Just over three years ago, I bought my first Macintosh computer
and I haven't looked back. Although I had started to take an art
degree when I left school, I quickly became disillusioned by the
whole art 'scene' and dropped out. I felt I didn't really
belong... my hair wasn't weird enough nor my clothes and I
preferred Jazz to anything the other students were listening to.
Instead of art, I pursued my musical interests and worked in
studios and live as a session player - playing bass and singing.
It was only several years
later when I had recorded my own material and wanted to design the
CD cover that I toyed with idea of reviving my artistic tendencies
and doing it myself. I bought a computer and some image editing
software and got stuck in. I couldn't believe the fun I was
having... and soon I had design and artwork for other people on
the go too. At the same time, I landed a job with the local
newspaper group and since the work there was also Mac based, I
quickly became very comfortable with computers and computer design
and artwork.
After a year working for
the newspaper, I decided to set up my own business, offering
graphical services, 3D and 2D illustration, large format printing,
web design and multimedia presentations. I set up my own personal
site and soon had requests for commissions as well as framed large
prints of my existing work. I belong to a community of artists on
the 'net and it's fun to swap tutorials and new ideas and show off
our new images... I actually feel I belong and since the 'net is a
world wide community, it doesn't seem to matter what type of
trousers I wear!!
For the last year, I have
had a regular slot at the 'Artists Barrow' in Central Milton
Keynes and it has been extremely successful. At Christmas time, I
completely ran out of stock!!!
I have had a two page
profile in Computer Arts, Issue 24 highlighting my 3D work.
Polaroid are using one of
my images for their new digital camera (PMAX) packaging to be
distributed world wide.
Dorling Kindersley have
recently contacted me with a proposal to illustrate some dinosaur
images, again using 3D modelling, for their book to be released in
November this year.
All in all, it's been
pretty hectic!!
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