The voters of the Renderosity community have named Amaranth, known to her friends and family as Anita Schaerlaeken, our Artist of the Month for January 2026. She has been sharing her considerable talents with us since 2005.

“I was born and raised in Belgium, where I still live today. My creative journey did not start in a traditional art setting. As a young person, I was always drawn to imagination and atmosphere rather than formal art training, and only later in life did I discover a strong feeling for visual storytelling and design,” she said.

She explained that her first real creative outlet came through computers. She eventually became fascinated, while building websites and coding them by hand, which naturally led her to visual design. Creating graphics started as a practical need but quickly grew to a passion. From pixel art to 3D, the digital world opened up endless possibilities for expression.

By day, I work as a secretary for two large organizations, both dedicated to social justice and supporting people in vulnerable situations. My CGI work developed alongside this as a semi hobby that gradually became a serious creative practice. Looking back, my love for storytelling, mood, and imagination has always been present, even before I knew how to express it visually.

Q&A with Amaranth   

What was your first interest in computers and what did you like doing with them?

 My first real interest in computers was building websites. I coded everything by hand in Notepad, which felt almost magical at the time. My very first website lived on Geocities. When I later discovered Dreamweaver, it felt like a huge leap forward. Suddenly everything looked more polished and professional.

 How long have you been creating art of any kind and when did you move into computer graphic arts?

 I discovered later in life that I had a genuine interest in art and a natural feeling for it. I moved into computer graphic arts quite organically, simply because my websites needed images. That led me to pixel painting, which I explored deeply for a while. I even wrote several tutorials for PaintShop Pro.

Around that time MSN tag groups started booming, and I was fascinated by all the beautiful tags featuring lifelike images. A friend, introduced me to Poser 5, and that was the moment everything truly clicked.

What was the process of moving from first experimenting with tools and software to creating images you were happy to share?

The early years were very experimental. At one point I even removed my entire Renderosity gallery, because my first work honestly did not meet my expectations. Like many artists, I can be quite demanding of myself.

Of course, it can be wonderful to see how an artist evolves over time, but this Sagittarius chose a dramatic, clean slate and deleted everything from 2005 up to 2024. Yes, that was a lot of pages. Sometimes starting fresh is simply the right creative decision.

How would you describe your style? Do you have a common theme throughout your work?

My art primarily features stylized 3D fantasy character renderings with a strong focus on costume design, mood lighting, and narrative atmosphere. I enjoy blending polished digital rendering with imaginative storytelling.

A recurring theme in my work is fantasy combined with realism, often enhanced with subtle effects to create an eerie feeling, depth, and layered atmosphere.

Where do you find your inspiration?

 Inspiration comes from many places. Quite a few of my 3D clothing designs were conceived while cycling home from work. Music is a major source of inspiration for me, as are movies. Sometimes a single song or scene is enough to spark an entire concept.

What are your favorite programs to use now and why?

My favorite programs are DAZ Studio, ZBrush, Hexagon, yes that quirky little modeling program I absolutely love, Substance Painter and Designer, Marvelous Designer, Photoshop, and RizomUV. Each of these tools has its own strengths, and together they form a workflow that feels both natural and flexible to me.

How has your work changed over time and where do you think it is headed?

My work has evolved tremendously over the past twenty years. Moving from Poser to DAZ Studio was a significant learning curve, but it was one of the best decisions I have ever made. In my humble opinion, DAZ Studio is superior for published artists. The tools, the clothing rigging workflow, the intuitive Iray render engine, and the sheer depth of features make it an incredibly powerful platform.

Even as a vendor, I am still discovering tools and possibilities that I was not fully aware of before. That alone speaks volumes about how rich and versatile the software truly is.

Looking ahead, I want to continue pushing realism and detail in my clothing designs. I am always eager to learn new techniques and improve, because learning never really stops.

What are your favorite subjects? What do you really get immersed in?

Fantasy and storytelling are my favorite subjects. In the blink of an eye, an entire story can unfold in my mind.

I truly get immersed in creating characters and their atmosphere, especially when working with lighting, fabrics, and the narrative behind a render. Once those elements start to align, I completely lose track of time.

With the arrival of AI in digital art, what are your thoughts on its use?

 Creating something from scratch, whether it is 3D modeling, texturing, rigging, composing a scene in Poser or DAZ Studio, or painting with watercolors, is deeply fulfilling. You can look at your work and say, I made this from my own imagination, with my hands and the skills I have developed over many years.

AI makes me feel somewhat conflicted. While I understand that it can bring joy to people, I do not believe it belongs on a 3D industry focused platform. There are so many incredible artists here who deserve recognition for their craftsmanship, dedication, and creative journey.

If you could have dinner with any artist, living or dead, who would it be and why?

Peter Shulman. He has been a good friend and a constant source of inspiration, always encouraging me to push myself further in my 3D work and artistic growth.

Are there other artists who influence you or a mentor who has helped you?

That is a difficult question. Dorian Cleavenger has always been a strong inspiration for me. Here at Renderosity, Belladark’s attention to detail and use of light are truly stunning.

I generally try to figure things out for myself, but when I get stuck there are a few people I can brainstorm with or who can gently guide me in the right direction.

What ideas do you have for future projects?

At the moment I am working on a dark clothing pack. It has been on hold for a couple of months because I shifted my focus to creating hand painted watercolor greeting cards for a good cause. These cards are sold to support initiatives that help fight poverty in Belgium, which felt important and meaningful to me.

Returning to traditional materials was grounding and refreshing, and it reminded me of the quiet power of creating with your hands. That project took priority for a while, but the dark clothing pack is very much alive and will be returning with renewed energy.

What tips do you have for those just getting started in 3D artwork?

Focus on lighting, because good light can make or break an image. Take the time to add details, depth, and subtle effects to make your scene stand out. Learn continuously. There are countless tutorials available, and every small step forward adds up. Most importantly, be patient with yourself and keep creating.

If there is anything else you would like to communicate as an artist, please do so.

Happy New Year to everyone!!

I joined Renderosity in January 2005, and last year I celebrated my 20 years in this community. Time truly flies. I have been a vendor here for a very long time, and I remember the early days with a warm heart, especially the friendships and late-night conversations in the Renderosity chatroom.

I would like to express my sincere gratitude for being voted Artist of the Month for January 2026. It is a tremendous honor, and I am deeply thankful for the continued support and trust of this community.

To all the talented artists at Renderosity, keep creating, keep learning, and keep pushing your boundaries. Your passion and dedication are what make this place so special.