Re: What do you do other than paleontology?

[david maas <david@brainpets.com>]

Right now, paleoart is my free time. (Also: badminton, running, 
swimming, snorkeling when I have the chance)
I'm an illustrator / animator by day, and teach part time at the 
Institute of Animation, Filmakademie near Stuttgart, Germany. My 
speciality is production management, my passion is non-photorealistic 
rendering and specifically, the marriage of hand-drawn animation and 3D 
technologies.
Encounters with fossil collectors in this fossil-wealthy region inspired 
me to look into paleoart. There are a lot of similarities with cg 
communities - from nicknames, reputations, specific and passionate taxa 
or software affinities - favorite quote: "I only collect Cretacious 
ammonites. Leave these lizard bones to the foot-folk."
I guess I'm drawn to paleoart because I'm tired of all this empty 
entertainment. ie. Have a seat, here's your popcorn. Now - here's your 
cute little mascot, buy our product. Here's an exciting beasty, give us 
your money." And likewise, all the egos demanding artistic expression 
and delivering consumption blocks. I feel I've played a part of the 
dumbing-down of the audience and - mind you - Germany is not nearly as 
dumbed down as the states. So... pay back time. My dream is a real-time, 
interactive diorama in a detailed, drawn style that is immediately 
immersive, and offers as much scientifically sound, presentationally 
meaningful material as the visitor is willing to explore.

Unfortunately, I have LOTS to learn and am in full recognition that I'm 
just an artist. I was at a Steinbruch with one of the collectors and he 
sees a bump in the stone. (me blinks) It was nothing, just a bump. He 
jumps up and says "oh, that's a blablabla" and immediately knows in 
which direction to break the stone to reveal a cycad seed case. That's 
knowledge.

> Tor Bertin wrote:
> > Question says pretty much all of it: beyond your paleontology related 
> > academic interests, what else do you do in your free time (or if it 
> > applies, professional time)?