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Zachary
Humway is a familiar name to anyone who has been around the
Caligari website for the last few years. His images frequently
show up in the monthly gallery, quite often as winners too.
Zachary's repeated presence in the gallery is thanks in part
to his skill at making artistic images, with an almost painted
look to them. With no trace of the "cold" look that
can often haunt a rendered image, Zachary sets out to tell
stories and impart messages with his artwork.
Interested in how he could create so many great pieces, we
interviewed him to find out more about the man and his art!
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| Discovering
3D
Everyone is different in how they discover
3D and how they can
use it.
"I was forced into computer graphics when I went to
work for KAIT-TV in Jonesboro, AR in 1998." Zachary told
us. "I had very little experience but quickly learned
what exactly Photoshop was and what it meant for television
producers."
"I used it primarily for full-screen CG. A small gig
I had at the time was a 30 second spot called 'What's the
Word.' It was a commercial of sorts that picked a 'word of
the week,' defined it and gave meaning to it."
"One day I didn't have time to go out and shoot for
the program, so I opted for an in-house production. I stumbled
onto Bryce 4 on the graphics computer and started whipping
out animations within an hour or two. It left a very memorable
impression on me...one that would come back to me about 2
years afterwards when I saw that same software in a catalogue." |
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A
Matter of Style
Given his unique and almost painterly-style,
we wondered if Zachary had ever rendered 'conventional' 3D images
that most people start with.
"We all have to start somewhere. I remember the bulk of my
earlier works were simply experimental...and to a degree they still
are. We learn something new with every piece. In my earlier works
I was fascinated and compelled to produce typical images of 'reflective
spheres' and 'water plains.' I think it's necessary as a form of
3d evolution: To feel and express that way light reacts with our
world with the simplest of expressions. So, I did several relfective
primitives and odd-shaped terrains in the beginning. I think it's
imperative for any 3d artist to begin that way and follow the inspiration
up!"
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The
Tools and Techniques
Thinking about that unique style that
he achieves, we asked Zachary if he had any tips for getting
away from the 'cold' look of many renderings, to the warm
look of his works.
"Style is extremely important to me as an artist. I
think we all struggle at some time or another with "making
the piece our own." In order to give each of my pieces
a "hands-on" feel, I incorporate a good deal of
matte painting in Photoshop. Put shortly, I apply layers over
each render and do some good, old fashioned painting. Depending
on what I want to bring out, I'll use different blending modes:
For atmospheric (volumetric) lighting effects, I'll use "soft
light." For shadows, "multiply." I also use
"overlay" liberally to help unify colors/palettes
as well as enhancing lighting in the scene. It's been described
as "painterly," and that's just what it is!
At heart, I'm a lover of light and atmosphere, and I adore
how it can react with the 3d world you've created for yourself.
My object is usually not one of photorealism, but a sense
of "Hyper-reality." I think it's that surrealism
that makes it all so much more interesting." |
Where
Does It All Come From?
With some insight into the 'how', now we asked
Zachary about the 'why' - what drives him and inspires him when
creating his artwork?
"Inspiration is an absolute MUST nowadays. In my past, I could
simply sit down and do any little thing my heart desired. As it
stands today, I absolutely MUST have something that 'needs to be
said.' All of us, as 3d artists, are fascinated/inspired to exceed
our grasp with each new render. For me, it's often been the idea
of expressing a universal thought with a single snapshot from my
brain."
" This challenge keeps me focused with every piece I develop.
This is also the reason I never save models or specifically created
textures from any given artpiece. I believe each should stand alone...and
that is why I take great pride in deleting all project files after
each piece is completed! Like us, I feel ideas come from dust and
return to dust. The buddhists call this intemperance...I call it
'the condition of being.' "
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Cage, Or A Freedom?
It would seem that 3D could be quite
limiting for someone with Zachary's artistic approach. Does
he find he has to fight against the CAD, design or technical
illustration mindset and toolset in much of 3D?
"To be perfectly honest, I've always wanted to be an
artist; However, I faced the dilemma early on that I could
not draw, sculpt, paint or even take a photograph to save
my life. One thing I could do, however, is 3d modeling."
"I'm deeply concerned that society as a whole views
computer art as shallow, or simply 'not art at all.' There's
a collective notion that the computer does all the art, and
the artist simply boots up the computer and lets it work for
them. Of course, we all know this to be false. As far as technique,
expression and form, the digital artist is every bit as adapt
as Dali or Kahlo in his/her own right. I see digital art,
respectively, as equal as any medium...and only a select few
can truly make it shine."
Adding
the Fourth Dimension
"I sincerely try to avoid animating
for the simple fact that
expressing a particular thought is more challenging in a single
snapshot than in an animation." Zachary told us, when
we asked if he had ever thought of making an animation.
"Edgar Allen Poe believed that a great literary piece
should be read in a |
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single sitting. Likewise, I try to produce
an image that is stimulating enough to burn itself in the viewers
brain and curious enough to linger and cause change."
The
Man Behind The Art
"I grew up with bi-polar disorder and
a high I.Q. (baggage enough for anyone). I had a horrible tendency
to see much more than anyone else around me. Frustrating as it was,
I had everything to share, and no one to share it with." Zachary
said when we asked about himself and his life.
" I resorted to writing at an early age. Because of my artistic
limitations, I could not express myself fully in the way I truly
wanted to. Still today, digital art remains more a form of therapy
than a hobby. I could no more live without breathing than to sustain
without the craft."
| Changes
We wondered what Zachary saw as changing
in 3D art in the future.
"I see 3d art changing dramatically in the next 10 years.
I think new modeling tools, coupled with enhanced hardware
specs will get 3d artists closer to reproducting their worlds
easier and with less hassle than ever. I think improvements
in texture mapping, particle effects, radiosity and fractal
generation will yield more photorealistic environments with
greater ease and very STIMULATING results in a fraction of
the time it takes us nowadays. Personally, I can't wait!"
2D
Or Not 2D
"The only time I work strictly
in 2D than 3D is when I'm cranking out a brochure or postcard
for our business." Zachary replied when we asked if he
worked in 2D at all. "It's always fun and lighthearted
for me to endeavor on these projects...after all, it's just
business, not personal :P"
"Now, I can't say I do much work
as far as traditional 2D rendering. Like I said before, I
can't draw a one-armed stickfigure to save my life. The limit
to my 2D work is strictly the matte painting I apply to each
render." |
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A
Thousand Words
Zachary had mentioned his strong literary
background, so we asked how this affected his artwork.
"Because my second major was English, a good deal of
literary devices color each and every one of my artworks.
I'm steeped in the tradition of symbolism, foreshadowing and
storytelling in general. To the best of my ability, I try
to incorporate that same tradition into every thing I produce.
The quickest way to realize this is to examine the title of
each piece and ask 'how does it relate to what I am seeing?'
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If
Then Else
It's clear that 3D plays a fundamental and
important role in Zachary's life. What if there was no 3D software
though, how would he express himself then?
"If I didn't have the ability to express myself in 3d, I
would likely revert back to writing. Writing is the simplest, most
direct way of communicating an idea. I really feel that all digital
artists, at heart, have something to say in each and every render."
"This is our most fundamental link: WE have something to say."
| The
Best Advice
With this master renderer answering
our questions, we had to take the opportunity to get some
tips and pointers! What was his most important piece of advice
that he would give to other artists?
"My advice to others would be - 'have fun.' The worst
pieces I've ever produced are the ones I've tried too dang
hard on!"
"Above all, have fun...everything else is secondary." |
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Contact Zachary at: digitaldali_m_76@yahoo.com
Copyright
© 2007, Caligari Corporation |
