Retired professional full-time portrait artist and engineer (degrees in mathematics, engineering and photography... go figure).
If you read bios, and sometimes revisit them, you'll know in 2018 I was diagnosed with myasthenia gravis. Then, in 2020, a new neurologist (because I moved across country) diagnosed me as having Parkinson's. Then, after some serious issues with jerking movements, she sent me to a movement specialist, and NOW this new neurologist who specializes in movement disorders has said I don't have MG, MS, ALS, Parkinson's, or any other host of neuromuscular diseases. She classified the movements as non-essential tremors, and said, "My hardware is over loading my software." That's the 2022 diagnosis.
2023 Update - It turns out that I have a half-dozen discs in my spine that are collapsing. Thus, Degenerative Disc Disease, or DDD for short. I never knew that DDD could cause tremors (well, the pain causes them) and stuff like that. Now I go to physical therapy 4 days a week to hopefully avoid spinal surgery.
I've got high hopes and remain positive.
I started doing 3D renders in DAZ and Poser started when I first became sick at the start of 2018. It is a distraction from my symptoms, and I'm not under any pressure or deadlines to get things done. Even this is difficult on some days, but I can always stop temporarily to get some rest. In July, 2020, my wife and I moved across country to be closer to children and grandchildren.
If I'm not cooking or preparing for a meal, I'm rendering. Art and food are my passions.
I used to enjoy travel, bicycling, cooking (which I can still do in short bursts), photography (again, in short bursts), hiking and painting (which I now do digitally). I'm determined to do something with my time even if my strength is greatly limited.
Just prior to getting sick I drove ALL of Route 66. I've been using some of the photos from that trip and adding 3D characters to them. You can see them in my Route 66 gallery here on Renderosity. You can actually follow the story at Route66Photographers.com. It's a fictional story about my travels with a rambunctious young lady named Charly.
My wife is my biggest supporter. She helps me come up with ideas to render and paint.
Brent's Rules to Live By...
1) Everyone can teach you something regardless of age or education.
2) When you're down, a child's smile will always lift you up.
3) Keep God's commandments, as best you can, but when you can't, repent quickly.
4) Read your scriptures daily, but pray all the time.
5) Love everyone, but don't expect anything from them in return.
Artist of the Month - December, 2021
https://www.renderosity.com/article/24824/interview-with-december-2021-artist-of-the-month-dbwalton
Comments (4)
Kordouane
But if you switch to a smaller house, will you have room for such a device? I admire your courage and I understand why you're so prolific. For my part, first of all, I must not lose my eyesight because it would complicate my life and that of my husband who also has health problems. At the moment, I'm just doing half an hour on the computer and two hours of resting my eyes.
dbwalton
My wife has designed our new house with a room just for my chair and computer set up. The house will also have 4-foot wide doorways in the event I'm every stuck in a wheelchair, no stairs, and fixtures and appliances that are easily accessible.
dbwalton
Are your eyesight issues due to macular degeneration? If so, have you considered Eylea shots?
My wife has wet macular degeneration and takes Eylea shots every 3-4 weeks, as well as taking Bausch & Lombs AREDS II supplements.
Digital_Dames
mission control .. looks like it would defiantly cover all bases for you bro!
Greywolf44
Sorry about your situation, DBW, but at least you have found something that keeps your mind active and creative. I'm not sure how old you are, but for a lot of people that were active for most of their lives, the simple act of retirement can put them in a tail spin with no way of recovery. I am really lucky that after my retirement several years ago, I've had my art work (and my cat) to keep me mentally sharp. Most people would argue about HOW sharp I really am, but that's another story! No more armchair philosophy, just hang in there, do what you love for as long as you can do it and everything else will work itself out.