IF YOU DIDN"T KNOW IT ALREADY 'I ROCK' IT'S OFFICAL! - 27th Feb 2010

.......Well okay, only according to one person from Smith Micro (The US Mobile Software, Mobile Connectivity, Media Management and Graphics Products Company), and the makers of the brilliant 3D/CGI Software "Poser Pro".

I've been using their "Poser Pro '07" software for just a little under a year, producing CGI Art on my iMac computer, and posting it on CGI art based gallery websites. Now I've been given the prestigious honour of having my CGI ART image "Mad Maxine" used on the packaging for the soon-to-be-released software Poser Pro 2010!

The image will live on the:

• Poser Pro 2010 splash screen displayed when first starting up application
• Poser Pro 2010 “about” dialog panel inside the application
• Cover of box
• DVD labels
• Quick start guide inside package
• Manual cover
• Various promotional materials online and in print featuring the product

In every instance of the image, they will list the credit as “Mad Maxine by Paul Sutton”, in the Poser Pro 2010 Manual, and the Splash and About screens the credit will read “Hero image Mad Maxine by Paul Sutton”.

My original image concepts was produced in traditional coloured pencil in 2007. You can read the warm-up story on their website here:

http://blog.smithmicro.com/cgi-bin/bblosxom.cgi/2010/02/26#100226Poser_Pro_2010

I'm so chuffed and excited at having my image chosen, from the thousands of images that must have been produced around the world. It is such a great honour to have my work recognised in this way, and on such a high profile platform.

I'd like to thank my Dad, Cat (Charlie Jack), Judith, Caroline, Tim, John, Ty my collage art teachers Racheal & Ian for all their support and for believing in me, everybody at the Renderosity.com, DeviantART.com, ShareCG.com Galleries, and SmithMicro.com for this great honour.

YOU CAN CHECK OUT ALL MY CGI ARTWORK RIGHT HERE ON MY WEBSITE

ARTIST OF THE WEEK AT SHARECG.COM - 12th Feb 2010

It was a great honour that ShareCG.com today made me Artist of the week, and made a specially designed flash player picture gallery [See screen capture picture below] containing the best of my images, which appeared on the front page.

BELOW: This advert appeared at the top of every page telling people about my award.

A big Thank you goes to David Heller for all his support. ShareCG.com

ART CHARTS, 8th PLACE RENDEROSITY.COM.  29th March 2010

It was great news that I made the Art Charts on Renderosity.com and I came in 8th place WOW. That seems to be down to my popular 'Ultimate Pin-Ups Made in Heaven'. They seem to have caught the attention of the online community at renderosity.com, and the 15 images are getting 500 to 700 views each.

Renderosity is the leading online art community for 2D and 3D digital artists, animators, photographers and writers, and where the Membership is free!

So it looks like all my hard work is starting to pay off!

Just in case you were wondering what "Adult Barbie - Special Tattoo Edition' looks like. WARNING: CONTAINS ARTISTIC NUDITY

A special thank you goes to everyone at renderosity.com art gallery for all their comments and support.

'IMAGE OF THE WEEK' AT RUNTIMEDNA.COM - March 2010

I was recently over the moon to have two pictures selected by runtimedna.com gallery for their 'Image of The Week' and for two weeks running!

Runtime DNA is the leading high quality 3D content provider for Poser and Daz Studio 3D character animation and figure design software.

"Every week RuntimeDNA choose 4 Images from the gallery to be Official Runtime DNA Images of the Week. The images are selected on merits of overall artistic merit, creativity, use of the software involved, and just sheer coolness." That's their words not mine. Enough said.

[Image Left: Balance. Image Right: Look Below 'Ultimate Pin-Ups, Made in Heaven]

CELEBRATION OF COMPLETING 15 CLASSIC 'ULTIMATE PIN-UPS, MADE IN HEAVEN' - 21st APRIL 2010

It started out as a challenge; can I recreate that 40's, 50's, 60's Classic Pin-Ups style of Gil Elvgren in Poser Pro and Photoshop?

I found out that to re-create this pinup style was not going to be easy. The various hair styles from these era's are not available as products, but are important to the final look, and that they would make or break this series. So I started to learn how to hand-paint the hair in photoshop. It was slow to start with, but by the time I had re-created over 6 different hair styles my skills had speeded up.

I researched the style and the look on the web, read books (well okay looked at pictures) and worked on designing a pin-up logo that would capture the meaning and feel of the classic pin-up and compliment the pictures. Using a drawing pin, as a substitute for the 'I', this I believe really helps the logo to stand out on each artwork.

Finding the various classic pin-ups props from these era's was hard, but most were found; free to download and rights-free from brilliant website like sharecg.com or freestuff from renderosity.com. But others I just had to adapt or make myself, like the diver board from 'LOOKOUT BELOW', or the table from 'OVER EXPOSURE'. On some of the more difficult item/props like the draped towel in 'OVER EXPOSURE' I had to hand-painted, and during this process, I developed my own technique in photoshop to add natural shadows to already rendered skin and objects.

It would seem by the response I got from the on-line audience; that YES was the answer to my original question. This amounted to a total exceeding 15,000 picture views.

So now that I've completed 15 finished artworks it's time to move on, and in celebration of this I have put together a special gallery '15 ULTIMATE PINUPS, MADE IN HEAVEN' DISPLAYED WITH MY OWN UNQUIE FLASH POSTCARD VIEWER' Enjoy.

Here is the link to my Special Art Gallery Page: Ultimate Pinups Postcard Viewer

MY OFFICIAL 'THE RENDER GUY' BLOG ON SHARECG.COM - April 2010

ShareCG.com have asked me if I would write a regular blog on their site, of course I jumped at the chance. I hope it will be a great way of sharing my skills, thoughts, and everything CGI 3D with the very large community of CGI 3D users on this site.

ShareCG.com hosts the web's largest collection of free Computer Graphics resources including thousands of free 3D CG Models, CG Tutorials, CG Art, ...

Here's an extract from My first blog:

Titled: I'm a Poser Addict

........If you have started to read this blog then I hope to capture your continued interest, imagination and support, over the next few week, months and who knows.. years!

When I left Art College two years ago at 42 years old (not that I had been there since my teens you understand), my traditional painting tutor Ian said in his farewell speech; that he imagined I would leave painting behind me and get into 3D Art...It's now been just under a year since I picked up Daz3D Studio and Smith Micro Poser Pro, but I'm a pretty fast at learning something I'm passionate about.

Now I'm a self confessed Poser Addict! People who know me call me "The Render Guy". Don't get me wrong I'm no expert, or genius, but I have picked up some tricks and understand along the way. So in this blog I hope to share my thoughts, tips & tools of the trade and news from the world of 3D CGI.... and not forgetting my CGI 3D art.

.........................If in the meantime you have any questions or have something you wish to discuss then please get in touch.

Cheers, Paul (The Render Guy) To read more of my blogs they are available here : http://www10.sharecg.com/blogs/bobbyhowell/

MY NEW BLOG STORY ON SHARECG.COM-  10th April 2010

Just uploaded my new blog story 'Render Challenges, with Rewards and Prizes!' onto ShareCG.com

ShareCG.com hosts the web's largest collection of free Computer Graphics resources including thousands of free 3D CG Models, CG Tutorials, CG Art, ...

The story is available here to read :http://www10.sharecg.com/blogs/bobbyhowell

MAD MAXINE RELEASED!- 26th March 2010

I have produced this additional 'Mad Maxine Released' image so I can thank all the vendors that helped me realise my original vision for 'Mad Maxine' :

Vendor: Surreality Morph, Make-up and Skin Textures: Modern Muses: Bastienne

Vendor: Daz3D Model: Victoria 4.2 (Available Free)

Vendor: Aery Soul Clothes Choker: Masquerade's Eve

Vendor: Aery Soul Hair: Liltsure Long Hair v.2

Vendor: Smith Micro Software: Poser Pro 2010

I BIG THANK to you all for your wonderful and amazing products, I couldn't have done it without you.

'Mad Maxine By Paul Sutton' as used on Smith Micro's Poser Pro 2010 Packaging and Promotions.

ON THE WEB - SMITH MICRO SOFTWARE BLOG - 31st March 2010.

Connect with Poser Pro 2010 through deviantART

The first time I heard about Facebook, I had just started college. I asked what it was and the people who were talking about it looked at me like I was an alien. Fast forward several years, and social networking is, as they say, here to stay. (Who are they anyway?)

Of course, there are social networking sites for whatever you're into. Whether you're a karaoke singer or fan of the mustache, there is a place for you. If you're an artist, a great social network is deviantART. That's where we connected with Paul Sutton, the artist who created Mad Maxine, the image on the new Poser Pro 2010 box. After Poser Pro 2010 came out, he did this image with the new software, called Mad Maxine Released. Paul is also a rhythm guitarist in a band and has done several Pink Floyd tribute concerts. I wonder if there's a social network for that too.

Taken from: SMITH MICRO SOFTWARE BLOG, Please click here for more information

ON THE WEB - SMITH MICRO SOFTWARE BLOG - 25th Feb 2010.

A Poser Pro 2010 makeover

   Before and after testimonials are always fun. From reality TV to weight loss commercials, they make a pretty big splash. How many times have you watched Extreme Makeover: Home Edition and not gotten a little teary-eyed? It must be something about seeing a happy family running around their backyard-turned-lagoon. But do before and afters translate into good and bad? (Or as The Boss might say, Good versus Evil?) It's just change. It's just different.

In that spirit, here is the art that inspired the box art for Poser Pro 2010. It's done in colored pencil by Paul Sutton, who, among other things, has a cat, an affinity for chocolate, and a knack for creating art in Poser Pro. His creation Mad Maxine, is even more amazing than this original image.

Smith Micro Software releases Poser Pro 2010 in March, but there are a few things I can show off before then. Tomorrow I'll post the final art for the box of Poser Pro 2010 and more about the artist, Paul Sutton.

Taken from: SMITH MICRO SOFTWARE BLOG, Please click here for more information

ON THE WEB - SMITH MICRO SOFTWARE BLOG - 26th Feb 2010.

Mad Maxine's new look with Poser Pro 2010

I'm pretty sure I know more than a few guys who would be jealous of Paul Sutton. And while I'd like to believe it's all because his art is on the Poser Pro 2010 box, I think it's more likely because he has had drinks with Danica Patrick while she was racing in the U. K.

Before Paul Sutton got into creating 3D art with Poser Pro, he worked with his brothers at Sutton Motorsport Images as a motorsport photographer while teaching himself web design. After working there for 15 years, he left to pursue an education in painting and art history in London.

What surprised me was when Paul told me he did his first render in Poser Pro on April 15, 2009. While it's clear that Paul is a talented artist, it's also clear that Poser Pro can create amazing art and its learning curve isn't as steep as I initially assumed. I'm certainly not saying 3D illustration is easy, but Poser Pro makes it look that way.

The original piece created with Poser Pro will be featured in the gallery on Smith Micro's Poser web site, which will open in March with the release of Poser Pro 2010. Nicely done Paul!

Taken from: SMITH MICRO SOFTWARE BLOG, Please click here for more information

60,000+ Image Views at Renderosity.com  - 2nd May 2010

Today I reached a milestone of 60,000 image views for my Artwork & CGI 3D Gallery on Renderosity.com I joined just under a year ago on May 6th 2009, more stats below.....

Renderosity is the leading online art community for 2D and 3D digital artists, animators, photographers and writers, and where the Membership is free!

Members can create their own Art Gallery, Profile, Home Page, and join-in the Online Forums. There are also hundreds of turorials, and over 25,000 Searchable Free Stuff made available by the online community. To find out more please vist:Renderosity.com

I would like to thank the art community at Renderosity for their support of my pictures and for all their comments, and favorites, and I look forward to the next year ahead! I added the moving Mad Maxine .gif to my avatar. Click here to visit: Paul Sutton's Renderosity Home Page

Little Plastic Men  - 22nd June 2010

FIFA World Cup Football is upon us, and to celebrate this, I have produced a very English 3D/CGI art work in honor of those Little Plastic Men... Subbuteo.

I was over joyed that the website www.littleplasticmen.co.uk liked my artwork enough to feature is on their Accessories page. (Feature Link)

Little Plastic Men Online is an extension of the main LPM Subbuteo website at www.littleplasticmen.co.uk and here you can browse and purchase the popular hand painted LPM Football teams and accessories as they become available as well as vintage Subbuteo teams and accessories from the LPM personal collection from the 1970's and 80's that will be sold over the next 12 months or so.

So if you are interested in re-living your football dreams why not check them out...They would also make a great present for a football fan!

Image Details:....Trouble on the pitch as a footballers girlfriend confronts player about a red bra she has found in the car!

Made my own Subbuteo footballer plastic stand, football kit, pitch, red card, etc... ideas, concepts, poses, by me. Enjoy! PS Postwork, (Single render) Poser Pro 2010, iMac, Thanks for looking, Paul.