Retired professional full-time portrait artist and engineer (degrees in mathematics, engineering and photography... go figure).
If you read bios, and sometimes revisit them, you'll know in 2018 I was diagnosed with myasthenia gravis. Then, in 2020, a new neurologist (because I moved across country) diagnosed me as having Parkinson's. Then, after some serious issues with jerking movements, she sent me to a movement specialist, and NOW this new neurologist who specializes in movement disorders has said I don't have MG, MS, ALS, Parkinson's, or any other host of neuromuscular diseases. She classified the movements as non-essential tremors, and said, "My hardware is over loading my software." That's the 2022 diagnosis.
2023 Update - It turns out that I have a half-dozen discs in my spine that are collapsing. Thus, Degenerative Disc Disease, or DDD for short. I never knew that DDD could cause tremors (well, the pain causes them) and stuff like that. Now I go to physical therapy 4 days a week to hopefully avoid spinal surgery.
I've got high hopes and remain positive.
I started doing 3D renders in DAZ and Poser started when I first became sick at the start of 2018. It is a distraction from my symptoms, and I'm not under any pressure or deadlines to get things done. Even this is difficult on some days, but I can always stop temporarily to get some rest. In July, 2020, my wife and I moved across country to be closer to children and grandchildren.
If I'm not cooking or preparing for a meal, I'm rendering. Art and food are my passions.
I used to enjoy travel, bicycling, cooking (which I can still do in short bursts), photography (again, in short bursts), hiking and painting (which I now do digitally). I'm determined to do something with my time even if my strength is greatly limited.
Just prior to getting sick I drove ALL of Route 66. I've been using some of the photos from that trip and adding 3D characters to them. You can see them in my Route 66 gallery here on Renderosity. You can actually follow the story at Route66Photographers.com. It's a fictional story about my travels with a rambunctious young lady named Charly.
My wife is my biggest supporter. She helps me come up with ideas to render and paint.
Brent's Rules to Live By...
1) Everyone can teach you something regardless of age or education.
2) When you're down, a child's smile will always lift you up.
3) Keep God's commandments, as best you can, but when you can't, repent quickly.
4) Read your scriptures daily, but pray all the time.
5) Love everyone, but don't expect anything from them in return.
Artist of the Month - December, 2021
https://www.renderosity.com/article/24824/interview-with-december-2021-artist-of-the-month-dbwalton
Comments (5)
Richardphotos
well, hello country bumpkin she is dynamite
dbwalton
LOL... that's too funny. There were girls like that on farms in Kansas when I lived there. ;)
Richardphotos
you are way past realism and on another playing field
RodS
HOLY ****!
I'm not a real big fan of the current AI fad, but this is AMAZING!
2100+ attempts..... And you have shown that it's still the Artist that's in charge of the tool. Gotta give this one two 👍👍!
Hope you and yours have a great Christmas!
dbwalton
Hi RodS,
And, a very Merry Christmas to you and your family and loved ones.
Oh, absolutely. If you aren't in charge, then you aren't an artist. ;)
I see people who would take a garbage photo, run it through some iPhone filter, and then think it looked wonderful. We used to say GiGo (Garbage In, Garbage Out).
Again, Merry Christmas. I think I'm going to get started on Christmas Eve dinner. Grilled fish and shrimp, mac-n-cheese and some veggies. It might become a new tradition now that we're empty nesters.
PhthaloBlue
Wow!
Arodia
This looks really photo realistic and there is some great improvement with the hands! Merry Christmas!
dbwalton
Yes, while the hands are still wonky, they are getting better.