I had zero visual art experience before picking up Poser. But had there not been so many people in the community to share their knowledge I'd still be trying to figure out the basics.

I have a feeling there are more veteran artists using Poser than complete newbs like me.

So, did you have a background in the arts prior to picking up Poser? Do you think an art background or lack of one made it easier to pick up Poser?

Message edited on: 07/14/2004 08:33

15 years profession graphic artist trained classical animator experienced oil painter The art background helps you keep your eye on things that you may not think about. things like shadows, scene layout, body language in posing, expression, colour harmonies..and all that kind of thing. ...but poser is just damn fun, and thats what counts the most :) Rawn

For me I found that the years I spent as a plumber provided a natural foundation to the world of Poser and 3D modeling. The integration was seamless. :)

Message edited on: 07/14/2004 08:44

I was a printer origionaly, I then went to university where I did 3D design, using ceramics. More hands on 3D! I also did drawing and painting. Now nearly all the art I do is on the computer as I havent got space or equpment to do ceramics anymore or large paintings. I think My art is better and I expereiment more with the computer.

nope- I'm 47 now- never made a picture untill I was 42.

As I've said, as an artist I'm a good writer. This was supposed to be just to give me a quicky visual reference to work with... Who knew....

I was, and still am, a software developer and a math tutor. Before Poser, I dabbled with 2D graphics and web design. This led to some openings for me to update the website of the company that I work for. WRT Poser, I am still a hobbyist but have seriously considered getting more serious about it. Not sure how, though.... regards, Andrew

Not any kind of artist. But when I was a kid, I spent vast amounts of time drawing houses and cars; could do a pretty decent sketch of an inorganic object. Never could draw people worth a damn, though. Poser does that for me!

no art experience whatsoever :D just a humble welder who enjoys making images :D

I do not have academic education in the arts.

I went to college to for nursing and "retired" at the age of 45.

As a child, I took art lessons but that never did amount to much.

Later on in life, I worked in make-up at a local town theatre (as well as doing a bit of summer stock) and took classes on color compatibility.

Warm Regards,
Nancy (SophiaDeer)

Although I have no professional training, almost everything I have ever done has revolved around one artform or another throughout my life. I've been sketching stuff for nearly 20 yrs, I was what was labeled a "Display artist" for a few yrs for a company named Bagley Int.(fishing takle company)and built huge show displays. Then I was a Tattoo artist for a while. and then I got my first copy of photoshop,then poser and now lightwave,and found that I just love creating in 3d most,so that's where I've stayed. The3dZone

No, I don't have any artistic background. And even if I know I'm not and never will be an artist, I enjoy Poser and I enjoy creating textures for Poser models, mostly clothes. That is what I like about a program like Poser: whatever it is we like to do best, we can do it in Poser. Some use it to illustrate stories and films, others to create magnificent scenes, others, like me, to play with it ;o) France

Nope..no art experience whatsoever...unless you want to consider music art. If so, I play a multitude of woodwind instruments..so I guess creativity has stemmed from there. An accountant by trade FT. I used PSP7 for about 2 years before I delved into 3d.

I'm a former Wally World (Walmart) employee. Then, I worked for CDI Marine where I learned drafting. Now, I work for Northrop Grumman Ship Systems designing and modifying Guided Missile Cruisers using AutoCAD. Somewhere in between all those jobs, I've earned an a Degree in Computer Science (programming computers). I also have drawn various pictures and artwork for use as tattoos on other people and couple for myself. I started using Bryce 4 about 2 and half years ago when I got bored at work and downloaded it and started playing with it. From there, I moved on to Poser. I try to do various scenes to be placed on greeting cards that I create for special occassions (father's day, etc).

Attached Link: http://www.renderosity.com/viewed.ez?galleryid=634071&Start=19&Artist=paulwillocks&ByArtist=Yes

5 years writing and illustrating horror comics, interspersed with a lot of airbrush illustration, followed by "time in the mines" with various print companies and ad agencies, all the while never stopping with my own art. 3D was and is a means to an end; a great method of getting visual results that are very unique from the rest of the art related things I'm involved in. --Les

No formal art training here either took it up as a hobby. I have come a long way since 1998 but have a long way to go :O) SndCastie

Message edited on: 07/14/2004 10:42

B.A. Visual Art TAMU-CC. {{Go Islanders!}} The year after I graduated the university started an art computer lab with 4macs and 2pc's?? it was so long ago. So I had no graphic computer art training. So like most everyone else I had to learn PS and Painter on my own. I've never held a job in graphic arts. I can paint, watercolor, sculpt, ceramic, real photography but who wants to get all messy?.. hahaha!! no! just kidding, I love doing all those things and getting messy but figuring things out in front of a computer I like the best oh and watercolor. I think it's a bit more challenging (for now). That's just me...

Ive been playing with Adobe Photoshop for about 9 years, but never as a primary profession (I do webdesign, and its a handy tool). I recently got into Macromedia Studio MX as well (ALL HAIL .PNG!!) About 4 years ago while in Saudi Arabia (Im a former US Marine) I got bored and started doodleing characters from some manga I'd brought with me (Rumiko Takashi's Ranma1/2) and discovered that I can actually draw pretty decently. Since then Ive been playing with this and that, but never in a professional sense. I discovered Poser almost by accident when looking for somthing to help me do character portraits for a pen & paper RPG I play with some freinds.

Other then coloring books as a child and with my children when they were young.........my answer is "No"(: I have always enjoyed artsy/craftsy kind of things, like making Christmas tree ornaments and stuff like that, but never anything like making images...digital or otherwise.

No formal training, but have been into art for as long as I can remember. Experimented with a lot of traditional media until I set my eyes computer graphics and animation in 1991 and that was all she wrote. 8-) Most of my career experience is as a technical writer, but it was my graphics involvement that spawned that. Now I'm back into graphics-related employment and projects.

No training. Writer first, abstract designer second. Been doing print advertising for years, started doing training videos a few years back. it shows, as well. My composition generally sucks, my use of color is intensely personal, and I've now gotten to a point where I am probably overly critical of my own work. lol

mainly a musician (actually a PC techie for 17 years..;) took 1 art course in College, 1 in High School, 1 in Jr. High (before they became middle schools..;). I started with Terragen,. got Poser about ..gad..2 years ago..do it for fun, 'cause I'd starve if I tried to make a livin' off of it..;)

Professionally I am a multimedia artist for a software company and really enjoy using 3D software like TrueSpace and Poser. Even though I am comfortable using traditonal art tools like pencil, ink, watercolors, and charcoal I think any less of someone using Poser to create images. I consider anyone using the product as an artist. For me if I am putting together a product with a looming dealine (happens all the time to me), if I can save time by doing it in Poser instead of drawing it, then that is great. Our clients will love it. Yes! I was an artist years before using Poser.

Fashion designer by trade, plus 3 years of commercial art school ( taken on a dare from a friend). Complete addiction to graphic software from Photoshop to Lightwave, read every software book I can lay my hands on. Compulsive doodler since childhood.

I've always sketched & doodled,but when I got in a motorcycle accident at age 15 I had 1 1/2 yrs of recovery which kept me from participating in some classes. So I was allowed to take 3 extra art classes. In these classes I was introduced to traditional drawing,acrylic & oil painting and clay sculpture. I then pursued all art related subjects I could in college. My life then phased into a religion which had no room for my art nor my love for it. After 19 yrs my brain made a successful escape and 2 yrs ago I found Poser and the re-ignighting (rebirth:-)of my creative juices. I think my art background has been quite benificial in terms of working with color,light,contrast,balance etc.,but in terms of making it "easier to pick up Poser", I think I was at the same place as many who haven't had any experience with 2D let alone 3D.

No formal training but plenty of hands-on. I've been doing pen and ink since I was a wee lad and it's my favorite medium. :) I like angular and gritty art and my favorite artists are DiTerlizzi and Brom. I've done plenty of illustration including signs, promotionals and "in house" advertising for local businesses.

Nope...I come to this out of a background of journalism and publication layout and design. Wasn't sure then what I was up too and darned sure now that I still don't know what I'm up to.

No, forensic chemist. But I have done some drawing and "photography" through SEM.

I did a lot of pencil drawings (cartoons and the like) before developing an interest in animation, moving into computer graphics, and then Poser.

I spent two years at art school as a Graphic Design major, although in retrospect I think it was the foundations (drawing, color theory, etc.) classes that helped me more with Poser work. I acted in community theater during high school years, and paid a lot of attention to the lights ... stage lighting is definitely analogous to Poser lighting in some regards. I used to do tons of Ernst-like collage work using photocopies of old woodcuts and Exacto blades ... not good for the eyes! :-) I would recommend Poser to anyone, regardless of whether they had prior art training or experience. One of the beautiful things about the program is that it is relatively easy to create good images if you work at it and have a good sense of aesthetics. Even if you don't, you can use the software to develop that and improve.

I wanted to take Art in high school for an elective but my parents refused to sign it off, they said "As long as you live under our roof you will take 'solid' classes so choose a forign language"; I chose Latin then German but still have never found a use for them.
I dabbled with Carbothelo drawings, trying to learn Boris' style for his extra ordinary fantasy paintings but it wasn't untill the military that people started taking notice of my lousy drawings, I'd get board during long night duty assignments so I filled the long hours drawing Conan and Elf Quest scenes just for fun. Then a Sargent asked me if I could do a Reaper on a goat life size that he could use as a stencil to paint on his van, turned out quite nice.
Never could draw people very good however but while teaching color digital print concepts for Sharp Electronics Corp they sent me to EFI for some PhotoShop and print training, that really got me started with PSD and then they gave me some cash and said "Go buy yourself some programs to further your knowledge in graphics", I ended finding Poser and Bryce on a shelf at Frys and thus found my way to do people that I couldn't otherwise draw myself.
Still just a hobby, I find art as a way of venting after a long day of teching networks, compurters, virus exterminating, teaching, and other daily techie duties.

Oh, forgot to mention it was my drawing the 72nd Engineers batalion at Fort Benning adopted as their official logo back in 1982....don't know if it still stand thou, my T-shirt has since disintigrated so I no longer have a sample of the "Demon Tankers" (can't actually remember what we called ourselfs either....oh, old age must be setting in...) Oh, and Total Copy Systems in Southern California used my skydiving copier machine as their log (can't remember the slogan).

Message edited on: 07/14/2004 15:41

Message edited on: 07/14/2004 15:44

I've been drawing since I was little and didn't get really into digital art until I was in 8th grade (granted it wasn't very good at all..^^). Now I'm 20 and I've been doing it ever since then.
I started drawing in more Japanese Animation style, but I've been taking Life drawing classes to improve on anatomy. Nothing like drawing from a real live model. As for Poser, I use it more to help with my digital painting skills than my drawing skills..though maybe I should look into that too..

No visual art background. Why do I need teaching how use my eyes. Although, some photography knowledge proved useful because I feel 3D graphics is more akin to photography than paper, paints, and the like, art.

Designing blue prints for commercial and residential renovations. Not easy when your not sure what you'll find once you open the walls up. Like PhilC, seems to fit hand in hand with poser. Never touched a computer till 2 years ago.

i have a master's degree in fine and applied art from u.c. berkeley. not really worth much in the real world, though. at 16 some of my oils were featured in a show at mc cormick place in chicago....prolly my art life's biggest kudo. i spent 2 summers working at disney, back in the day when doing animations were hand drawn frame by frame and one could spend months on changing a wee bit of movement to a finger to make it appear to "move". at one point i worked for a major design firm in chicago...but, alas, like disney, i was just another little cog in a big wheel. a friend pointed me to poser when i finally broke out on my own and started a little graphic/web design business. he sold me poser 1 when he got poser 2. however, i have broken away from poser in a large degree because i just can't get it to portray what is really in my head... by the time i tweak, search, and render, my visualization and inspiration has rolled up and died on me.

I actually don't have any FORMAL training in ANYTHING.
I'm a high school dropout.
Spent 5 years as an auto mechanic.
Another 3 as a welder.
2 operating/programming CNC lasers.
And the last 3 years I've headed the fabrication shop where I work.
I started working with 3D in Autocad, and this is where it's led me.
Oh, I only started working with PC's shortly after my son was born, he is now six.

I guess I just get bored and look for something new to learn.

Yes. Fine and Applied Art and Design, although I ended up going into Graphic Design, and then I sort of fell into web design (which is definitely a related discipline, but with entirely different technical considerations).

Of course, before I did the formal training, I actually did a great deal of drawing, painting, sculpture, etc. I've been drawing since I first figured out how to hold a crayon... ;-)

bonni

Message edited on: 07/14/2004 20:54

from 5 to 18: no formal training other than drawing on my own, mostly copying from comics, trying to learn to draw like Stan Lee and Mort Drucker. Worked in the theatre for 10 years, started as an actor ended up a scenic artist, lighting designer. Thought I was going to break into illustration when computer graphics came along looking for "artists" that would be willing to paint with a stylus. Worked for 8 years on one of the first Paint Box-Harry systems in the US. Then one day realized I hadn't drawn or painted anything in years and now I was called a compositor. Got out of the film biz and now working on my own project in LW. I've used Poser for Pre-Viz for Cinema work and to play around with.

mostly copying from comics, trying to learn to draw like Stan Lee and Mort Drucker. LOL!!! Me, too, but with me it was usually Stan Goldberg (Archie comics). When I draw toons, you can still see the influence really clearly, despite all the formal training and the fact that years have passed... :-) bonni

Just self tought, with lots of reading and trial and error, although I have an interest in photography for the last 45 years. Was a tech/manager of a telco for 37 years which got me into into computers in 1977. Purchasing an Amiga really got me started in CGI, Deluxe Paint etc.

Comics hand-drawer in the past. Photographer. I supose that it give a base for lights and spatial compositions. Great eater of Playboy. I supose that it give a base for body poses and searching of the sensual

Message edited on: 07/15/2004 03:51

igohigh said: Oh, forgot to mention it was my drawing the 72nd Engineers batalion at Fort Benning adopted as their official logo back in 1982....don't know if it still stand thou, my T-shirt has since disintigrated so I no longer have a sample of the "Demon Tankers" (can't actually remember what we called ourselfs either....oh, old age must be setting in...) Wait...was this an extremely detailed drawing of a bunch of guys, their baggage, and way too much other junk on top of a CEV or some other large vehicle? I bought a shirt like that back in '84 or so, and it might have been at Benning...

Yup. Been a graphic designer for 20 some years, also a keen amateur artist (that is, I make images just for the hell of it), using acrylics, pencils, pen and ink. Dabbled a little in photography, too. Most of my professional work has been with ink, pencil and Photoshop, although I used Deluxe Paint on the old Amiga for a couple of years.

Currently my non-computer gear is gathering dust with the promise that I'll start throwing paint around again "any day now". My art background was a definite plus when it came to using Poser. It helps to understand at least the rudiments of composition, framing, colour and light. Anatomy is also a damn good way to learn how to pose your figures, too.

Message edited on: 07/15/2004 13:52