Meet Renderosity Artist Cornelis van Meurs [rocserum]

With the ambitious goal of uploading an image to his Renderosity Gallery each and every day, and the greatly varied works that they are, both artistically and in terms of software used, it was time we had a talk with this particular artist who goes by the name of rocserum. With now over 2600 images in his Renderosity Gallery, Cornelis van Meurs [rocserum], is a man of many artistic talents and chooses to share with us his unique works on an almost daily basis, and yet in his own words insists that "most people can be a lot more creative than they realize."

Meet the man behind this incredible varied work, and be sure to wish him well on his recently celebrated 75th Birthday (September 19th)!

Who is 'rocserum' and how did you come by this unique member name?

My real name is Cor(nelis) van Meurs. My first name in reverse made Roc and muddling up my last name made Serum. Hence Roc Serum as my nickname.

How long have you been involved in digital art?

From about 1985, I guess, starting with an Amiga running Deluxe Paint and Brilliance. Then, my first PC on Windows, and Paint Shop Pro (must have been version two). My interest in fractals came with the FractInt program, then Ultra Fractal came along, and landscape generators, like Bryce and Terragen.

Though you are seemingly constantly creating something, which is apparent with almost a daily upload to your Renderosity gallery, what might we find you doing outside of creating art?

As a retired glazier, I've got all the time to myself, so I'm volunteering quite a lot. Repairing books at the local library, making illustrations for some magazines, and helping people around on their computer. I am also a member of a graphics club - they like my support when drawing or painting issues come up. And I'm writing a biography, and some poetry as well. My wife and I photograph a lot, and then I use those pictures for my later images.

COLLAGE 1300

Do you have any traditional art experience?

When I was just married, in the early 60's, I followed the (American) Famous Artists School course, and even had a "meet and greet" with the great illustrator Norman Rockwell.

Then, I worked for 15 years photo retouching (that's analogue Photoshopping :-) ) at one of the largest Dutch printing offices, followed by another 15 years as a glazier. I designed glass decorations, did the sand blasting, and got assignments for cutting, polishing, gluing and everything, from small to monumentally large.

In the meantime, I did some small sculpting, bronze, and ceramics. And I'm still busy creating magazine illustrations, watercolor paintings and have a portrait assignment every now and then, in pencil and pen.

one day diary-sculpting 2

As a clay sculptor myself, I really admire your sculpture works. What materials have you worked with and which do you prefer?

Clay and plasticine, just cutting and pasting till the result is satisfying. The advantage of plasticine is, that it can be a start for further techniques, like molds for ceramics or bronze. And it can be reused.

With all of the many forms of artwork you do, do you have a favorite? Say, for example, you had to choose only one medium to work in for the rest of your time here on Earth, what would you choose?

Just drawing. For example, at the moment I'm reading some books by Mary Stewart, about the young Merlin the Magician. While reading, I'm making sketches every time something visual pops up in my mind. I've got four pages of scribbles already. I'll work that out later, given time.

STUMP AND FUNGI

What software is in your digital toolset?

Well, I can read and write with Paint Shop Pro (now version X 2). It's fun to combine this with the results of playing with any other fun graphics tool, like fractal programs (Ultra Fractal, Apophysis, Mandelbulb), Poser, Bryce, Xara and the filters in Photoshop Elements. Running all these programs simultaneously leaves me with a moaning dual core machine, I guess it deserves a serious upgrade by now.

Your Renderosity Gallery is filled with fantastic works using Bryce, PSP, and a multitude of Fractal programs. Out of all the software you use, what would you not be able to do without?

Paint Shop Pro is the one above all. It's essential for all my results, photos, fractals, 3D, Poser and everything.

DREAM GIRL

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

Analogue or digital? For analogue, I'm quite content with the water-color paintings of my grandchildren...

FISHING SISTERS

...and with some glass objects.

apis

Digitally, I like the simplification of images to poster-like results, as can be found on my Dutch site http://cornelis-cornelis.blogspot.com/ and on Renderosity as well.

HAVING FUN

You've been a member of Renderosity since December of 2002. What brought you to Renderosity?

That's some time ago! I guess I started with Bryce, surfed the net for some graphical knowledge and stumbled into Renderosity. Forums are great places to go for meeting people with similar interests, and Renderosity then is the place to be.

Who, or what, inspires you?

Each beautiful image is inspiring, even television. My ambition to publish a new image on Renderosity each day forces me to follow each creative route around. My wife and I photograph a lot, and drawing life directly (like working with models) is fascinating too. Recently, I discovered "sketchcrawling" (http://www.sketchcrawl.com/ ), the worldwide drawing marathon sessions.

Also inspiring is working with people with a similar mindset. Whether we can get this organized in Holland, I don't know, but I take my sketchbook wherever I go. Later on, I rework them on my computer. As you can see, days are too short, as I'll have my 75th birthday soon.

X-MAS DREAMTREE

What decides the medium you choose to use at any given time? Mmm...let me put it another way...what is it that sparks the desire to pick up the camera, the pencil, the brush, or the tablet stylus?

It varies. A nice image on screen can be inspiring, and ask for some playing around digitally. Now that the summer comes to an end, a lot of places become interesting photographically, like the mushrooms coming up.

But, it's the discovery of SketchCrawl that put me into a 'fast response mode.' Great fun, and exciting. Like recently, when I was just waiting at the airport and saw a heavily guarded El Al plane passing by. I couldn't resist making a sketch, but within a moment, a security officer stood next to me as if I was planning the next terrorist attack. We then had an interesting chat about my interests, and theirs as well.

And every now and then an assignment comes along, for a portrait or illustration.

LONELY BUT NOT ALONE

Do you have any tips to offer other artists here, whether concerning software, or creating in general?

I have noticed that most people can be a lot more creative than they realize, as if the playing and making is more important than the result. And above all, creative people are never bored. Professionally, things can be different, with pressure and deadlines. Just lack of money can be frustrating, like having to save on my pension to get that new machine, as the current one is about to fall apart. And I can not afford the recent Photoshop and a fast Apple.

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