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)
ksmith3620
Yep, that's an "ulp" moment. But it is funny how her name badge says Anna though...looks like an HR trap. Oh well, if you're going to be accused, might as well enjoy the view. Nice job on this!
dbwalton
LOL... I had a union represented secretary who was always saying men were looking at her will ill intentions. She was the biggest headache of my career. (And, she wasn't that pleasant too look at. I think it was her way of dealing with her insecurities.)
Then there was this lady in a neighboring department who always wore short dresses with fancy stockings and garters (yes, they'd show every once in a while) and low-cut tops. Years later I asked another manager what ever happened to her. He rolled his eyes, and I had to ask why he rolled his eyes.
He asked if I remember how she dressed. (Of course, a guy would have to be completely blind not to notice because she was often in the break room fixing a cup of coffee.) He said she took another job, and commented how it was a good thing. I asked why it was a good thing. He said because she was always making HR complaints about guys looking at her.
By the way, I like the Pontiac-looking avatar you have. I'm a Pontiac guy.
ksmith3620
Yep, I hear ya. Thank you! I love the 1967 Pontiac GTO the most. My dad had one for a few years and was a volunteer firefighter at the time as well. This was back around early 70's. So he had red and blue bulbs and a siren put into the grill and when the call went out, he'd go tearing across town in that midnight blue GTO, with the red and blue flashers going and the siren blaring. I LOVED that car. It got wrecked with us in it around 77 or so and he sold it. I still miss that car to this day. The one in my avatar is a 65 model that I found on here and was my very first 3d render.
dbwalton
My favorite uncle had a Grand Prix that was metalic green. He loved that car and one evening slipped me the keys and $20 (which was a lot of money back then) and said, "Go have some fun." After driving it, I fell in love with it too.
I currently own a 2007 Grand Prix - fully loaded. It's a very nice touring car. It's seen every inch of Route 66, and some of it more than once.
generation2235
Appears to me their HR department doesn't really want to hire, what with a tricky setup like that.
dbwalton
When you work for a company with heavy government regulations, you'd be amazed at the training they put you through.
Every year I had to take a stupid class test about climbing ladders. I told my boss, "I don't climb ladders at work. Why do I have to waste 1 hour every year with this stupid class and test?"
"CYA", was his answer.
"Sexual Harassment" training was an absolute joke. Either you know how to treat people with respect, or you don't. Perhaps it was their way of weeding out the ones who didn't get it.
I even had a boss who got busted for sexual harassment (and well deserved). I told Scott Adams, and then he runs a strip about a manager busted for sexual harassment and gives him the same first name!!! Tim! I wrote him back and said, "You called him Tim!!! Aren't you worried about repercussions?"
Scott answered that he wasn't because Tim is a very common name. (palm-slap to the forehead)
mich40ish
Love her, Walton!!
dbwalton
Thanks.