Hey everyone! Afina here. Finally getting around to posting the 2nd edition of Get To Know The Staff. Enjoy!!!






How did you get into 3d art?
I got into it by accident really. I used to create with words (see all the early additions to my gallery and you'll see what I mean. Anyway, I was spending time here in dA and found a link to the Daz 3D website.
Daz Studio was at v1.8 I think and I thought, well, it's free, why not give it a try. So I did.

What is your favorite program to use?
My favourite program is still Daz Studio. I currently use v2.something - whatever the last build of v2 was.
I haven't upgraded to version 3 yet but I will at some point I guess. I also use Bryce, Cararra and Poser
and am currently learning 3DS Max as well.

If money was no object, what would be the first thing you would buy 3d related?
A kick-ass workstation. Given I'm studying 3d Modeling and animation I'd really like a machine that was closer
to a professional rig than what I currently use.

What is your favorite type of 3d art to do? Fantasy? Realistic? Cell Shaded? etc.
I don't really have a favourite genre, I tend to jump around a bit going whatever my inspiration takes me, from
Fantasy to Sci-Fi, portraits to fake advertisements for lingerie and magaziner covers.

How long have you been creating 3d art?
Coming up on 4 years now.

How long have you been expressing your creativeness in general?
I've always had a creative outlet ever since I can remember - be it the lead singer of a rock band, doing
amateur theatre while in High School and beyond or writing fiction and poetry.

Ever won a contest or award for your artistic side?
Does Kareoke count?
I have won a couple of Kareoke contests and also won a monthly contest here on dA for one of pieces.

Who is your favorite Artist in general?
I don't think I have a favourite artist overall. But I am certainly learning to appreciate the skills that
people posses in their respective fields. The more I learn, the more I realise I have yet to learn.

Who is your favorite 3d artist?
Again, I don't have a specifif favourite but a range of people who all have different skills.
For example, Fredy3D for his composition and use of tools.
RGUS for his portrait work.
Lokai for his shader work with povray
Stonemason for his architectural models.

Look up to anyone in particular here on DA?
All the amazing artists here on dA, and not just the 3D artists, but those that draw, paint and photograph as well.

What do you use to inspire your art?
Anything and everything. I've been inspired by pieces I've seen here on dA, games I have played (or are playing),
ideas that randomly pop into my head, even people just walking down the street when I go to get lunch.
Inspiration is like lightning - it can strike you jut about anywhere. Thankfully inspiration doesn't hurt
as muuch.

What made you join the club?
I joined as I am an avid user of Daz products and the club concentrates more on Daz Studio than any other club.

Is art your career or your hobby?
Art is my hobby but it is something I am hoping to be able to turn into a career. I should know how well I'm
going to be able to do that once I have finished my study.


Willing to give your real first name?
Matt

Where are you from?
Brisbane, Australia.

Are you the lone artist in your family or is it a family heritage?
No, my sister was a dancer when she was younger and then she took up photography.
My father has been a frustrated artist all his life, and now he's retired he can spend his time playing in his
studio. He's no less frustrated but he's had a number of shows and sold some of his work, so I'm in good company.

Give your art as presents instead of shopping?
I haven't yet. I haven't been confident that it was good enough.

What's your favorite movie?
Highlander

When you are down, what piece of music do you find yourself drawn to?
Usually something funny, like Weird Al or George Carlin. Once you start to laugh things don't feel so bad
anymore.

Any siblings?
A younger sister.

Any children?
A son who is turning 4 this year.

Outside of art, do you do anything else? Sports and such?
My sport these days tends to be armchair stuff. MotoGP and Formula 1 motorsport are regulars for me and the rest
of the family.

What is your goal in life?
That's one that keeps changing as each new thing comes along.
Right now though it is to see my wife complete her uni degree, my son to grow up healthy and for me to complete
my study so I can then begin a new career.

Most embarrassing thing ever to happen to you?
Completely forgetting some very important dialogue in a theatre production I was in. It left one of the central
characters offstage waiting for his cue which never came.

What is that secret song you find yourself singing when no one else is around?
More often than not, it's Dock of the bay by Otis Redding.

When you dance are you more like a skilled artist or an epileptic on speed?
I don't dance. It scares the children.

Any bad habits?
Not anymore. I gave up smoking 7 years ago.




How did you get into 3d art? Friend of mine on IMVU saw my textures and said I should give it a try with Poser/Daz. Didn't know what in the world they were talking about so looked it up and the rest is history.

What is your favorite program to use? Daz Studio by far. I used Poser for a while but hated it.

If money was no object, what would be the first thing you would buy 3d related? Upgrade my computer then run and buy everything Vue related.

What is your favorite type of 3d art to do? Fantasy? Realistic? Cell Shaded? etc. Love it all, I have a tendency to jump from one thing to another.

How long have you been creating 3d art? Around 5 years now.

How long have you been expressing your creativeness in general? Since elementary school.

Ever won a contest or award for your artistic side? I have placed or won a very contests on DA but I actually have won more outside of this type of art than in it. First was actually a coloring contest for Kroger back in the 80's. lol My most proud though is a tie between Developer of the year for IMVU a few years back and Who's Who Among International Poets in 2004.

Are there any other areas of creative expression that you are into? Yeah, music is a big one. I used to sing and dance professionally. Even play a few instruments.

Who is your favorite Artist in general? Oh, that is easy. Nene Thomas! She is such a doll!

Who is your favorite 3d artist? That is hard to say, there are so many here on DA that just blow my mind. IamuMan though really has gotten my attention lately.

Look up to anyone in particular here on DA? Oh god, anyone that runs a group or helps out on DA in general.

What do you use to inspire your art? Mostly music. I tend to pick 1 song, put it on repeat and it stays on till the project is done. Man does it annoy everyone in the house.

What made you join the club? When I saw there was a club for Daz users I just had to join! There was no choice. lol

Is art your career or your hobby? Actually my career. It started out as a hobby but once I hit IMVU it quickly turned into work. I stopped working for people and opened my own company. Being doing it from home ever since.

Willing to give your real first name? Jenn but in truth more people in real life call me Afina than Jenn. Too many Jenn's in the world.

Where are you from? Originally Gary Indiana but grew up in Albany Ga.

Are you the lone artist in your family or is it a family heritage? Nah, not the first. Whole family is gifted. Uncle is a musician, grandfather was an author. My mother is a novelist and cover model for romance books. Dad even did some modeling. I seem to be the only one of the kids that kept up the family tradition.

Give your art as presents instead of shopping? Oh yeah, all the time!

What's your favorite movie? Easy, The Princess Bride.

When you are down, what piece of music do you find yourself drawn to? Anything by Kamelot.

Any siblings? Yup, I am the eldest of...~counts~ 8. No full blooded siblings though, all half, step or adopted.

Any children? Yup, 3 and hoping for another.

Outside of art, do you do anything else? Sports and such? Yup, International Champion in Tae Kwon Do. (Which I am happy about. Hubby said he would never marry someone that couldn't kick his butt. LOL When I heard that I laughed and told him my rank. He proposed shortly after that. )

What is your goal in life? World peace... lol Okay, now that I gave the Miss America answer, just living long enough to see my kids grow up and help the hubby to open his own restaurant.

Most embarrassing thing ever to happen to you? You know I don't think I have one. It is not that I haven't ever done anything embarrassing. It is just that I have no shame. Things that make others blush, I just laugh.

What is that secret song you find yourself singing when no one else is around? Ice Ice Baby!

When you dance are you more like a skilled artist or an epileptic on speed? Usually pretty good on the dance floor unless I am messing around and just trying to make my friends wish I wasn't with them. LOL

Any bad habits?  I bite my nails and smoke.

Things you do your family just doesn't get? All of it? I am the black sheep. LOL Anytime I visit my mom goes - can you just act normal while you are here? For once? LOL

Are there any foods you eat that make your friends go - What the hell? Shrimp Tails. I love them grilled up. My alt to potato chips.