I guess I would have to start with the fact that I have always been interested in art. From a very early age, maybe 5, I would draw with my brother. It was really enjoyable for me. People responded to it with enthusiasm and told me that I was good at it. It was a new and exciting way to communicate ideas. Intricate ideas from my mind could be translated to another mind without the tedium of talking and explaining. So that's how it began for me.
Throughout high school, I continued to draw, sculpt, paint, or whatever creative endeavor struck my fancy. During college I took a lot of pictures. The pictures could be color copied and collaged together with other pictures to make something look believable. There was one composition where I took a picture of my friend, then of a car, and put them together as if he were lifting it over his head. It was about that time that Adobe Photoshop came on to the scene and could add so much more realism.
After about 5 years of Photoshop, I learned about other 3D software. Poser was one of them that opened up a new world for me. No longer did I have to go out with a camera, take a few picture, then wait for the film to be developed, I could get my figure in right away. This was still a few years before digital cameras became mainstream.
Well it's been about 10 years since all that. I'm learning something new each day. It has been a long education to get where I am today and I still have a long way to go.
Fortunately, new ways to do it are coming out constantly. Some of the necessary things that I needed to learn in the past five years are now obsolete and can be done in a single mouse click.
I've been married now since 1997. My wife Christine and my son Christian are my reason for being. And if you hadn't noticed, we all have the name Chris in our name, only a different ending - topher, tine, tian.
Luckily, I was able to generate a little income back in 2005 from doing 3D textures but things have changed a lot in that market. When I say "market", I am primarily talking about Poser. Since I started with that software, I stayed loyal to it for potential new comers to 3D. That seemed to be where all the enthusiasm was. Unfortunately, it's not a very lucrative market. Maybe things will turn around there. Producing things for Poser is very labor intensive partially due to the fact that you are making things as user friendly as possible which includes things like menu buttons, all the texture settings, and in my case, all the rigging that brings a static 3D object to life. But with all that said, I still enjoy it. The look of 3D is the closest thing to actual life we can get. And the imagination is the only limit.
If you have seen the gallery or enjoyed things that I have made on your own machine, then I couldn't be happier. Inspiration is everywhere as I've said. If I can contribute just a little smidgon to your life, then please drop me a line and let me know.
Thanks so much for getting this far!!
You can feel free to wake up now and enjoy the rest of your day!!
All my best to you.
Thank You.
Christopher Schantz