5/5/2015 12:25:57 PM by
Community Manager
(Edited: 5/5/2015 10:34:36 AM)
Views: 625
Artist Name:
Midnite Maruader (aka Midnite)
Artist Gallery:
http://www.renderotica.com/artists/midnite/Gallery.aspx
Artist Store:
http://www.renderotica.com/store/by-vendor/466
1) what brought you into 3D?
Actually I was into 3D since its very early stages, but I couldn't get my hands on an SGI with Alias/Wavefront on it.
So I did the next best thing. I wrote a script for an 3D animated movie for a friend’s story. This was a year BEFORE Toy Story came out. We were going to make the world's first 3D animated movie! We didn't even know Toy Story was in production. We started our own production company and I got to work with several 3D artists.
The company rented them an SGI with Alias/Wavefront, and they made several models and started doing animation. Meanwhile we made a trip over to Santa Monica because that was the only place we could find that would rent us time on their motion capture stage. We were the first people outside the company to use it.
Keep in mind this is 20 years ago, so the technology was in its infancy. Turns out it was Digital Domain, James Cameron's place. We had a digital 3D character made for us by Zygote (the predecessors of DAZ3D) and with that in play we put on the stupid little balls and did the motion capture and got to see our digital character move. It was awesome. The next day, Michael Jackson showed up with Stan Winston and Steven King to work on Ghosts.
2) How did you choose your nickname?
I've always been a nightowl. I guess it’s from all those years performing in bands, staying up all night, waking up at noon, you get the picture. Actually I acquired it back before the internet when I would login to the various BBS boards back in 1990.
3) How long have you been creating your artwork?
I dabbled a little in Lightwave on an Amiga in the early 90's, but I saw that the future was going to be on a PC so I really wanted to use that. I looked around for a way to create digital 3D art, but the only thing I could find in my price range was Poser. I had been using Fractal's Painter and I noticed they had a new product called Poser. Poser1 didn't impress me, so I waited for Poser2. I bought it when it first came out. That was around 1996 or '97 I think.
4) Where do you draw your inspirations from?
I used to really love the old HOM magazines, yeah they were nasty – but that's what made them good. Of course there was always Playboy and Penthouse. Those were at least semi-respectable, right. Mostly though I draw my inspirations from whatever gets me excited. I figure if it works on me it'll work on everybody else.
5) what are the specs of your render machine?
Right now I'm using an MSI Mobo with an i-7 Chip and 16 GB of Ram and running windows 7 Ultimate. I also have a RAID0 config on twin 2GB WD RED drives that really Smokes. I also have an SSD System drive (240GB) and a GTX 750TI Video card. When I put this thing together I also decided to go with a water cooled system that really works well, even in Arizona summers.
6) what is your favorite work you’ve created?
My Next one, ha-ha, but I guess the latest one will have to suffice. You can check it out here in the store. Anything in "the Sorority" is good, as well as the latest "Blowback" stuff. In truth, my favourite stuff to work on is my own "Betty Noir" Series, probably because it’s all me, the others are written by Sarenaph and the Wolf, respectively.
7) Out of all the various art mediums why 3D?
Originally it was because I couldn't draw that well, but I still had an eye for composition and camera angles from working as a cameraman and in various capacities for public broadcast networks and indie movie companies. Mostly though, it’s because I can realize my own fantasies without having to deal with models and other entities that can sap your creativity, you know, the creative vampires...
8) What are your plans for the future?
I really want to resurrect i-comics. It was a small relatively unknown website I created in 2002 with a bunch of International creative Bozos (I mean that in the nice way) that was centered on trying to give the visitor an interactive experience. Who knew we were on the ground floor of the motion graphics industry? We used XHTML to fly in dialog boxes, an unusual interface that frankly worked like a game, with scrolling text boxes, and flash components for animation and sound effects within each "path". Each path (storyline) had choices in certain places. You could have a different ending each time you went in, depending on which path you took. We also had actual Flash games that I developed in certain places as well. It was pretty cool, but we could never get it monetized properly. Some of the original creators in it with me are still around, and all are still good friends. Finister Foul, Razorsharp, Skyler Mystwood, and Joe Kurz (aka Jenay) were the original artists. Later we also added Phantast, two dizzy and Timo (from HipComix fame.) The new i-comics will be even more spectacular. Not only will it have full HD sized pictures, but it will include all the above and also more interactive elements, full HD movies, and some motion graphic comics as well. I have to have a place where I can do new stuff for "Gothgirl" and The "Muffy Diver, Alien Schoolgirl", ya' know. Either way it will be awesome. Stay tuned for more on this later.
9) who are your favorite artists other than yourself?
Favorite Artists? Hmm. I really like the pictures and stories that Ash (Studio AD) is doing now, but I also like 2D stuff like Gary Roberts does. I also like a lot of the artists here at Renderotica. Of course the "old school masters" of the genre are always appreciated. Probably the most influential on me would have to be Vargas, Frazetta and Sorayama.
10) If someone reading this wants to start creating their own artwork what words of advice would you give them?
Learn your craft. Watch tutorials, Study lighting. It’s all about shadows and light. Be someone whom nothing is lost upon – OK that’s James Joyce, but still... and always keep one thing in mind; "God is in the details".
11) When developing your poses, what's been your most influential source for ideas?
I just go by what I would like to see if they were real people doing it. In any good story you write, at some point the characters start influencing what you do. It’s the same with Digital 3D, you just have to get into the character's head and let them tell you what to say and how they should be posed.
12) Any hints on what your next project is going to include?
A clone of myself! No seriously – if anyone can tell me how to do this, I would greatly appreciate it. As to the next project... which one? Right now I have 3 ongoing commissions, two websites and another job (see below) that need tending. Sangre Island will continue to be a hotspot of illegal activity and a tourist trap (literally). The Sorority has a lot more sexy adventures for the freshmen – we may also setup a website just for them. Then there's I-comics? Whew! I'm going to have to hire an assistant just to keep track of it all. I'm definitely looking to put together a crew of talented artists for all this stuff, especially i-comics. OK guys we're getting the band back together again...
13) Do you have a job outside of 3D or do you consider this your full time occupation?
In my free time (read "none") I also do video editing and had my own local TV show for several years. Speaking of the band... I may also be going on the road as Video editor and Visual EFX specialist for a friend of mine's Rock band, but who knows...
14) With all the recent advancements in 3D technology what excites you the most? What do you dread the most?
I think the most exciting thing to come along in years is the development of the "real sense" camera by Intel. Apparently this thing can take pictures and video in Layers – like photoshop. It also allows the user to control objects since it can "sense" movements in 3 dimensions, like the kinect for X-box, using 22 tracking points per hand. It can also do 3D scanning, so getting a scan of your face or someone else's is a button press away. What this might mean for controlling digital 3D content and adding motion files to our characters for animation is going to become evident very soon. I've already made inroads with my contacts at Smith-Micro to put this into motion – no pun intended. What I dread the most is that people will start using it to control virtual representations of themselves, or others, that in the future will be indistinguishable from real people. Talk about your identity theft! Look-out!
15) Speech time! any final words you have for your, fans and fellow 3D community?
I never really think I have any fans – Although I know I do, I just don't get the memos – so to speak. I don't really connect with them like I would like to. I want to, but this type of work makes it hard for people to connect, in a sense it fosters anonymity and separateness. I would just like to say that if anyone wants to tell me anything or ask me anything, just email me. I'm here all the time and I check my messages, so leave me a message and I'll reply, don't be afraid to ask me anything.
