 |
| When faced with a
major change either forced on you or your choice, there are always going
to be bumps slow downs and some getting use to the new surroundings. Background: Closet sketch artist from a very early age of 5. Art in the family was viewed as 'idle time waster' or only meant for a short topic runner, much like the uncle who pulls a coin out of the ear of his favorite neice. This meant keeping what I was doing to myself, else face the dismal realization of more chores to help build a better mind. So ingrained in fact, art continued to be hidden, well into my adulthood. Suffered many a long lectures when caught, but they, the family could never catch my crazy and wild imagination! About 1982: work place employed Computers into both the main business and office. A box like AppleIIc used for record keeping. Found my spelling abilities (or lack of them) were about to be spotlighted. I could understand the ins and outs of the computer programs, but lacked what was referred to as basic language skills to handle the input/output. 1988: and by accident, dyslexia was discovered. That's right, I was, am and will always be dyslexic. 1989: employment took a strange new direction, and I found myself surrounded by geeks. Held my own within the group. None knew of my dyslexia, non treated me as an outsider. They were a combination of computer programmers, electronics masters, with diverse backgrounds in art, science and (while most wouldn't admit it) droll humor. I fit in! For the first time in my life, I fit into a group of people matching wit, and theory with ease. In 1991: I married one of those geeks--my better half. He will remain the one person who looked at me and didn't see low or average intelligence, but an equal. It would come as a pretty large shock to him, I couldn't spell. A fact he found nearly impossible given the conversations we had. Programming errors I would find in printouts, topics I dearly loved to pursue. My avoidance of languages other than English, chocked up to nothing more than something he saw in many people. He had gifted me with a computer of my own. A nice 486 with windows3.0. There just isn't a way to hide language difficulties on a computer. Not back then. In 1995: with the help of a typing program, some words were starting to hold. I could, from finger memory, pull words together to type out short sentences without having to pause to think on the spelling of the word. Reading out loud? Still a problem. Also, landmarked, I was online! In 1996: a science magazine published research work on a form of hearing dyslexia (this would later be given a technical name). Tony read this and looking over the examples, it then dawned on him what exactly was going on for me. That changed the whole way we would confront and conquer. If finger memory could be used in order to teach words, then it was time to really put it to the test. I would pull text manuals for html, and C++, etc, to use as typing medium. Yep, I type out every chapter in those massive books. If you are subjected to material long enough, you start to learn it even if that wasn't the actual goal. Acquired a position as a chat room monitor/tech support advisor / chat experience maintenance. Held this into 2005. 1998 added a Mac to my computer hardware. 2000 introduced to free old versions of vue, and bryce. Stumble a bit, there is a massive learning curve for anyone jumping from sketches to 3D. Color and lighting the major players. I really didn't want to just create imagines using items from others, but really found a longing to build exactly what I wanted myself. In comes Carrara3. 2001: We needed to tackle the yet untapped vocal and hearing end of language learning. Knowing throwing myself into English classes wasn't going to produce anything more. Very boring to re-learn or re-hash what you have had presented before. We decided it was time to introduce another language into the mix. Not the normal way, which would be to tons of learning tapes, or books, but with music. Make it interesting! I picked one of the harder to find languages, gaelic, and with a couple of Celtic CDs started learning to sing those songs. At the time, headphones for the computer were mono, if you wanted a mic built in. So, spliced together a good set of stereo headphones and a head mic to suit my needs. Ugly as all get out, but did the job :D In 2004, and 5: Created my own website. Keeping most of the site as simple as I could to catch the greatest number of people out there no matter what browser of choice they had. Added Poser to my software mix. Started my own Vendorship at 3DCommune with very unique characters (Whiskton OShea, and Molly Moppet). Found there was a need to break out of Carrara to other software in order to gain an easier work flow for creating characters. ZBrush was added in order to aid in texturing, but I did struggle trying to learn the software. Added Bryce to my Software mix. Modeling had hit a light bulb moment with the introduction of Hexagon. Yes, I was able to jump in for the beta for the very first version. Pitched my resume to the Beta group with the fact I was still new to modeling, and therefore could give them a very honest look at how easy the software could be used by non-modelers. Pitch worked and by the end of the beta, it all clicked! Picked up as an Admin for the now closed 3DCommune. Big advancement steps began to take place. In no time at all I found myself one of the Directors of the site/company. It would be a pleasure, a learning adventure, and a major player for my time. 2006: Introduced Woodb3rt to my partner's Vendorship. Woodb3rt has been a example of modeling for others to view, but this little mannikin's backing and requests placed him into a marketable product. Introduced the Wooden Toy Soldiers to my partners's Vendorship. These little guys did really well as products. Hitting and pulling in the Nutcracker crowd. Introduced PennGywn to my Vendorship. This model started to show some progress in learning to UVMap an organic model. 2007: created and posted a major amount of tutorials on modeling. 2008: Modeled and pitched 3DCee to the dev team of 3DCommune. Almost crazy how this little guy started out. At the time we were looking for a small icon like item which could be used in the companies browser ids. While playing with the letters 3DC, I noticed it looked like a face when some of the letters were turned. The number three as eyes, the letter D as a face, and the letter C as the body. So he was born. He of course was placed on hold until the completion of the new software, and our flip to it. Added UVLayOut to software collection. This high priced and mainly key combination style software, just seemed to click. Never been one to love key combination software when it came to art, preferred mouse. For some reason the way the combinations fit together just seemed to be the most natural I have ever come across. 2009: February: 3DCommune re-opens under new software. A massive amount of work and rework to bring all that could be brought to the new software/site. Sadly though, with all the work, still much more was needed and just (at the time) could not be given. October: New model almost completed, only needs a few last touches. November: 3DCommune closes it's doors. A major shock to all who came through the door. No one knew what was up, or coming. Members, Moderators, Vendors, Testers, Dev Team, Admin, and Directors were suddenly without their home. This is my personal triumphs, and yes, pain. I ask no one for pity, for the past. I only wish to be counted as 'at least' someone that does try to learn all they can learn. To anyone out there new in 3DArt, or young in life, these words I'll pass. 'You can do anything you want to do, if you want to bad enough'.' Never give up' and 'Just Believe'. With that, it is the time to find a new beginning and I do have lots of things which could not be done due to time constraints. Now, there is time! Life experience(online): 3D Modeling Programming - html, xhtml (including Dynamic html, CSS and XML), C++, php, MySQL 3D UVmapping 3D images (still working out lighting and texturing) prior online experience: techsupport (Mac and Windows software), techsupport (Windows hardware), Terms of Service Team. Offline experience: Program Director (activities), electronics troubleshooting, Computer maintenance (Unix) Assistant Accountant Assistant Mechanic (Auto) --- Strange how Auto Mechanics can lead to computers, but it did! Offline Hobbies: (over the years) Music - Vocals, electronic keyboards, electronic organs, flute, clarinet, drums; pencil sketches/Drawings, oil painting; woodshop -- cabinets, bookshelves, furniture; and of course macrame and crochet. Current Software: Hexagon 2, Bryce 6, Carrara 7, ZBrush3.5, Painter8, Corel Draw 13, UVMapper Pro, UVLayOut, Poser 6-8 are the ones which are used the most. Current Computers: Windows XP, Windows Vista, iMac intel OSX (10.5) last updated: December 2009 |
|
A1 Hosting Company A better flavor of service |
 |
Visit my Online Store My Online Store will be back after a while |
|