Where are they now?

[anatomy|b]

I almost feel like we should emulate one of those specials on everyone from this site. It seems like everyone's drifted off and found something better to do. I guess I'm kind of curious what.
Have any of us become graphic designers? Or at least pursuing those dreams?

I also got the feeling no one knew who I was as soon as I changed my name. In case anyone remembers, I've been here since like... early 2005. My screenname used to be virgin_leaf. I was easily trolled and got in a lot of arguments with kno'.

If this is something anyone is interested in, I'd love to know what Fulou, kno', and all of the other people that used to participate in the old school sig battles are up to these days, and I can provide updates for myself and maybe even persuade sushisamurai to come post.

Anyone interested? Or have we all grown up and forgotten about this place?

[MonkeyRonin]

Sup dude. I still check this place once in a while, but nothing ever happens.

And for the record, I'm neither a graphic designer nor am I pursuing that.

[Conan]

Pursuing to be a 3D texture artist. My school dropped my major so I'm just taking production shit now just so I have a degree. It's nice to waste two years and thousands of dollars though. Stupid fucking cunts.

http://img25.imageshack.us/img25/6084/20m41s.jpg

I only just started actually doing 3D last semester. My shading network for the above looks like this:

http://img203.imageshack.us/img203/8...ellnetwork.jpg

I'm thinking my 12 years of Photoshop and 6 years of Photog experience gives me a slight edge on making textures.*

[anatomy|b]

Sup dude. I still check this place once in a while, but nothing ever happens.

And for the record, I'm neither a graphic designer nor am I pursuing that.

Sad. What are you going into instead?

[anatomy|b]

Pursuing to be a 3D texture artist. My school dropped my major so I'm just taking production shit now just so I have a degree. It's nice to waste two years and thousands of dollars though. Stupid fucking cunts.

http://img25.imageshack.us/img25/6084/20m41s.jpg

I only just started actually doing 3D last semester. My shading network for the above looks like this:

http://img203.imageshack.us/img203/8...ellnetwork.jpg

I'm thinking my 12 years of Photoshop and 6 years of Photog experience gives me a slight edge on making textures.*

I'm completely ignoring double posting rules. Because who the fuck cares.

That wood looks pretty nice. You should light it better to show off the spec a bit more--because the color/bump maps look great. But It's difficult to really see that in such flat lighting. Where are you going to school for your degree?

[Conan]

Lol, other than an intro for Maya course, everything I do is self taught. 12 years of Photoshop and 6 years of photog. My school doesn't teach 3D, Womans Studies was more important.

My lighting was off because of Mental Ray's global illum, I also forgot to turn off default lights.

I've got 16 weeks of Maya course work down last spring, which is all my college offers.

I'm taking on some extra effort to get into production work ASAP, so I went to outside sources.

I'm getting my zBrush from Aaron Sims; http://www.aaron-sims.com/

Maya, Bodypaint, zBrush, and Texturing from Alex Alvarez; http://www.gnomonschool.com/

Mental Ray from Matt Hartle; http://www.matthartle.com/www.mattha...m/Welcome.html

I know a couple of people at WETA making me so custom guides and tutorials, as well as their production resources from LOTR.

[MonkeyRonin]

Sad. What are you going into instead?

Whats sad? Life is great! (though I suppose the demise of VDC is pretty sad) And to answer your question - real estate appraisal.

Also, looks good Vic.

[anatomy|b]

Whats sad? Life is great! (though I suppose the demise of VDC is pretty sad) And to answer your question - real estate appraisal.

Also, looks good Vic.

Just cause the world is now short 1 good graphic designer/photographer. But hey, so long as you're happy, doesn't matter.

[anatomy|b]

Lol, other than an intro for Maya course, everything I do is self taught

Nice man.
These programs are nowhere near as complicated as some people make them out to be. But having the motivation to teach yourself that stuff is pretty impressive. I'm determined enough to do personal projects, but know that I'd struggle to get anything done if I were out of school and working a full time job in something else. Are you paying for all of those courses? Or just pirating them?
I've sat through a few Gnomon sessions, and those things are really good/comprehensive. You'll learn really quick going that route.

[Conan]

I wrote a long reply only to hit the back button on my mouse by accident.

PM me your messenger info that you use the most, AIM, MSNM, etc.

[Devilframe]

Sup guys, thought I'd drop in and check stuff out.

Listening to The Weight by the band and coming back here is bumming me out, I miss it. :[

What a dumb username.

[AtomicHype]

Hey guys. Nothing new here. It's nice to hear from familiar faces though.

VDC will always have a special place in my heart.

Edit: is it wierd that I recognize everyone's avatar/sig?

[missionsix]

Recently graduated college. Looking for full time employment. i stop in here quite frequently but I never post... hmm. Thanks for still coming around guys.

[Jay]

Believe it or not, i also stop by here quite a bit these days and dont post all that often.

I had lunch with MacMan / Dr De Seis or however hes known here not too long ago. Hes living in san francisco as well and doing incredibly well for himself. We had some soul food and hung out for a bit.

I went to art school, dropped out, did some stupid shit for a few years, and about 2 years ago got together with my girlfriend and got my act together. Her dad actually used to work for Industrial Light and Magic, so i got a cool ass tour of their offices and departments here when he came to visit. Ummmm, other than that, im going back to art school in the spring, but for the most part just been skipping majors around in hawaii trying to figure out whats wrong with me. Think i got it figured out now, and after 4 different colleges, im finally going to go back to art school and do what i love. Havent touched photoshop in a while, i need to find another copy of it for this computer. I got my tablet out here, and i really want to start doing some more paintings.

. I *was* working toward becoming an illustrator before dropping out. Going to take some pictures of my actual finished pieces, seeing as ive only been throwing up doodles and the like. I really missed this place recently... nostalgia and regret kinda kicked in. Talked to Fu Lou on AIM recently, hes doing good. Talked to some old battleforums guys as well and theyre all a crabby bunch of grumps so fuck them.

Is there any interest in maybe fixing this place up at all, not for anyone else, but for ourselves? I got some extra cash around, it'd be nice to invest it into something i care about. Our little Eden in the scary art world. I have a lot of friends graduating soon from art school, who i would have been graduating with and it makes me a little bummed. A lot of them are really really great artists, especially my buddy Abe. Hes... well... ill post his blog soon. Im going to try and get him to chat about on here with me soon, maybe offer him some hosting space. Lotttttttaa design majors out in SF. Shit.

I missed you guys. Hah.

[MonkeyRonin]

I had lunch with MacMan / Dr De Seis or however hes known here not too long ago.

Which one was he again? The dude that was always grumpy, was it? :P

but for the most part just been skipping majors around in hawaii

Hey, Doctor is living in Hawaii right now too.

[se vant]

I moved in with Mehmet and we're working on adopting a child.

[Jay]

Doctors in hawaii? What island?

You guys should totally start checking the site again, i get lonely here.

[MonkeyRonin]

Doctors in hawaii? What island?

Maui, apparently.

[Jay]

nice. Not the island im from though...

Either way, i hope you guys stay around long enough here if only just to talk.

Im bringing some friends out here who either work in the industries or are art students and we're going to try and start putting some new content up soon. Ive talked to pat about it, and hes understandably weary but hopeful.

This site holds a very special place in my heart. You guys have become like family, and i feel like i neglected a lot of things i shouldnt have.

So heres a belated apology. No promises, but im going to do what i can to revitalize this place. If you guys are in contact with any of the older gents, tell them to stop by once in a while. I've started posting some new artwork, and ill be continuing to do so. Expect some new content soon, as well. Nothing huge, but im going to start throwing up some shit as the days drag on.

This place is as much your guys as it is mine. This is our community and our little piece of the internet where we can do whatever the fuck we want. Lets embrace it, enjoy it, and share it.

If anyone else wanted to throw any content up, no matter what it is, you can contact me. There may be some monetary incentive as time goes on as well, and im going to start investing more into this site. I dont want this to fizzle out. I dont want to regret not doing everything i can to make this work, and im not going to. Im going to put everything on the table, and see what happens and i'd love it if you guys were there next to me. Who knows, this could get big. I have a lot of amazing ideas, a few plans, and i want there to be incentive for you guys to stick around. So we'll see what happens and what we can do and if anything, always think big, and expect big.

Changes are coming.

[MonkeyRonin]

Either way, i hope you guys stay around long enough here if only just to talk.

Well I've got the place bookmarked, and therefore check it fairly regularly at least.

[MonkeyRonin]

PS. you know what would be cool? Some sort of music uploading feature, like 420chan's /m/, if it were possible/easy to do (I have no idea)...we always seemed to like discussing music and crap here.

[Jay]

Im generally pretty available via AIM. A few of you have my cell phone number, i have no quams about giving it to those of you who've been here for-fucking-ever and want to contribute to revitalizing the place.

The music thing is a cool idea, but i think it'd be pretty hard on the site...

my AIM is Asyranchimp, lets get some ideas flowing and put them into action.

[Death_Noodle]

*kicks open the door* Woooo. I've been going to school, haven't really touched anything graphic related in a long while, majoring in computer information systems. I need to get AIM again.