art.
Therefore I think Lorraine is many things but has consistently
remains an artist who earns a living practicing law so she can
enjoy creating artwork.
How long have you have you been
rendering? Well, as far back as I can remember I have been
rendering, it is the materials or tools that have changed over
time, not the attempt by me to record in some way what I see. Art
to me is the human way that a picture is created. Original art is
the "Individual's" way of brining their own imagination to bear
upon the materials they use. My personal goal in rendering has been
rooted in the encouragement of my dad and the criticism by my
mother who felt that something "original' was far more valuable
than tracing or copying another's work. So rendering in its basic
form is about finding yourself and putting it into your artwork.
Until around 1998 I used mostly pencil and pen to render my images.
To that point in my life, my skill was driven by my early love of
horses, which subject I had studied with a passion and imagination.
Hours of practicing the technical aspects of the anatomy, shape and
dynamics of horses led to a certain level of skill limited to the
form of the horse. However, since art was not considered a
"practical" way to earn a living it has been more or less my hobby.
By 1998 the computer programs Photopaint (Corel), Poser 3 and Bryce
3 took me far beyond my own skill and technical limitations
resulting from spending little time "rendering" other subjects than
horses. However, the learning curve for computer generated graphics
was pretty steep for me, I had not learned all those technical art
terms, I had many hours of trial and error, then I bumped into the
Poser forums, and have remained a community member posting my first
image in June 1999.
What are you currently working on? I am
currently working on trying to understand concepts relating to
modeling programs. I am also slowly trying to learn what it means
to speak "computer", that is to use scripting languages to get the
computer to do things you want it to do. I am trying to get my mind
around these two areas. So far my mind seems to be like a big
rubber band, I can get it so far then it snaps back to go. Or I get
distracted by an idea that can be done using the programs I have
figured out and put a book mark where I am and get to work on a
Poser image. I am also beta testing some wonderful products. I have
been given the honor of using many wonderful items in my images
which have been created by other artists. In that way I see my art
as a collaboration of many artists.
What software do you use and
why? I use Poser 4 (ProPack), Bryce 5, Photoshop 6, PSP7,
Painter 6 and Photopaint. I have not yet learned how to "use"
Truespace, but I am feeling pretty comfortable with Poser. I like
Poser because there are so many talented artists producing props,
characters and poses. It is so nice to think of an image and look
at my library and find most of the elements of the image. Bryce 5
is used by me more as an extension of Poser, I set up the elements
in poser and "beam" them into the Bryce environment. I have found
the Zenware products to be especially helpful (CR2 edit, Zenvue
etc.), so I would include them as well as the now famous utilities,
UVMapper, MorphManager and Objaction Mover. I have Deep Paint3d
which I am learning to use on 3d models for texturing.
Why do
you like 3D art? Like air is to my body 3DArt has been to my
soul. It revives it from the long and tiring tasks of "being
practical", it balances reality with imagination. It also is an
efficient way to generate a wide variety of images within a
reasonable period of time. Time slips by us all, but with the aid
of the computer 3d Art is created within a smaller space and with
tools that change and improve. The computer has given me a larger
range and scope of capabilities. Mostly though 3d Art has given
wings to my ability to create images which would remain in my mind
for lack of a way to extract them. I am most impressed with the way
3d Art involves multi-levels of "technique" while at the same time
invites the newer artist to create dramatic images of detail and
amazing effects. After an initial period of blundering with the
programs, I saw on the screen that I had been unable to create with
"traditional" tools. I was hooked from that point on. 3D art offers
something to everyone who has a bit of patience to learn the
programs, that something is the freedom to create from the abstract
to the almost photographic image.
What inspires you? My
greatest influence was the imagination of my dad, who introduced
the notion of the power of imagation through Magic Carpet rides.
Firmly grasping the waist of reality all of us kids soared over
incredible lands as the magic carpet was steered by two of its
corners, veering this way and that to miss the tall spires of a
magical castle or floated peacefully over the purple sunset of a
far far away place. I learned that if you really want to and really
try you can go anywhere and do anything through the magic of the
mind and imagination and through the use of the imagination one can
see through reality into a great vista of towering castles, tiny
fairies and mystical landscapes. The real world is where you do
what you must to survive but in the world of magic and imagination
you can be and do anything you want. Through art you can celebrate
freedom of your imagination, the tools of art, the pen, pencil,
sounds, images, words...all are the magic carpet, which sits
quietly on the floor waiting for the imagination to steer it here
and there. One of my greatest interests has been symbolism of the
Tarot. That interest has launched me into discovery of myths,
legends, a new view of the concepts of religion and the innate
perspective of the human mind of its relationship with the unknown
through time. So my greatest inspiration comes from observations
made in the real and imaginary world(s) as they pass through not
only my own mind but the minds of others. Stories, poems, pictures,
I am inspired by the efforts of other human beings to reduce to
common view their own unique perspective. I also am inspired to
create what I have experienced, views of landscapes, creatures and
concepts.
How has this online community (Renderosity) enhanced
your work, relationships, and learning? Renderosity has been my
artistic "school", the place where I have felt encouraged in my
struggle with the sometimes reticent Poser people. I have been
encouraged by the comments and criticisms of its members as well as
inspired by the member's work. I spent hours studying the work of
the many great artists who post in the galleries. Many artists have
shared tips and techniques and if there is a question or problem
there are so many great people who take the time to help resolve
the difficulties. Almost as important as the knowledge base are the
wonderful props and models. Freebies are honored in this community
as a way to give back to the community. I have noticed the great
expansion of quality products which came along with the
introduction of the store. I support the store artists because
through the store the quantity of quality items has increased. The
prices for incredibly detailed items to me remain reasonable. The
store items as well become a means of inspiration. Each image I
make is a collaboration of the many talented artists who contribute
here. This community has provided openly and warmly a rich source
of talent. Persistence pays off in the long run. This community has
persisted in its belief that through the contribution of each
artist a community of artists can make a difference. In my view
Renderosity has made a difference in the world of 3d Art. That
difference is that many people have discovered that "they can do
art"!... "Wow look what I did" really translates to "wow look what
this community has helped me discover that I can do". Visit
Lorraine's
Art Gallery at Renderosity.
Comments