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)
shadownet
And that my friend is the true secret of success in life! :O)
genefleeman
To all of us that may not be pretty...... luv ya and stay just like you are .... gene
joe123
You are correct, character is more important that appearance, but size matters too.
Xanthmann
Amen!
mgtcs
Excellent composition, amazing render!
Mavrosh
I bet he has lots of money... This must be it... laughs Seriously... the most attractive surface counts nothing when the heart is ugly. Great work!
c7e2y8j4
Terrific work as always. If that is the case for that is the way I am, where are all the women? LOL Love your work as always!!
njb2000
Hes a big chap and I bet he looks after those ladies!
kelvinhughes
you do relise self portraits arent allowed Gene lol well done my friend
Roboman28
Nice picture. Superb collection of babes. I suspect the babes would settle for the pretty, rich sports hero with the Rolls Royce, fancy clothes and the penthouse in the Bahamas. I'm never going to be very rich so will have to settle for the spirit of reciprocity. However if I had a choice I would probably choose differently.
willpee
This is great !!! and well said
alessimarco
Well done!!!
bakapo
beauty of the heart is more important than beauty of the skin, I agree. this is a cool image, everyone so different and all so beautiful.
jocko500
I your friend and thank you for being my friend i
BIGBEAR1965
Beautiful work my friend, and most excellent words to live by!
lyron
Great scene!!!
bazza
Lovely work on this one Gene, how true this is, very well done, Its the old saying If you want to have friends you must show yourself friendly..
Indiskeyes
This is wonderful work in both render and the truth it speaks. Thank you.
renecyberdoc
besides the scene wich is a fantastic work by itself the words ar really well chosen.show respect and you will own respect.very nice.
Tracesl
excellent
RodolfoCiminelli
Wonderful and creative fantasy my friend....!!!!
2121
excellent
morganahope
IMPRESSIVE SCENE !!
Pierrot_Lunaire
Great work as great are you words! As I said you time ago, I think that you are a great digital artist and a great generous person! 10+ to your works!
SIGMAWORLD
Well done!
PhilW
Wonderful characters in this - great sentiments too!
ArtistKimberly
ºO•-)•––––––––•(-• •°• °• Brilliant work •°•°• •-)•––––––––•(-•Oº
flashone
Damn, so true and sooo nice!! Absolutely gorgeous work.