As part of a month-long spotlight on Published Artists, Ken Gilliland is being featured at DAZ 3D today.

Ken Gilliland is best known for his amazing Songbird Remix series, but there is a lot you may not know.

Here's what we found out:

DAZ: How did you get started in 3D? How long have you been a Published Artist at DAZ 3D?
Ken Gilliland: I started in the digital world with a TI-99/4a computer in the early 1980's and immediately started creating art and animation with a very limited graphic range in hexadecimal code (16 colors, 256 shapes). I eventually became a published artist for Asgard Software and a year later when out on my own to form "Notung Software" which became on of the most popular TI Software companies.After making my switch to the PC, I started with Sketcher (the precursor to Painter) and even owned Fractal Design's "Poser 1". I didn't start seriously playing with Poser until Version 3 came around. With the advent of Poser 4, I began by creating textures and became a brokered artist at Vista Internet Products where I created my first bird model. After almost a year with Vista, I decided to go out on my own and briefly revived Notung Software. At Siggraph 2001, I had lunch with Dan, Chris and Chad and was asked if I'd be interested in being a brokered artist for the newly formed "DAZ 3D". Of course, I said yes and here I am.

DAZ: Have you studied any other art mediums?
Ken Gilliland: I paint social commentary in oil, draw nature in various mediums and photograph native plants and birds. The Orlando Gallery in Los Angeles represents me in those mediums.



DAZ: What is your favorite project? Why?
Ken Gilliland: Without a question, my two endangered birds packages, With these packages, I not only get to create birds which I'm very passionate about but also hopefully get to educate people about extinction and irreversible trends man is causing that can lead to our own extinction.




DAZ: What is your most popular product? Where do you get your inspiration? Where are you from.
Ken Gilliland: Songbird ReMix, of course. It's not hard to get inspiration when all I have to do is walk out on my front porch. From the hundreds of quail to almost deafening at times birdsong, it's easy to be inspired. My wife and I purchased as of the vacant land around our property as we could afford to protect it from development. We've restored the properties with over 500 species of endemic native plants and created an "eco-tone", This "eco-tone" or urban oasis has brought bird, mammal and insect species not seen in our area in a decade including the endangered Least Bell's Vireo and California Gnatcatcher.

Thanks,
Ken Gilliland


Ken Gilliland's DAZ 3D Models are here: http://www.daz3d.com/i.x/shop/artistlist/-/?artist=5154