Hello everyone!
I've played with computer-assisted imagery for as long as I've had a scanner and a copy of Paint Shop Pro (which, in those days, was before Corel bought out JASC). I used to regularly participate in contests on a well-known Photoshop site and my images tended to place very well. I also used to create graphics for various DOOM levels. But until 2013, the only realistic CGI-specific software I used was Terragen, and I used that mainly to create more pleasing skies to replace dull skies that ruined otherwise good photographs.
The artwork you see in my gallery is all current, and created in DAZ Studio. My usual post-processing tools nowadays are Wingnut's Lo-Fi and GIMP. I use Lo-Fi mainly for the film textures, and GIMP for all other work. I'm the only person I know who continues to use Lo-Fi, and one of the few worldwide who still use it at all, but I love that basic little program too much to upgrade to one of Alien Skin's current products. When I need custom textures I use either Genetica or Filter Forge.
Most of my images fall within fantasy or sci-fi genres, with a bit of humor wherever possible. I am a guitarist, and often include musical references in my visuals. I deliberately try to include ambiguity in my narrative images to intrigue you so that you can decide what will happen next in the scene. I think it's fun for you to think about what might happen next and resolve the suspense for yourself. I'm a hobbyist, not a trained artist, and I am grateful that I've met many people along the way who have much more talent than I do, but who were kind enough to point me in the right direction and encourage me to improve.
My favorite artists are probably on almost everyone's list here - Frazetta, the Brothers Hildebrandt, Alex Ross, Norman Rockwell, Hajime Sorayama, Rembrandt, Bouguereau, Guayasamin, James Gurney, Max Ernst, and Bosch. I love Ray Harryhausen's creature designs, particularly that Cyclops from Seventh Voyage of Sinbad, and the visual look of Ridley Scott's movies, particularly Blade Runner and Alien.
Thank you for looking at my artwork, and I hope you liked what you saw!
Comments (6)
hashdoc
Love the tone and atmosphere!
Saby55
Very cool fantasy work.
bucyjoe
great image
X-TC
...after another adventure...into the next adventure!
The atmosphere in this is freaking awesome and has got "ADVENTURE" written allover it. Jules Verne comes to mind, maybe a bit Perry Rhodan, a good portion of lone wolf western feeling, still unique all on its own.
If this was a book cover, I'd get it, no questions asked.
No need to talk about techniques when it comes to your work, Dan. You got the tools, you got the knowledge, and - most important of all - you got the imagination to transport interesting characters and their stories. For me, this is what good art should be like.
deshlab.td
In agreement with X-TC. This is an amazing image. Just want to be that "fly on the wall (smoke-stack)" and see where this is heading. Love the life you gave to the props too. Beautiful detail. Congrats MM! :)
mightymysterio
Thank you for your thoughts and comments. Much appreciated!