Our Vendor of the Month for December is Exnem, who was born in Mexico City and has lived in the area most of his life. During that time, he made computers a part of his life starting with a Commodore and Apple 1, then moving to Windows PCs. In addition, he has also been a video gamer all his life, starting with the very first Atari Pong.

“I have been involved with art all my life, in one way or another,” he said. “My mother was a singer, my father a very accomplished musician and music producer. My father wanted me to follow in his footsteps, so he had me studying music from an early age,” said Exnem.

He learned to play piano and guitar and was performing piano recitals at the age of five.

“I then worked with him in his recording studio where I learned sound engineering and sampling and other skills. By the age of 13, I had composed a lot of music, started a rock band and recorded an album, but for several reasons, that didn't go anywhere,” he said.

Being “very shy” he didn't really like the spotlight and all the attention. That’s when he began 3D modeling and animation.  

“I did a tv commercial for a company called Bimbo, for their products in the "marinela" line which were going to be launched in Argentina. From that, being a die-hard video gamer, I started making mods from some of my favorite games like Oblivion, Skyrim and The Sims and for a while, had a very successful site where I shared my mods. That eventually lead me here (at Renderosity), where I could finally reach a broader audience, and make some money from my hard work,” said Exnem.

Q&A with Exnem

What are the programs you first used while learning to create 3D images, and what are your favorite programs or tools now for work?

I started working with 3D Studio Max, the very first edition that got released from Autodesk. Then I added Poser to the mix and Photoshop for image editing and creating textures. Now I use a whole different array of software, 3DS Max for initial 3D modeling, RizomUV to create UV maps, ZBrush for detailing, Photoshop and Substance Painter for textures and finally DAZ Studio to create the final product.

How did you transition your interest in digital art to production of commercial works?

It started when I was creating mods for video games and that seamlessly transitioned into selling my creations here.

What are your favorite projects to create and what has been the most successful for you?

I love making food items and different kinds of props, but my most successful products are by far clothing and outfits.

What part do you enjoy most about your work in digital art? 

I most enjoy the modeling and texturing process, then the rendering, and lastly the most tedious and boring part which is creating the promos for the product page.

How have things changed in your designs or interests over the past few years?

Well, I guess that's a very open question. Mainly it's just an evolution in techniques and just experience overall. I still pretty much like the same things, though now I'm starting to kind of pivot more toward creating video game content and probably try to make my own video games. We'll see what happens.

What are some products you want to create in the near future, and what goals do you have in mind as a vendor?

I would like to create a wide array of outfits, trying to do some "Uniforms" collection, and keep slowly making more food and other useful props.

Are there other artists that influence your work or have mentored you?

Other than my initial music training, I have been self-taught all my life, starting with my very first time using 3D Studio Max up to this moment. I do admire many artists and people in general like Alberto Vargas, Salvador Dali, and many others. And not just painters or graphic artists, but writers like Isaac Asimov or Stephen King and Tolkien, to scientists and thinkers like Nikola Tesla, Einstein, etc. The world and history is filled with amazing people.

What motivated you to become a vendor?

Money, obviously... I had been giving away my hard work for free for most of my life but it came to a point where I had to earn a living to support my family, and that's what led me to try and sell my products online.

How did you make the decision to become a vendor at Renderosity?

It was organic really, like one thing led to another. First, I was making mods and suddenly I found myself selling my products here.

How has Renderosity made a difference or helped in your growth as a vendor?

In terms of my 3D products, I have always sold exclusively on Renderosity, so I don't really know the difference with other brokering sites. However, it's been good enough for me not to go looking somewhere else.

With the arrival of AI in digital art, what are your thoughts on its use?

Oh, here we go... This is a very important and delicate issue. At first, I guess most of us artists were very afraid of AI and how we could compete with it. It certainly has made a profound dent in my economy as of late, but the thing is, AI is here to stay, no two ways about it and the only thing we can really do is embrace it and learn how to use it…kind of learn to go with the flow instead of drowning. I guess we have no other choice but to learn to live with it and make the best of it.

What advice do you have for someone who wants to become an artist or vendor?

Keep learning and perfecting your craft. There's a ton of tutorials and information out there, so the help is there, but it's also a very competitive world so you have to be constantly updating and learning new stuff.

Any other comments you have for the community?

Yes...Love each other and tear down the walls that segregate us, like race, religion and borders. We all could be doing so much better if we just learned to love instead of hate. Peace everyone...