Russell L. Thomas
TheAllusionist

Date of Birth

January 11, 1965 (48)

About Russell L. Thomas

Biography:

Hi, I am Russell L. Thomas (a.k.a. TheAllusionist) and this is my site. I originally started this site as an online portfolio and to learn how to set up a website and an online forum to support the CG and Architectural/Design community. The forum took off and then the online portfolio became the much needed main site for the community that was growing. Now I have had to start a completely different site for an online portfolio for our studio, so things have come full circle. Professionally, I am a graduate of Washington State University's School of Architecture and have been doing architecture since 1992. Recently I decided to focus on CG, so I quit my job and have started up a studio working with a few artist I greatly respect.

I have varied interest and have been using CAD from day one. I started doing architectural visualization via computer renderings for the most part and some forms of traditional illustration. This led to an interest in all things CG and I have dabbled in character creation as well as archtectural visualization. I have also done architectural and character animation in an effort to round out my experience. I was a frustrated artist and chose architecture since it combined art and science for which I have aptitudes for. Right out of college I did a graphic novel in rough draft form and DC comics showed interest in the project, but by this time I was staying busy doing architectural work and did not have time to pursue the relationship.

Early on I got into 3D modeling, I used DataCAD and Visual Reality, two programs you probably have not heard of. I wrote some articles for magazines and news letters focusing on the benefits of visualization. This led me to do consulting work and setting up CAD software for firms. I started my own design studio where I did High-End luxury homes and light commercial design. At a certain point I wanted to do more than residential work so I contracted out to architectural firms doing work on educational, medical and civic projects. I gained a reputation as a hired gun of sorts and helped implement CAD programs like Architectural Desktop and CAD standards in addition to doing Construction Documentation for various firms. I decided to move to the larger metropolitan area of Seattle, Washington in order to get exposure to larger projects. At this time I started working as a full time employee at firms as I jumped around getting experience in all types of architectural projects.

I am torn between all my interests and have never found my exact niche, I do architectural renderings, but enjoy creating art in other genres and thus my attention wanders from one interest to another.

Where I would like to see this site go is to be a place to show off fine work and to pursue quick studies and design exercises. Most people do not have the time to finish everything and quick little exercises could be a fun way to participate and get the creative juices going. This forum will be modified and added to as time and creative energy permits. I see the site as a place for multi-professions to be expressed and a non-specific software environment.

Well the web is full of great sites and it will be a challenge to create a place that people participate in, so let me know if you have any ideas or want to help administrate part of the forum.

Best regards,

Russell L. Thomas

Location:

Yakima, Washington, United States

Interests:

TechnoMafia Records

Occupation:

CEO/Creative Director

Software Used:

SoftImage XSI, Max, modo, TrueSpace, Vue Infinite, AutoCad, DataCAD, PhotoShop, After Affects, Corel Draw, Painter, Poser, Shade and much more...

Favorite Artist:

Frank Frazetta/Robert Cray

Favorite Designer:

Santiago Calatrava

Favorite Building:

Milwaukee Art Museum/City of Arts and Science - Valencia Spain

Favorite Car:

McClaren

Favorite Website:

Here of Course

Real Name/Studio:

Russell L. Thomas / 3DAllusions Studio

Twitter:

http://www.twitter.com/3dallusions

Facebook:

http://www.facebook.com/pages/3DAllusions/204503996277197

Google+:

https://plus.google.com/112894950108985305238/

Linkedin:

http://www.linkedin.com/profile/view?id=12423963&locale=en_US

Youtube:

http://www.youtube.com/user/3DAStudio