Each month the Renderosity community votes on The Renderosity Artist Of The Month [AOM] ... November's AOM is Rutra [Artur Rosa]!

We congratulate Rutra for an outstanding collection of works in the Vue Gallery!

Who is 'Rutra'?

My real name is Artur Rosa. I’m 44, married, one son of 14. I was born and live in Portugal, in a small town by the sea. I have a university degree in Electronics and Telecommunications and I work as an IT manager in a branch of a multinational corporation. Computer graphics is only a hobby for me, one that I started in late 2006. Before that, I knew absolutely nothing about the topic.

Why the name Rutra? Well, as you have guessed, Rutra is Artur spelled backwards. I thought it would be very appropriate because my “art world” is the absolute opposite of my “real world.” In my “art world” I let my mind wander freely, whereas in my “real world” I must have my mind firmly attached to my shoulders. Basically, emotion versus rationality, Rutra versus Artur.

How long have you been working with computer graphics?

I started playing with computer graphics for the first time in late 2006. I tried Bryce for some time and demos of several other apps. Then I found Vue and it was love at first sight.

Southern Light

Do you have any traditional art experience?

I have no formal education in art theory. My only experience in a more traditional art technique, if I can call it like that, was between 1983 and 1986, when I made a few dozen images using pencil on paper. I even participated in a collective exhibition at the time, with some other colleagues from the university. It was a great experience.

What are you currently working on?

I always have dozens of unfinished images and I typically work on several simultaneously. Whenever I get bored of one, I leave it as it is and jump to another. I keep jumping from one to the next, sometimes in circles, until eventually I get hooked by one of them and then I relentlessly chase it until the end, sometimes losing one or another night's sleep in the process. This leaves my computer hard drive with dozens of unfinished images which I frequently pick again at a later time.

So, to answer to your question, I’d have to give you a list of about 100 images!

My Kingdom

What software/equipment do you use and why?

The centre of my “art world” is Vue. Everything else just revolves around it. I use GeoControl2 intensively, which I think is a must-have companion for Vue. I use a few other software packages that simply complement this partnership, like SketchUp or Poser, among others.

I have two computers, one for general purpose (a dual core XP with 4GB) and one for Vue (a quadcore Vista 64 with 8GB).

What is it that you like best about Vue?

Vue is kind of the gate to my mind. I love to create worlds that do not exist and I love to do it in a way that they appear believable. Vue allows me to do just that because it’s a very powerful application which is easy to handle at the same time. Vue has a very comprehensive set of tools and settings that allow me to explore that thin line between real, unreal or surreal. I don’t always achieve that delicate balance, but when I do, it’s Vue magic.

The Other Side

What do you think your best piece of work is and why?

I have two favorite images: “The Other Side” and “The Secret Cove.” Those images are part of a (yet unfinished) series, which is very dear to me. Why?... Because these images bring me the joy of the innocent discovery, the thrill of the simple mysteries, the beauty of simplicity and innocence. Most of this is lost as you leave childhood and so I tried to capture a little bit of it in this series.

Who, or what, inspires you, and how do you get your ideas?

When I first started playing with CG, there were several artists who really inspired me and filled me with desire to improve my technical and artistic skills to create similar images. Two of the most influential for me were Scott Anderson (aka Sacada) and Andy Simmons (aka Hobbit) but others like Gary Miller (aka garyandcatherine) and Tablesaw were also a great inspiration.

Anything can give me the idea for a new image. Sometimes it’s a random sentence I hear, sometimes it’s a concept that just pops up or a photo that triggers a thought that triggers an image. For example, my image “Sky is the Limit” came to my mind in a flash when I heard someone saying that sentence. That’s the best moment in the creation process, when an image appears in my mind. Sometimes the image doesn’t come complete and/or appears just very briefly. I feel something is there, I close my eyes and build the rest of the image in my mind. That’s the best moment. If only I could hook Vue directly to my brain

The Secret Cove

How has this online community (Renderosity) enhanced your work, relationships, and learning?

All of the artists I mentioned before, I found in Renderosity. That was the first great contribution from this community, to allow me to find in one single place all kinds of images and artists. Then, as I posted images in the galleries here, I learned a lot by reading the comments from other people, with their opinions on how I could improve my work. Thank you all for that!

The Vue Forum here is also very useful as there are a significant number of experts there who are always willing to share their knowledge.

Do you have any parting comments, or advice for other artists?

With the tools available nowadays it’s very easy, with a few clicks and in a few minutes, to obtain an image that seems finished. My advice is: don’t be too early satisfied with what you achieve. Always aim for better. Better quality, better realism or better of whatever it is you’re after, but always aim for better.

We invite you to have a further look at Rutra's Renderosity Gallery!

Be sure to also visit:

• Renderosity Vue Community
• Vue products in the Renderosity Marketplace
• Renderosity Vue FreeStuff
• Renderosity Vue Tutorials

**Have a tutorial, animation, demo reel, or MarketPlace product to demo and share with the community? Consider posting your clips to Renderosity's newly revamped Video Center!**

Artist of the Month is highlighting a talented Renderosity artist that has been nominated by mods and admins, and voted by the community. Recognition is given to this member for their collection of works for that year.

Since we only select one AOM per month, it is not about their works for that particular month. Instead, it is about highlighting a talented artist's works for that year, and they are recognized during that month.

To learn more about Renderosity's Artist Of The Month [AOM] award, and to view our past AOM's, please visit the AOM page, which can also be found on the sidebar under Highlights.