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 (13)
doarte
you are the master of the birds, and this image only defines your amazing skills
Ken _Gilliland
thank-you,... I'm not sure I deserved that much praise since I'm practically the only 3D artist that does do birds... but I'll take the praise nonetheless.. lol
Greywolf44
This is one mini-raptor that I have never seen. Wonderful coloration. I was just wondering how you are going to market your new raptors. Are you going to have separate sets of falcons, hawks and eagles and how many in each set? Just trying to figure out how best to spend my money (LOL).
Ken _Gilliland
It's probably not appropriate for me to talk in detail here (at Rendo) about my product lines, but here's the overview of my "Birds of Prey"... it will be divided into 4 volumes, "Kestrel, Hobbys & Falcons", "Hawks of the Old World", "Hawks of the New World" and "Eagles of the World".
PointLady
What a spectacular scene you have set these little falconets in and they look striking in their black and white plumage. Jan
miwi
Klasse image,like it!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
flavia49
marvellous picture and model
Kerya
I love the depth of this picture - and of course your birds!
adorety
Very cool bird and the feathers look great. Excellent render.
BE
Another great bird! Love your birds. :)
Kinchie
What a fine beauty! most interesting
Cyve
Excelent job.
alamo76
Does anyone know where exactly the fig branch comes from?
Ken _Gilliland
It's one of my older models. It has some sloppy geometry in it so I haven't release it. Perhaps, I'll take a look at it again and see what needs fixing, I'm going to be reworking and updating "Perching Places" this summer do that's a possibility to include there.
alamo76
Thanks so much for the ultra-rapid response. For whatever it is worth, I have not acquired Perching Places yet, because it didn't look it like it would translate particular well to modern renders with Daz studio, as it would likely be used in very close up viewing. If you are looking into what you might update next, I would love an update to Birds of Legend. I enjoy your work tremendously.
Ken _Gilliland
Birds of Legend and Flamingos are next on the "to update" list, Perching Places will feature cleaned up geometry and 4K textures once its updated. I "hope" to have the rest of catalog updates by the end of the year
alamo76
I also learn more from you than from any other vendor, as I learn a lot about the natural world from your products.