Posted: 05/23/03 03:50:47am
What is your real name?
Katherine Dinger - often called Kat by my friends online and Beth by my friends "irl".
How old are you?
23.
I know you live in the Dallas area. Were you born there?
Yeap, I've lived in Texas my whole life. Although a big chunk of it was spent in Denton county - not that I expect any non-natives to know where that is. *grin*
For those uninformed, Denton County is immediately northwest or Dallas. To make things more confusing part of Dallas is in Denton County.
Any steady boyfriends?
Yup. I've been living with the darling Jah for the past 3+ years. We've been together for 5 now. He's a doll
I understand from your website http://www.autofocus.us that you’re both a painter and photographer. Is that what you do for a living?
No, unfortunately I don't do exactly what I'd like to do for a living. I currently have a desk job, handling billing and customer service (my official name would be accounts receivable) through a small business. Although I take art and photography related commissions on the side.
What would you do for a living if you could do anything?
If I could have any job, it would be to do free-lance art and photography. To be able to get enough commissions to pay the bills and have my own little office or studio. Of course, that's at this point. Right now in my life, I'd like the freedom to travel and move around. In the future, I might prefer to work on games or movies in a more standardized office environment.
Have you ever tried to sell any of your photos or paintings at any of the hundreds of art festivals in the Dallas/Ft. Worth area?
No, I can't say that I have. I guess when it comes to things like that I am completely ignorant. I wouldn't even know where to start when selling my work.
How did you get into computer graphics?
Very good question! I'm not quite sure really. *laughs* Its funny you ask because I was just wondering that same thing the other day. I believe it hit me at some point around 98' or 99' when I realized that "painting on the computer" was a real skill. I started out scanning in drawings and running zillions of horrible filters over them. Whenever I discovered www.sijun.com my love for digital art skyrocketed, having found a community full of artists with the same interests.
Are you self-taught or do you have some schooling?
I am almost completely self taught. I took a few standard art classes in high school, like many people do. And I took one figure drawing class in college. I've also taken one beginner's level photography course many years ago.
What graphics programs do you like to use?
The majority of my paintings are done in Photoshop 5.5, which lots of folks find bizarre.
I'm slowly working my way into Photoshop 7 as well, because of the more advanced brush engine.
How did you code your website? Dreamweaver? Notepad?
I write all my websites in a little program called EditPlus. My boyfriend is a programmer and helps me out A LOT with setting them up. I usually design them in Photoshop, handle all the graphics while he does a big chunk of the coding. He can do advanced layout things that I can't - like the film strip effect on AutoFocus that everyone seems to like.
Do you frequent any other graphics forums?
If there is one thing I can say about me, its say I am a forum FANATIC. I visit EbonyKeep, EatPoo, ConceptArt, The Drawing Board, and MapCenter in addition to the DL. Ironically enough, the only one that I don't visit often any more is sijun.com. *grin*
What’s your favorite food?
Mexican food! I just looooove the stuff. Right up there with Mexican would be chocolate. Oh yes. Sweet. Delicious. Beautiful. Nutricious. Chocolate. Minus the nutricious part I guess... *ahem*....
You’re definitely in the right part of the USA for Mexican food. I think Texas has more Mexican food restaurants than Mexico does.
What is your favorite Mexican Food restaurant?
Ooooh... that's difficult. I'm tempted to say On The Border, but since that is a restaurant chain it feels less like true Mexican food. That place is great though, its the only place I know of where I can find vegetarian portobella mushroom fajitas. *drool* If I were to select a more authentic style of Mexican restaurant it would definitely be Mia's on Lemmon Ave. Mia's is one of the only places where I can get vegetarian refried beans, and they have the BEST nachos! Mmmm
What I’d really like to know is how you get all those fantastic photos of the Dallas area. We don’t live that far from each other and I sure can’t find them.
Awww shucks. Thank you. My key spots for photos in Dallas have been The Arboretum (of course!), The Farmer's Market, Lake Ray Hubbard and around my apartment complex. Whenever I cannot find "scenes" to take shots of, I like to focus on the "small". Macro shots of broken glass, rusty car parts, flowers, insects, or other odds and ends make for lovely photos in my opinion.
I guess you like cats? How many do you have and what are their names?
I love kittywhees! Right now I have three (which is actually the legal limit for the city I live in) named Mango (female), Gizmo (male), and Smudge (female). Gizmo is the one I always have horror stories about and Smudge is the little lady who likes to play fetch. Mango likes to sleep. When she is awake she likes to stare at me. Hmm..... I wonder about that cat....
What do you like/dislike about the Designers Lounge?
I like the Designer's Lounge because of the diversity of the community and the skills practiced within the community. On one hand I can look at the works of a middle-aged photographer, on the other hand I can look at a CD cover done by a freshman in highschool. Guys and girls of all different ages and backgrounds having a good time is always a positive sign. Dislikes? Sometimes there is too much bickering over silly things in the showroom.
Are you as crazy in person as you appear to be online?
Oh yes, maybe even more so.... hahaha. When first meeting me, I'll be incredibly reclusive and anti-social, but hooooo boy - you break that wall down and you'll be sorry! I've been called "weird" and "tooooooo weird" on many occassions. Many occassions this week alone actually, muhahaha.... [8]
Whatever happened to the random avatar feature you used to have on DBM? I really liked that one
I don't know - but I might just bring it back! It’s rather enjoyable to be the girl of a hundred faces. Oooooh the mystery....
Do you have any non-art-related hobbies?
Non-art related hobbies... I love movies, renting them or going out to see them. It’s always a lot of fun. I also enjoy cooking and baking, especially healthy type foods. It always feels really good to have made an awesome meal that's good for you. Oh ... and I loooove to cruise. Rolling down the windows and zipping around town at night with my music cranked. Love it Almost every night after I go to the gym I drive around for a bit, it is so relaxing.
I think we'll cruise right out of this interview..
Thanks Kat.
Katherine Dinger - often called Kat by my friends online and Beth by my friends "irl".
How old are you?
23.
I know you live in the Dallas area. Were you born there?
Yeap, I've lived in Texas my whole life. Although a big chunk of it was spent in Denton county - not that I expect any non-natives to know where that is. *grin*
For those uninformed, Denton County is immediately northwest or Dallas. To make things more confusing part of Dallas is in Denton County.
Any steady boyfriends?
Yup. I've been living with the darling Jah for the past 3+ years. We've been together for 5 now. He's a doll
I understand from your website http://www.autofocus.us that you’re both a painter and photographer. Is that what you do for a living?
No, unfortunately I don't do exactly what I'd like to do for a living. I currently have a desk job, handling billing and customer service (my official name would be accounts receivable) through a small business. Although I take art and photography related commissions on the side.
What would you do for a living if you could do anything?
If I could have any job, it would be to do free-lance art and photography. To be able to get enough commissions to pay the bills and have my own little office or studio. Of course, that's at this point. Right now in my life, I'd like the freedom to travel and move around. In the future, I might prefer to work on games or movies in a more standardized office environment.
Have you ever tried to sell any of your photos or paintings at any of the hundreds of art festivals in the Dallas/Ft. Worth area?
No, I can't say that I have. I guess when it comes to things like that I am completely ignorant. I wouldn't even know where to start when selling my work.
How did you get into computer graphics?
Very good question! I'm not quite sure really. *laughs* Its funny you ask because I was just wondering that same thing the other day. I believe it hit me at some point around 98' or 99' when I realized that "painting on the computer" was a real skill. I started out scanning in drawings and running zillions of horrible filters over them. Whenever I discovered www.sijun.com my love for digital art skyrocketed, having found a community full of artists with the same interests.
Are you self-taught or do you have some schooling?
I am almost completely self taught. I took a few standard art classes in high school, like many people do. And I took one figure drawing class in college. I've also taken one beginner's level photography course many years ago.
What graphics programs do you like to use?
The majority of my paintings are done in Photoshop 5.5, which lots of folks find bizarre.
I'm slowly working my way into Photoshop 7 as well, because of the more advanced brush engine. How did you code your website? Dreamweaver? Notepad?
I write all my websites in a little program called EditPlus. My boyfriend is a programmer and helps me out A LOT with setting them up. I usually design them in Photoshop, handle all the graphics while he does a big chunk of the coding. He can do advanced layout things that I can't - like the film strip effect on AutoFocus that everyone seems to like.
Do you frequent any other graphics forums?
If there is one thing I can say about me, its say I am a forum FANATIC. I visit EbonyKeep, EatPoo, ConceptArt, The Drawing Board, and MapCenter in addition to the DL. Ironically enough, the only one that I don't visit often any more is sijun.com. *grin*
What’s your favorite food?
Mexican food! I just looooove the stuff. Right up there with Mexican would be chocolate. Oh yes. Sweet. Delicious. Beautiful. Nutricious. Chocolate. Minus the nutricious part I guess... *ahem*....
You’re definitely in the right part of the USA for Mexican food. I think Texas has more Mexican food restaurants than Mexico does.
What is your favorite Mexican Food restaurant?
Ooooh... that's difficult. I'm tempted to say On The Border, but since that is a restaurant chain it feels less like true Mexican food. That place is great though, its the only place I know of where I can find vegetarian portobella mushroom fajitas. *drool* If I were to select a more authentic style of Mexican restaurant it would definitely be Mia's on Lemmon Ave. Mia's is one of the only places where I can get vegetarian refried beans, and they have the BEST nachos! Mmmm
What I’d really like to know is how you get all those fantastic photos of the Dallas area. We don’t live that far from each other and I sure can’t find them.
Awww shucks. Thank you.
My key spots for photos in Dallas have been The Arboretum (of course!), The Farmer's Market, Lake Ray Hubbard and around my apartment complex. Whenever I cannot find "scenes" to take shots of, I like to focus on the "small". Macro shots of broken glass, rusty car parts, flowers, insects, or other odds and ends make for lovely photos in my opinion. I guess you like cats? How many do you have and what are their names?
I love kittywhees! Right now I have three (which is actually the legal limit for the city I live in) named Mango (female), Gizmo (male), and Smudge (female). Gizmo is the one I always have horror stories about and Smudge is the little lady who likes to play fetch. Mango likes to sleep. When she is awake she likes to stare at me. Hmm..... I wonder about that cat....
What do you like/dislike about the Designers Lounge?
I like the Designer's Lounge because of the diversity of the community and the skills practiced within the community. On one hand I can look at the works of a middle-aged photographer, on the other hand I can look at a CD cover done by a freshman in highschool. Guys and girls of all different ages and backgrounds having a good time is always a positive sign. Dislikes? Sometimes there is too much bickering over silly things in the showroom.
Are you as crazy in person as you appear to be online?
Oh yes, maybe even more so.... hahaha. When first meeting me, I'll be incredibly reclusive and anti-social, but hooooo boy - you break that wall down and you'll be sorry! I've been called "weird" and "tooooooo weird" on many occassions. Many occassions this week alone actually, muhahaha.... [8]
Whatever happened to the random avatar feature you used to have on DBM? I really liked that one
I don't know - but I might just bring it back! It’s rather enjoyable to be the girl of a hundred faces. Oooooh the mystery....
Do you have any non-art-related hobbies?
Non-art related hobbies... I love movies, renting them or going out to see them. It’s always a lot of fun. I also enjoy cooking and baking, especially healthy type foods. It always feels really good to have made an awesome meal that's good for you. Oh ... and I loooove to cruise. Rolling down the windows and zipping around town at night with my music cranked. Love it
Almost every night after I go to the gym I drive around for a bit, it is so relaxing. I think we'll cruise right out of this interview..
Thanks Kat.
