I have been asked a few times how I achieve the look of my work and what platform(s) I use to create my style. First, let me say that I by no means feel like I have perfected anything and I am also aware that there are so many artists out there who make me look like a kid with construction paper and a crayon. I do love what I do though and because I was asked more than once felt this a good place to share a little of how I do it.

I started the process of developing the style of my art more than three years ago. I had always wanted to get into digital art since I have been painting and drawing most of my life. The funny thing is that my selected form of painting is pastel and my art, I think, reflects that a little. Over the years I had tried several times to learn different programs when I finally found that I could actually use Daz Studio. At first, the lighting thing gave me fits but after a few really terrible renders I started making progress. I got even better at it when I discovered emissive lighting.

For a time a made a monthly mag and produced a spread of one girl in various poses. I made 12 of those issues. I reviewed Adult Visual Novels, featured artist, like Amy Matthews, in interviews and wrote articles about 3D digital art and erotica. It was a lot of fun but a lot of work which kept me from really exploring my own art and stories. But, it did help me refine my skills, especially since the rig I used was not the most robust and so much of my results were dependent on my abilities with Photoshop.

As my style came into its own, I learned that my blossoming style was dependent on the grainier renders my system produced. The Photoshop action I used predominately then and still do now seems to love some grit in the render. This became challenging when I got a new rig that can complete renders in minutes compared to hours and in much higher quality. This made me step back and come at it with a renewed approach to my art, and what took me three years was quickened as I found a new way to produce a more unique look, which I am exploring now.

You see I love the illustrated look. I feel its unique when compared to other artist who produce Daz renders. Don’t get me wrong, many of those artist make astounding art that is so perfect and detailed. It’s beautiful, but I felt like I wanted my art to be more about my aesthetic then trying to copy those fantastic artists. For me, old school Jonny Quest, the art of Boris Vallejo, and various other artists who create art in a style that is not as predominate in the 3D digital art medium is what appeals most to me. I like the grit of an illustration and want to capture that with what I do.

As far as how I get a Daz render to look like an illustration, it really is about how the scene is lit and about the post-work in Photoshop. I use one main action and the rest is by combining various filters, hand painting and adjusting values to get it to look the way it does. Sometimes its a hit and sometimes its a miss, but I am becoming more and more consistent with the style now then I ever was before. Overall, where I am right now with my art has been a three year journey and I plan to continue creating art and stories for the rest of my life. It is who I am.