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.
Comments (16)
drgnmztr
This is adorable. Perfect postcard and even for framing.
PointLady
Wonderful idea for an image. Well done. Jan
Sue88
"Mine! Mine! Mine!" LOL That's a great image. Not only the topic, but the lighting, render, and colors, too. :)
Ken _Gilliland
Funny-- "Mine! Mine! Mine!" was going through my head when I created it
kftate
Adorable!! Excellent work!!
kelvinhughes
Mine sweeping lol excellent image ken
Kerya
Give me, give me, give me! LOL - Great picture!
jclP
funny,cool scene & compo,good work
ragouc
Very good pose and render.
Umbetro38
a fantastic Idea - cool
jgmart
This is wonderful Ken - that's an awesome set of Songbirds!
Flint_Hawk
Wonderful idea & render!
Schnuck
Excellent scene!!!
lingrif
Wonderful image!
Burpee
Lol!!!! This is fantastic Ken!
novelist
Wonderful scene. Perfect setting. I like how each one has its own personality. I love all the birds you create.