My artistic life in as few a words as Possible.
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Before my first computer (a Macintosh 1600, one of the first of the so called Power PC's Apple put out), I did pen and ink work on my regular spot...  this being the steps of the First Presbyterian Church across the street from San Francisco's "Hard Rock Cafe".  I used to tell people I was between a Place and a Hard Rock  (I know, it didn't get any laughs then either) but after a few days sales skyrocketed.   As I got better, and MUCH quicker, at doing ink drawings of Wolves, Bears and other High end Animal Predators sales was a never ending sequence of 20 minutes of drawing (and making between 10 and 20 dollars in the time it took to make a picture ,because of people stopping to watch me draw and giving contributions of not less than a dollar at a time) and taking less than 10 or 20 minutes to sell them at the cheap price of 20 dollars, I was averaging about 40 to 60 dollars an hour on the street or my church steps.   To aid me, and because the police frowned on anyone standing or sitting in one spot, the church gave me an exclusive, signed and stamped letter saying I could be there 24 hours of the day.   At the time, and because I was then homeless,  I ended up not only drawing but eating sleeping and conducting all sales from that spot.
    Soon the word spread and people started to call me the "Wolf Man" because I could turn out a great wolf drawing in about 10 minutes, tops.   People would order pictures in the mornings and come back to pick them up on their lunch breaks or on their way back home in the evening.  Â
    Sadly at the time I had a bad addiction to some of San Francisco's finest drugs.   I would start drawing at 5 in the morning and end about 2 in the next morning.   As you can see I was not getting very much sleep but I was, how shall I put it, DRIVEN to do as much as I could and with the amount of money I was able to make kept not only my habit but those of a few "friends", if that is what you could call them.   When one makes about 500 dolars a day and can't even afford to rent a room then I say that is a SAD state to find one in.   My so called friends loved it..  I on the other hand started to feel like a hamster ion a tread wheel.   All that running and I got absolutely no where.   My state of mind because of the drugs and lack of sleep caused me to have a slight break with reality and so I eventually ended up in the state mental health programs.   I was already bipolar but when I started to get mad at people that were not there the outside world began to take notice and the church folk who supported me in my art endevours decided I needed help.  One day while screaming at the top of my lungs at someone that only I could see the church, which was having a Sunday school meeting inside decided that I fit the police description of what is called in California a 51-50..  A person that is in danger of hurting themselves or others because of a mental problem.   After the police arrived and sent me off to the hospital for 6 months of observation and treatment I was released.    Though I was making a lot of money I had come to realise that I could never get clean in San Francisco so I went to the coast hiway and left.  I made it just 90 miles that first day and ended up in Santa Cruz, California..  I had become determined to beat this problem of mine and though I would always be somewhat biPolar I knew that I must stop all drug use..  I did really good and though I didn't make as much for my artwork here (I wasn't driven by the drugs anymore) I did alright.   One thing lead to another and I soon met my wife.   About a year or so later we had our first child and my life settled down a lot.  I have continued to remain drug free for the last 15 years and now have a beautiful, and VERY smart daughter.   It was the best thing I have ever done.   I then dscovered the computer and photoshop.Â
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I have been doing this for about 12 years now. Â Â Started out on Bryce 2 (not counting Photoshop) and went all the way through the most modern versions. Â Â I picked up a copy of Poser 3 along the way and at first was not too happy with my inability to understand how to use it. Â At first I just used it to populate Bryce pictures but then I started to catch on to a lot more of the possibilities that this program contained. Â Â As my use increased my understanding of what was possible with Poser. Â Â I am now so addicted that I have bought every upgrade that has come out. Â Â As with Poser, most of the other programs I have bought along the way have been a real challenge. Â Â I have (regretably) given up on most and remained with only Poser. Â
   I invite you all to partake of my gallery and, PLEASE, read the stories as well.   They give a whole other dimension to the pictures themselves.  Â
Life has become a totally different thing for me now.  I Own a very nice two story home on 3 acres, I have helped my wife start her business (she is a great animal groomer and a vetinary technician and my daughter is going to a College preparitory school, well on her way to a university of her choice (gets all straight A's and A+'s)  so I would say what ever  God there may be has smiled heavily upon me.   My health is not great but Hopefully I won't up and die in the next couple of years and my family is set for life.  On this note  I will end this little story and give my wish that you all stay healthy and safe and keep on doing your artworks as well...  Luv, GENE
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Comments (28)
MineFujiko
Great composition!!
genefleeman
First picture that has came to me in over a week. I don't know what is wrong but I have lost a lot of my motivation lately and ideas are not coming as easy as they used to. Hopefully things will get better, I think I am just very tired and have been passing out a lot lately from the Sleep Apnia problems I have. It's funny, sometimes I feel great and get plenty of good sleep at night so I am wide awake all day and other times I have a hard time sleeping well because of the Sleep Apnia so I am on the verge of having my conscious, waking state of mind totally out of whack.. I just can't stay awake and sit here in front of the computer with my head nodding and sometimes I wake up with my forehead on the keyboard and my computer making some really odd dinging sounds... if it wasn't so maddening it would almost be comical. Of course any picture i happen to be working on gets totally screwed up and I have to change everything back to the pre unconscious condition only to have it happen again as soon as I get it fixed.. What a WORLD, what a world!!! Anyway I hope you like this one as I may not be able to finish another for a week or so.. Hopefully NOT but I am not going to bet on it...Have a good week and see ya all when I see ya again.... gene
drifterlee
Fantastic scene!
Roboman28
Unusual point of view. Nice clear render and colours. Beautiful work.
Chaosphoto
This is a very beautiful image Gene. I have fallen asleep on my keyboard a few times and the best thing to do is get up go look in a mirror and see how many key impressions you can count on your face hehe. It makes the bizzarre stuff that happened while face typing in your sleep a bit funnier :).
BIGBEAR1965
Very cool scene! Awesome colors and details, Very nicely done!
shadownet
This is awesome!
mgtcs
WOW....Splendid composition, perfect lighting and fine attention to details, excellent work!
bazza
Wow this is wonderful Gene great story and image to match, wonderful lighting also. Poor old mouse being deprived of his morsel.. sorry to hear of your sleeping problems Its no wonder that ideas and stories are not coming to you as they use too, hope you feel on top again soon Mate..
alessimarco
Wow...a lot going on in this scene....great work! And hope your sleep...and your muse....returns!
Grimslade
enjoyed the story, and the scene came out great; fantastic work Gene!
renecyberdoc
maybe its also the weather conditions i dont know in wich region you live. sorry brother. a fine and decent work and a brilliant lighting.
lyron
Excellent render!!!
fallen21
Beautiful scene.
kelvinhughes
excellent gene my friend well done
tamburro
Fantastic composition!!!!
Tracesl
fantastic and wonderfully detailed scene, excellent
SIGMAWORLD
Excellent image!
adrie
Fantastic scene and story, excellent work.
2121
stunning scene, the colours and textures are amazing as always
RodolfoCiminelli
Splendid and fabulous realization my friend.....!!!!
Pierrot_Lunaire
Awesome scene and great composition! 10+
bakapo
this is amazing, the point of view is fantastic. the details are great, too, the more I look at this scene, the more I see! please take care of that sleep problem, sleep is important.
morganahope
WOW.... GENE ... WONDERFUL ...
Indiskeyes
This is a great picture! I do so enjoy your beautiful art and wonderful stories. I hope you can get your sleep apnea under control and be well.
PhilW
Beautifully done - great colour and detail!
ArtistKimberly
ºO•-)•––––––––•(-• •°• °• Brilliant work •°•°• •-)•––––––––•(-•Oº
ollienorthie
love the detail