Hello everyone.

At the beginning I'd like to thank all of you that voted in the contest. It is an honour to be an AOM at R'osity. I was away for couple of weeks and I didn't even know that I was nominated for the second time. It was a HUGE surprise for me when I was back from my holiday to see that you have chosen me. Thank you!

Who is 'crommcruac'?

My name is Marcin Zemczak. I'm polish, but living in London, UK. I'm working as a web designer, developing websites and doing 3D graphics for fun. I've taken my nickname from Celtic mythology. Cromm Cruac was Celtic god/demon of the underworld.

How long have you been rendering/doing computer graphics?

Who can remember that? It started back in the beginning of the 90's when I got my first so-called personal computer, a ZX Spectrum. There was a program called VU-3D in which I created me first 3D 'renderings'. I also used The Artist for the 2D pictures. The graphics were so poor that my watch has it better now :)

But it was fun to make computer-generated images.

 

Red Queen

Do you have traditional art experience?

Not at all. I can't draw a smiley correctly :) Just kidding, I can but I don't have skills in art drawing or painting. I never attended any art school. The only drawings which I was good at were technical drawings back in school.

What are you currently working on?

I'm doing 3D images from time to time when I have a new idea and spare time. I've got a couple of images started, and some ideas in my mind.

What software/equipment do you use and why?

I'm a PC user. Currently, I'm working on an AMD X2 4400+, 2GB RAM, GeForce 8800 GTS. Not very impressive in these times, but a new machine is coming, so maybe I will start doing more images in the future.

I'm using 3DS MAX for about 15 years (starting from DOS version). I render with VRay. I also use Poser figures to create my images. Many people complained about it, but I can't see anything wrong in it. I'm just too lazy to model humans. I did it eventually for one of the latest images ('The Red Queen'), but I couldn't force myself to rig it and pose it. Poser is easier, so I used only the head of the model I created. Of course, I'm using PhotoShop as well to create textures and final touches.

Menschfeind II

 

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

Very hard to choose. Usually the best piece is my last, but I was looking through my gallery and I've got a couple of picks.

'Menschfeind II' is one of my favourites. It gave me the creeps to imagine this situation presented here while I was making it. It give me the chills even now when I'm looking at it.

Another one which I am attached to is 'The Red Queen', mentioned before because I portrayed my wife in it. She was a reference for the character.

Why do you like to work with 3D software?

Because it gives me freedom to visualize my ideas, as I can't draw and I'm more technically educated. It is like photography, but better. You can create anything you can imagine and turn it into a photorealistic or art-style image. I like the possibility to alter the image as many times as I want to achieve the desired effect. It is impossible in painting or photography. They don't have the 'Undo' function :)

 

Desert Wind

 

Who/what inspires you?

Ugh... Tough question. So many of them. The most influential for the style are other artists such Royo, Giger or Beksinski, among others. You can see that.

What inspires my ideas? Lots of things. Books, movies, music, images, etc. Too many to count them. Ideas come to my head all the time and stay there until I visualize them, or I'm dropping them after a while. I'd like to have so much time to render all my ideas :)

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

The R'osity community is constantly encouraging me to do better and better images. The members' feedback is awesome. Their works sometimes are so inspirational that I can't resist creating another image.

Parting Comments / Advice to other Artists?

Patience, patience, and again patience. Creating 3D images is a very time-consuming process. Learning how to do it is even more. I'm doing this for so many years and there is still a vast ocean of possibilities to discover. My advice is to learn doing something. Do not try to learn something just by reading or watching the tutorials. Read them and try to do something that is yours.

Experiment, check other settings, and practice, practice, practice. They say in Poland that practice makes a master!

Please have a further look at crommcruac's Renderosity Gallery!

Be sure to visit the 3D Studio Max Gallery, and also pay a visit to the 3D Studio Max Forum!