Regardless of what they’re trying to capture, every digital artist benefits from adding textures to their work. It’s one of the most important parts of any digital composition, as it offers the viewer a higher level of detail on the artists creations.
This week’s Renderosity Creator Profile focus is artist “-renapd-,” who is known to some as a master of conveying detail through textures.
Tell us about yourself. What can you share?
I'm in my early sixties with two sons, born and living in Greece. I was raised by my father—an architect and artist—who was also my best friend and mentor.
When I was 17 I went to the United States as an exchange student, where I finished high school. Years later back in Greece, I got involved with public address systems and professional audio. I got involved with PC(s) in the late ‘90s, and soon I discovered 3D, first through Bryce and later through Poser.
3D became my obsession as I could finally paint without a canvas, [just as] my late father did.
I started creating my own 3D products after spending long nights after a full day in the office... with almost no time for my family. So eventually I had to make a choice between my audio equipment career and 3D. It's pretty clear who won as ever since I officially became an RMP vendor. For the last 6 and a half years, I've become an administrator for the site, taking care of promotional events and helping other vendors to promote themselves.
What got you into digital animation?
I discovered some free Bryce backgrounds that impressed me. I got the product and started creating with it, getting involved in various Bryce forums. Some other people were posting images with people in their scenes.
I wanted people in mine too! That's how I discovered Poser 3. A few days after using the program it won me over completely!
What do you do in the world of digital animation? How many years have you been doing it?
I was a top-selling texturer for 20 full years. I have collaborated with many great modelers, like 3D-Age, nikisatez, thip, and supernova.
Besides creating add-ons for their own products, we had collaborated on many great projects of fantasy or historical costumes, always of my own choice or design. Those were my pride and gems of my store, recently retired after a successful sale that brought me back to the top sellers. This is a funny thing since I haven't created anything new for the past 6 years.
What kinds of software do you use?
Poser, UVmapper, and Corel Photo-Paint have always been the software I was using the most.
I loved Poser's interface and spacious material room, UVmapper was my right hand to set material zones that I wanted on the collaboration models, and Corel Photo-Paint is still my best friend even as an administrator. I've been using it since version 5 in the late 90s.. [you] can't teach an old dog new tricks!
Who or what has influenced your creativity?
Definitely my father! Besides being an architect he was also an artist... I grew up among colors, paints, canvas, and ink drawing-boards of building plans... our home was full of his paintings and books, many of them from museums with paintings and works of art or buildings around the world. My past was my treasure chest for 3D texturing.
How would you describe your followers?
I think my followers were fans of fantasy projects and history. My everyday texture add-ons were always selling well as I was always trying to make it look completely different and show the entire potential of the model... but my best-sellers have always been the collaboration costumes in my store. They were unique and missing from other stores around.
If you didn't wish to create a sexy everyday image but something more classic, then you needed something like those costumes to complete what you had imagined.
Let’s discuss your past projects.
Native Americans (NA) have become my trademark I think. For many years since M3/V3 there were no other Native American costumes around till much later. Thip created the models and we overcame the problem of flowing cloth with morphs. Detailed texturing brought the models to life.
I've used the same patterns for many fantasy NA costumes later on so there were endless mix-and-match possibilities.
What are you currently working on?
Taking care of promotional events, handling sales, and promoting other vendors.
What are some of your favorite products/tools to use inside the software? And why?
My favorite tool within Poser was the Morphing Tool. That's how I was creating my unique characters without the use of any other 3D program. It took a while to get accustomed to it but once I did I could not do without it.
What advice would you have for young creators?
To be patient! Rome was not built in a day. Make sure you create the best promo images for your products to bring attention to each product’s potential. Keep a constant presence in the market so your name shows up on the what's new page often and eventually gets recognized.
What else can you share?
I want to thank Jenn and my BFF Cathy (Kalypso) - can't imagine working without them!
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