3D Valley Featured 3D Artist of September 2007 - Leo Mels or for you all probably better known as Mele. Leo lives in Sterrebeek, Belgium with his wife and daughter. During day time he work as a offset printer and in his free time he enjoys creating abstract images with Bryce. Read the interview below to get to know him a bit better.

Gallery album of Leo Mels
Website of Leo Mels

Q1.
Christa: Can you tell us a bit about yourself: Who are you and what do you do in your daily life?

Leo: First I would like to say that it is very much a surprise for me to be Featured Artist, thank you very much. I feel honored to be among so many fine artists here at 3Dvalley.com. I am 53 years old, and live in Sterrebeek (Zaventem), Belgium with my wife and daughter. During day time I work as an offset printer for NRG Nachuatec.

Q2.
Christa: Do you remember the first time you knew you wanted to be an artist?

Leo: I don’t call myself a 3D artist. I make my 3D images just for fun. I started working with Bryce around 2003, I also tried uit Terragen and Fractal Explorer but they didn’t feel right to me.

Q3.
Christa: Do you have traditional art experience?

Leo: No, I don’t have any traditional art experience.

Q4.
Christa: Which software packages do you use for your artwork?

Leo: I use Bryce and Photo Filtre for signature. I use Bryce of the many great posibilities but mainly because I can easily create my abstract images with it. Photo Filtre I use soley to convert my Bryce images to jpg images and to add a signature to my images. Photo Filtre has much more posibilities like photo retouching, adding filters and many other tools. I use the free version but in the paid version you even have more options to play with.

Abstract 3	Abstract 2

Q5.
Christa: You can’t use your software without the hardware, so what do you use?

Leo: I have a PC with an Intel Pentium 4 model 519 and 959GB RAM and a 19 inch TFT monitor.

Q6.
Christa: Can you tell us a bit of the way you work on your art?

Leo: I never know what I will end up with when starting with a new image. I create shapes and place them, arrange them is a scene. I often place 1 mirror or 2 mirrors in the middle of the Bryce work space. I give the shapes a metal textures and place 1 or 2 radial lights. Sometimes I work one complete day on one image, and sometimes more, depending on the image. If any of the readers also work with Bryce; I’ve created some Bryce files so you can explore for yourself how it’s done. You can download the Bryce files from my website, go to the Bryce builderpage for the download the files.

Q7.
Christa: Do you have a favorite piece of your own artwork and if so, why?

Leo: Abstract 12, although it is a simple design, I really like the result of it.

Abstract 12

Q8.
Christa: What is your goal as an artist?

Leo: I don’t have a goal as an artist. It’s only to have some fun.

Q9.
Christa: Who or what would you describe as having the most influences on your work/ style?

Leo: Shapes, colors, lighting and my mood

Q10.
Christa: Do you have any tips for the artists who admire your work?

Leo: Do what you enjoy.

Abstract 1	Abstract 13

Q11.
Christa: Besides 3D Valley, which other CG sites do you visit regularly?

Leo: Renderosity & 3Dcommune.

Q12.
Christa: Is their something you can’t work without?

Leo: My pc and my friend Bryce

Q13.
Christa: What do you do when you are not working or creating something?

Leo: Enjoying the good things of life.

Abstract 3	Abstract 5

Christa: Thanks for your time and the interview Leo!

Gallery album of Leo Mels
Website of Leo Mels
Interviews with other artists