At the beginning of my creative life, I was a traditionally trained artist, happiest with oils, acrylics, watercolor, colored pencils, and even markers for a brief stretch. Those tools felt like home; messy, colorful, and full of possibility.

Then my children arrived, and everything changed in the best way. I tucked those materials away after hearing too many frightening stories of little ones getting into paint, turpentine, or linseed oil. No passion was worth a trip to the ER. My focus was on raising three tiny humans safely and with all the love I had.

During those years, I discovered computers, and with them, Photoshop. The digital canvas felt magical. It was affordable, safe, and always ready when I found a quiet moment to create.

Not long after, I stumbled across Bryce. As someone who adored landscapes, it felt like a dream come true. The only struggle was patience; technology back then moved slower than my imagination. Some renders took weeks, and I still knew I could paint faster than a computer could think.

A few years later, I found Poser. It was like having a digital artist’s mannequin, and even with its limitations, it opened a whole new world. Suddenly, sketching human figures felt easier, more accurate, and far less intimidating.

Then Daz arrived with realistic characters, clothing, and hair. What once took weeks with traditional media now came to life in hours—no fumes, no mess, no studio space needed. Everything stayed safely inside the computer.

For me, it felt like discovering Nirvana.