Second Life and Art

Some thoughts on Second Life and Art.

You may have noticed that I’ve posted quite a few SL snap shots lately.  Much more, especially in proportion to my Daz3D renders, than I usually do.  This has happened for several reasons.  As  I’ve said before, I really  am fascinated with the quality of the  3D art of Second Live (SL) and the degree that the SL participants have control of the over the appearance of their avi’s and the environment.  Manipulating  avi appearance and the landscapes of SL is an art in and of itself.  My fascination with SL art, combined with the amount of time I spend in SL , the friendships I have developed there, and the fact that SL led me to DA and not the other way around, combine to drive me to attempt to present what I see as the beauty of SL here in DA.  It also drives me to experiment with how far I can push the quality of that SL art using various styles and post work digital capabilities.  

None of that is really new to anyone who has been watching my DA page for more than a few months.  I have presented SL snaps here from the very beginning.  What is new is that I think I have stumbled on and developed some techniques that will take SL snaps to a new level for me.  Here are some things I am doing different than previously  using photoshop.

 I am over-painting some of the SL stuff in photoshop.  Most recently I did this on my March Madness snap where the basketball uniform is almost completely painted over the original clothing in order to get the team uniform I wanted.

Another technique I’m using is employing a white background that contains limited or no image.  In this style, if there is a background it will likely be faded.  This is designed to mimic some of the classic pinup styles of the 40s and 50s.

A final technique that I’m experimenting with in Photoshop is color manipulation to control the brightness of the picture.  I don’t want to fade out the color but I do want to tone it down a bit and make it softer.  This will take some learning to get it done right.  My recent “Dixie Chick” snap is an example of this.

There are some other things I will be trying in PS but I don’t know how they will work out.  Also, there is a new software I am experimenting with that gives manipulation effects that for certain snaps can have very dramatic results.  I think you will recognize that software when it shows up !

Finally, a lot of you do not care for the SL snaps all that much, and I understand that.  It’s a totally different medium and a totally different style from my daz3D work.   For you, please don’t stop watching because SL snaps start to dominate my new stuff –it’s a temporary thing.  Also, I will continue to do daz3D work, just at a slower pace.  I will definitely be moving ahead with my two primary storylines – “Blue Vixen” and the “Tracking” story, as well as some 3D pinup work.  So the 3D work will not disappear.

Okay.  So that’s what’s happening here in Donnaworld. 

As always, thanks to all who watch, comment, fave, and just drop in to visit. I thank you all for taking your valuable time to look at and maybe read my efforts.   Please know that your visits and comments inspire me to learn, improve my work, and do more.

I hope everyone is finally enjoying Spring! J

All the best,

XOXO

DD