True space eh?

[Gamerprinter]

Me, I'd call myself a professional amateur at 3D. I used 3D when I ran a graphic design/digital print studio. I only dabbled at 3D for some graphics needs. Afterward, I've become a professional freelance cartographic illustrator for the game industry, of which a large percentage of my maps have been created in Xara. I've used Xara since XaraX (the first version). Since 2008, I've got over 1800 maps published, including some of the biggest publishers in the game industry, both the tabletop roleplaying game industry, as well as one commission where I created all the multi-player maps for Call of Duty: Advanced Warfare Strategy Guide (using Xara to create those maps). Now I'm a small publisher of roleplaying game materials with 3 authors, besides myself - all Canadian, unlike myself. Because I'm a low budget small publisher, I cannot afford buying art, so I've dug out my 3D programs and have learned enough to be my own illustrator. I have done a few 3D illustrations on commission, though I'm not comfortable doing 3D professionally, except for my own purposes. My work is "good enough" for my niche, since a large number of competitors publish work with what I consider less than good enough... My work appears as high production standards, but its just me.

If Xara still maintains it's Art Gallery (I don't know, haven't visited in a while), but I'm in that gallery, and was a mention in several of the Xara newsletters.

[Gamerprinter]

I have no idea why Canadian author/game designers seem attracted to my company. Though the first one, I did some collaborative work with 10 years ago on a project and worked together well. Five years ago, I was creating starship deck plans and because I published my own map products at the time, he asked if I'd be willing to publish a science fiction adventure module using my ships. I said yes. He's a professor at Bishop University in Toronto. Another with less experience, but good game design is a nurse from Edmonton. Because I too was a natural artist since early childhood, I knew wanted to work in the art field, and ended up doing graphic design, though I much prefer creating illustrations than graphic design. I became an illustrator, late in life - say from 45 years old onward. I got a nephew who is also a video game addict, but at least he's just completed a Perdue University BS in Software Engineering and has a bright future, already hired (military drone helicopter software design) and started his first week, last week.

[Gamerprinter]

Interestingly, as I stated on a previous post, I was looking at a True Space ad in some graphics magazine intrigued by the idea of 3D, but I not having 3D needs at the time, couldn't justify it's purchase - which was expensive for me at the time. One month later, an attorney client asked if I could create a 30 second 3D animation of an automobile accident for court. I said, yes, but it would take me 30 days to create it. You have to remember, I hadn't ever used 3D software yet, but committed to a well paying job. I picked up Raydream, because that was closer to my budget at the time. I spent 2 weeks learning how to use the software enough to create animations, and then spent 2 weeks creating the actual animation. Due to my shadows being too dark, which I didn't discover until render completion (72 hours), that I had to correct and re-render another 72 hours. But I got the job done and paid for multiple times. That was probably the most gutsy decision on a client's job, but that's how I got started in 3D.

[handrawn]

Thing that really ticks us off, is the the kid is an awesome 2D artist... a natural... he used to draw posters in school, for various events, from elementary right through to high school... he also did caricature art for their year books, for all the teachers mugs lol. His sci fi work is stellar. but nope, he just wants to play video games in his spare time, which I might add, often interferes with his work chores, during lunch mostly, as well affects sleep times lol. Oh my... good thing he is a beast at work, by that I mean he is 6'5", strong as most any, and highly skilled, or I would fire him lol.

being very good at something is never enough in itself, you need a reason to do it; and the reason needs to be one that satisfies/motivates you or you will be going down a dead end - unless you get totally ridiculous amounts of money, but even then it may not make you happy, it is unlikely to last - maybe whilst at school he had such a reason, but not now

I have to either tell stories or make a point, frequently satirical and political, controversial [I am going to miss Mr Johnson]

[Gamerprinter]

being very good at something is never enough in itself, you need a reason to do it; and the reason needs to be one that satisfies/motivates you or you will be going down a dead end - unless you get totally ridiculous amounts of money, but even then it may not make you happy, it is unlikely to last - maybe whilst at school he had such a reason, but not now

I have to either tell stories or make a point, frequently satirical and political, controversial [I am going to miss Mr Johnson]

Fully agree with Handrawn, here. I create art because I must, good thing I have some skills because I am so compelled to create art, I'd probably do it, even if I were bad at it. I create because I must. I have other talents too, and do spend time on those activities as well, but my preference to creating art dominates my time. If I were more compelled to do other things, I would do other things. The point being, your son could have mad talents at creating art, but that's not enough to be an artist - you have to need to create it in order to pursue it or anything at all. He'll come into his own eventually (at whatever activity compells him), most of us do.

[handrawn]

politics is a no-go area on TG, these days at least

ok you can get away with a drawing that is political, if you are demonstrating your drawing skills as opposed to your commentariat pov ...

again, I'll think about it....

[Gamerprinter]

I avoid anything political online. I run far and fast from any forum where political discussion is allowed. The games and works I create are for a client base from every political stripe - it's for games and entertainment. In no way do I want to alienate any part of my market, by publicly choosing political sides. I certainly have a political view, but I don't share it with anyone except to those close to me. Doing so would provide no benefit. So I'm glad the TG keeps that out. I am a member of many forums and even FB communities where politics is off limits - good for them.

[handrawn]

you are tempting me...

[Gamerprinter]

I'm crappy at doing people - hand-drawn or 3D. I am hit or miss. Some of my people illustrations work, many don't. I've always spent more time creating things, animals, monsters, landscape, structures, ships, but not people. Consider I'm a pro artistic cartographer - maps almost never include people, just the evidence of people in the landscape. Now I don't care for Boris myself, but I won't spend time making charactures, as I would be creating people, and I'd much rather create something else - anything else, but that's just me.

[behzad]

I used to work with truespace back in my late 20's. Here is something I did with it. I would not really recommend investing time to learn it now. Times have changed and there are much more porwerful 3d programs that are free out there including Blender. For that era it was fine to learn 3d with truespace.