As an artist, I do four things; Oils on Canvas (Social Commentary), Drawings of National Parks, Photography of Birds and California Native Plants and 2D/3D Digital.
Since most here will be interest in digital work, I'll talk about that. I started in the digital world with a TI-99/4a computer in the early 1980's and immediately started creating art and animation with a very limited graphic range in hexadecimal code (16 colors, 256 shapes). I eventually became a published artist for Asgard Software and a year later when out on my own to form “Notung Software” which became on of the most popular TI Software companies. In 2010, I was inducted in the TI-99/4a Hall of Fame.
After making my switch to the PC, I started with Sketcher (the precursor to Painter) and even owned Fractal Design's "Poser 1". I didn't start seriously playing with Poser until Version 3 came around. With the advent of Poser 4, I began by creating textures and started a career as a digital artist, selling my work through Zygote, Vista, DAZ3D, Hivewire3D and Renderosity.
I really didn’t find my nitch in the 3D world until I partnered with BL Render to do the Songbird ReMix Series in 2003. The following year, I came into my own blending my love and knowledge of birds with a strong environmental theme "Threatened, Endangered, Extinct". That set, designed specifically to raise awareness about threatened species and why they're going extinct, became a template for all my work.
Since then I’ve steadily worked on improving my skills with Painter and Modo, and of course, producing more 3D birds and other flora and fauna with a strong environmental message. Today, the Songbird Remix birds have appeared in films such as ”I am Legend”, in Audubon literature and advertising, Duncraft (bird product & seed) advertising, in the museum presentations (such as the National Wildlife Research Center of Saudi Arabia) and even billboards and bus benches for the Omaha Reads promotions.
Besides being a Renderosity Vendor, I work at home as a freelance artist/photographer and also volunteer/lecture at the Theodore Payne Foundation (a Foundation that focuses a native plant awareness) and at Audubon California.
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Comments (7)
drifterlee
Gorgeous!!! I thought it was a photo!
PointLady
So well done Ken, I am with DrifterLee, it does look so real. Very striking bird. Congratulations on finally using the bird you made the African Pak for, must have a look at it. Jan
kenwas
Great job!
BonBonish
Beautiful artwork!
rjghise
Beautiful. Gorgeous textures.
Ken _Gilliland
Thanks for the comments! Usually I do a little spiel about the bird in my imagery-- forgot this time-- so here it goes... Red and Yellow Barbets are found in Southwestern Sudan, South Ethiopia, Somalia, Northeastern Uganda, Kenya and North Tanzania. Barbets do not migrate. They live in riverine forests, woodlands, thickets and moist brush from sea level to 1300m. They live on termites and other insects; sometimes crawling directly into the big termite mounds for food. Barbets get their name from the bristles which fringe their heavy bills. This distinctive bird graces the front cover of two most popular Africa Bird Field guides and was the primarily reason Songbird ReMix Africa came to be.
Guineapigmom
Very nicely done! I like the way the bird dominates the scene.