March's Featured Artist - audre

Mar 06, 2001 at 12:00 am by tammymc


Who is audre? Fundamentally, audre is a computer dweeb with an addiction to eyecandy who is fascinated with 3D software as well as fractals, bright colors, and loud noises. I've a technical background (electrical and software engineering) but have always been a closet CG (computer graphics) nut. Why closet you ask... Well, only in recent years has "the computer" been recognized as a valid 'art medium' so it's been pretty rough trying to survive in the traditional-media-centric art community as a Computer Graphics artist. This prevailing attitude is why I've bided my time and stuck with my dweeby day job until very recently, when I decided it was finally feasible to make a living doing Computer Graphics. (As of next week, I will be an officially unemployed geek, actively pursuing my Art Career. - Whooohoooo!) At this time I'd also like to take a moment to thank all of you who did take the time to vote in the Artist of the Month Poll... whether you voted for me or not. I think this is a wonderful opportunity for sharing ideas and showing appreciation to those folks whose art you enjoy. I am very excited and grateful to have this opportunity myself. Finally a ginormous THANKS to my friends in the Render Wars Forum, without whose support, both moral and immoral, I would not have had this chance to be AOM! Thank you guys! *Group hugs* (And a special thanks to tio, thee_immortal_one, for starting the Render Wars in the first place!) You see, in addition to being a geeky dweeb CG artist, I am also very proud to be a member of the fine group of Renderosity Citizens, who are 'The Render Warriors". Warriors take great pleasure and show gut splitting, wicked humor, coupled with 'knock-yer-socks-off' graphics every time they launch an attack at one of their opponents. The atmosphere in the Wars is an excellent combination of genuine fondness for the other members coupled with that slightly competitive (okay and slightly twisted ) slant that brings out the best in all of us... It really is amazing, the stuff I've seen posted in the forum. It really is inspiring too and makes me want to get in there up to my elbows and participate in the creative free for all. It's really worth a visit... and everyone is welcome to join the party! How long have you have you been rendering? Rendering (in the strict 3D-definition of the word)... not too long... a few years - since Bryce 3 for a few test pics but seriously only about 6 months. Doing CG in general? Much longer - since 1992 or so, when the very first Macintosh came out with MacPaint and the images were printed on 24 pin dot matrix printers! Heck... I remember doing ascii art on my typewriter! What are you currently working on?
  1. Learning to use the 3d modeling software (eg. Carrara, 3Dmax... etc)
  2. Trying to stop using Photoshop as a crutch for my inexperience with 3D :^P
  3. Getting a handle on ProPack and how to utilize the technology it exposes
  4. Working on having cool stuffs for sale for Poser and Bryce at Renderosity
  5. Artwork for Music CDs
  6. Book Cover Art
  7. Business Graphics and Corporate Identity
  8. Web Development
  9. Web Development
  10. Oh, did I mention Web Development?
What software do you use and why? 1. Photoshop - it IS the industry standard for 2D Computer Graphic / Image manipulation and I cannot imagine creating a single image without using it for something 2. Kai's Power Tools - instead of costly drugs, I find Kai's to be immensely relaxing and fun to use as well as invaluable in creating complex effects in images. 3. Poser - the best software available at a reasonable price for creating images of living organisms like human and animals, and insects. Really unbeatable product whose versatility and use I've just touched the surface of. 4. Bryce - very powerful for natural (and unnatural ) landscape renders where material control is important (see Toothache, in which the material for the Gargoyle/Dragon is 100% Bryce material)... another amazing product whose versatility is mind boggling. 5. Carrara - a viable and accepted platform for the generation of 3D meshes/objects and images which costs orders of magnitude less than it's nearest competitive product. I think it actually puts those 'heavy hitters' to shame. 6. CorelDraw - personal choice... can't get into Adobe Illustrator (UGH) - although I do use AI for some vector functions that CorelDraw just isn't capable of yet. I really like CorelDraw's versatility and hidden features - like attaching a database to your image objects, a feature which I've used successfully to budget projects and even generate the annual working grounds budget for a hospital! 7. Flash - is the 'new thing' - like it or not anyone wanting to any web work has to know how to use it. 8. UltraFractal - very cool shareware fractal image generator - nice control of colors, size and fractal formula. 9. Fractint - the very first shareware fractal generator - can't beat the price, cause it's FREE!. Why do you like 3D art? Unlike traditional art, 3D art engages both sides of the brain and is therefore more fulfilling, for me. Also, it is created on the computer, which is a real plus, since I love computers and the technology they encompass. I really love the whole process, starting from that germ of an idea, selecting the right tools/software, and then creating a piece and experimenting with it each step of the way. I also love the ability to 'go back' and try a different path anytime I want. This non linear work flow is what I find lacking in traditional media art. I also like that I can explore the myriad possibilities of a 3D scene... change a texture here... move the camera over there ... play countless 'what if' games with the elements in the image to see what effect it will have. It is like going on a trip without leaving my chair! (Yes, I am very easily amused .) Actually I view it as a cross between gambling and treasure hunting since I use the randomize features of Kai's and Bryce allot. What inspires you? Art inspires me. Nature - Chaos and fractals, electron microscope imagery, Hubbell space pictures, macro views and natural scenes. Odd perspectives and juxtaposition is nice too. Sometimes music does. And often, personal experiences inspire me to attempt the capture of a mood or feeling or convey a thought. Being around talented people inspires me too. Working with creative and supportive people is probably the most inspiring thing for me! I get a charge from other people's ideas and enthusiasm... their perspectives... their views... techniques and style. I love experimentation and learning! I also think a bit of genteel competitiveness is really motivational, which is what I find so engrossing with the Render Wars. It's an extended group project, but within the group are minor competitions where we each have a chance to 'strut our stuff' and have fun too (hopefully at the other guy's expense <wink>). Finally, technology inspires me. I am very happy that computer technology has finally caught up with my passion for computer art! Five years ago, it was almost unheard of for an 'everyday' computer to create the stunning graphics we now take for granted. Talk about mind boggling, awe inspiring and down right exciting! How has this online community (Renderosity) enhanced your work, relationships, and learning? In an effort to finish up this rather lengthy dissertation ... I'll hit on a few of the key points... but I want to say that this online community is by far, the very best one I have EVER participated in. The talent combined with the great people here make for a dynamic 'critical mass of inspiration'... there is ALWAYS a masterpiece being posted! There are always some folks around willing to help you out... and there are always friendly faces willing to give you hand up when you are down. How has Renderosity enhanced my Work? Constructive criticism is invaluable and the members here actually take the time to post feedback! Seeing other artists work allows me to compare, to see where I might enhance my own work, or learn a new method to make my work more interesting. Being around other computer graphaholics is invigorating (Its nice not to have to explain to everyone what CG is all the time <rolls eyes> or defend your choice of tools.) How has Renderosity enhanced my relationships? Contacts. Unfortunately in this world it is often WHO you know, not what you know... I really think that this community has a large enough membership where it is quite possible to find clients or vendors for just about any computer graphics related project! That is cool. I know that I've met a few people who I look forward to working with in the future! How has Renderosity enhanced my learning? The members themselves are a veritable cornucopia of information, shared willingly and with a smile. And exploring the uploads... what a treasure trove of new ideas and techniques! I can spend a few hours clicking my way through hundreds of great pieces that serve to fuel my imagination for weeks on end! To view other AOM (click here)
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