Our March 2026 Vendor of the month is popular and productive, Sveva, better known to friends and family as Susan Justice. She grew up loving the outdoors in the northeast U.S. but moved to South Carolina where she still loves the woods, streams, lakes and ponds that surround her.

“When I went to college I was majoring in Fine Arts and had a job at an art gallery for about a year. Basically, it started all about the traditional arts, pencils, pens, paints, etc., but when I got my first computer around 1999, I discovered PC video games,” she said.

The video game graphics are what inspired her to dig into digital art. She played games like Ultima Online, Everquest, Magic the Gathering, and after 21 years, she still plays World of Warcraft. "Yep, I am still playing, the new Midnight expansion released a week ago and I am loving every minute of it with my husband of 16 years and my guild. I still can't get my sons to play but I will keep working on that!"

Sveva said that digital art is her only “job” because in 2004 she realized she never wanted to go back to any sort of "real job" working for someone else.

“Maybe I'm not cut out for it, maybe it isn't a good fit for me, but I also wanted and needed to be home with my kids,” she said.

With a good eye for business, she said she had been around Renderosity for a little while, saw a market need and went for it. She made a lot of 2D in the beginning, but needed to do more, so she taught herself other programs as time went on.

Sveva was kind enough to let us know a little about how she got here and what might be in her future.

Q&A with Sveva

What are the programs you first used while learning to create digital art, and what are your favorite programs or tools now for work?

I started where many people start; you come across Paint Shop Pro and think ‘hey this is cool!’ but soon discover Photoshop. That wasn't enough and I quickly jumped into Poser 4+ and beyond. Teaching myself everything from Photoshop to Marvelous Designer, including other "hard surface" modeling and texturing software.

How did you transition your interest in digital art to production of commercial works?

 I needed a more stable income. I would spend upwards of 40+ hours a week on one digital painting, sometimes even as much as 70-80 hours. I enjoyed creating, but these creations were not helping me much as far as paying the bills. Since I had already been a customer at Renderosity for digital assets, I thought I may as well give selling a go here, too. That was in 2008 and I am still here.

 What are your favorite projects to create and what has been the most successful for you?

 I think some of my clothing items have been quite successful. Some items I would never expect. I love to create basics, it’s less stressful. I find it harder to stay focused on larger sets!

 How have your designs or interests changed over the past few years?

 I really just make what I enjoy making at the time, and what I think other people might enjoy using. If I am not liking whatever it is I am making, I am very likely to scrap it for later or just delete it all together and start over. I like a lot of different styles from flowing dresses to tight skirts and tops!

 What are some products you want to create in the near future and what goals do you have in mind as a vendor?

 It's been a while since I did much hard surface modeling, and I imagine I will eventually get back into it. It can be difficult to switch brain modes, but I would like to do that again.

 Are there other artists that influence your work or have mentored you?

I have always taught myself. I have gotten a few tips, tricks, pointers from others over the long span of years I have been working in this field but for the most part I stick to myself and when I need an answer, I go searching for it. Sometimes this means attempting the same thing 3+ times, but I was never one to ask for much help and I don't like to bother people. I am pretty quiet and tend to come off as distant or aloof, but I enjoy figuring things out for myself. I have helped other people when I can though.

 How has Renderosity made a difference or helped in your growth as a vendor?

 Renderosity has been great to me. There have been off years here and there, but overall, I love the website and the people. Renderosity's door has always remained open, it has always been an easy going brokerage to work with. I appreciate the site very much and am thankful it exists.

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

 Eh, it’s good for some things. It has its uses, I think it is ok as a resource, but not for overall creating. I don't want it to put artists out of business. It’s just computer generated graphics, and while it can make pretty pictures, most of the time it just gets something completely wrong.

 What advice do you have for someone who wants to become an artist or vendor?

You have to start somewhere. Pick one thing you like, maybe something on the easy side, not too complicated and try it. See what programs you may need. Many offer free trials, and there are so many tutorials out there today. I think learning is a lot easier in 2026 and there are many different types of software to pick from!

 Any other comments you have for the community?

 “I love deadlines. I like the whooshing sound they make as they fly by.” ― Douglas Adams