Ryan Bliss
Encyclopedia
Ryan Bliss is the creator of Digital Blasphemy
, a website known for its computer desktop wallpapers.
so he could work with the Iowa Writers Workshop. He graduated from the University of Iowa in 1994 with a bachelor's degree in English. He got his first PC as a graduation present from his mother and soon began experimenting with computer graphics via some of the preinstalled software (Aldus PhotoStyler and Kai's Power Tools
).
Bliss loved computers so much that he wanted to make a living out of it. He re-enrolled at the University of Iowa in 1996 and received a second bachelor's degree (Computer Science
) in 1998. Bliss also met his future wife, Jessica, around this time. He started "Digital Blasphemy
" as an HTML exercise in 1997 and it soon began attracting visitors who appreciated using his work as desktop wallpapers.
In February 1999 he left his day job as a programmer at ACT inc. to concentrate fully on making 3-D images. He changed his website to a subscription model to support his work full-time and moved to San Diego, California
in 1999. Jessica and Bliss married in 2002 and their first son, Ian, was born in 2003. The Bliss family moved to Ryan's hometown of Bloomington, Illinois
in 2004. They added Jason Bliss in 2006. The Bliss family currently resides in Illinois.
in 1997 and it became a full time job for him two years later. Bliss finished college with a bachelors degree in English. In 1995 in Iowa there were limited career opportunities for newly graduated English majors, so while working at a bookstore Bliss also took a job working as a preschool teacher.
He worked seventy hours a week for around six dollars an hour without progressing within his job and life. After receiving a PC as a graduation present he discovered a talent for computers. He took out college loans and re-enrolled at the University of Iowa
for a Computer Science
degree.
In the computer classes that Bliss took he enjoyed coding, but enjoyed making 3-D graphics even more. Computer Science was the only degree path directly relating to computers available at the time. It was during his studies at Iowa that Bliss started Digital Blasphemy.
Bliss graduated in 1998 and took a job at American College Testing as a Web Engineer. His artwork gained a large following online however and he decided in 1999 to leave programming behind to focus exclusively on creating wallpapers for Digital Blasphemy.
Digital Blasphemy has over 15,000 current paid subscribers and Ryan continues to work full-time creating wallpapers.
Digital Blasphemy
Digital Blasphemy is a commercial website for computer wallpapers designed and created by independent artist Ryan Bliss, an English and Computer Science graduate from the University of Iowa...
, a website known for its computer desktop wallpapers.
Life
Ryan Bliss spent a good portion of his early teenage years either reading fiction or writing fiction while he dreamed of being a writer when he grew up. He chose to attend the University of IowaUniversity of Iowa
The University of Iowa is a public state-supported research university located in Iowa City, Iowa, United States. It is the oldest public university in the state. The university is organized into eleven colleges granting undergraduate, graduate, and professional degrees...
so he could work with the Iowa Writers Workshop. He graduated from the University of Iowa in 1994 with a bachelor's degree in English. He got his first PC as a graduation present from his mother and soon began experimenting with computer graphics via some of the preinstalled software (Aldus PhotoStyler and Kai's Power Tools
Kai's Power Tools
Kai's Power Tools are a set of API plugins created by Kai Krause that were designed for use with Adobe Systems Photoshop and Corel Photo-Paint. Kai's Power Tools were sold to Corel when MetaCreations was closed....
).
Bliss loved computers so much that he wanted to make a living out of it. He re-enrolled at the University of Iowa in 1996 and received a second bachelor's degree (Computer Science
Computer science
Computer science or computing science is the study of the theoretical foundations of information and computation and of practical techniques for their implementation and application in computer systems...
) in 1998. Bliss also met his future wife, Jessica, around this time. He started "Digital Blasphemy
Digital Blasphemy
Digital Blasphemy is a commercial website for computer wallpapers designed and created by independent artist Ryan Bliss, an English and Computer Science graduate from the University of Iowa...
" as an HTML exercise in 1997 and it soon began attracting visitors who appreciated using his work as desktop wallpapers.
In February 1999 he left his day job as a programmer at ACT inc. to concentrate fully on making 3-D images. He changed his website to a subscription model to support his work full-time and moved to San Diego, California
San Diego, California
San Diego is the eighth-largest city in the United States and second-largest city in California. The city is located on the coast of the Pacific Ocean in Southern California, immediately adjacent to the Mexican border. The birthplace of California, San Diego is known for its mild year-round...
in 1999. Jessica and Bliss married in 2002 and their first son, Ian, was born in 2003. The Bliss family moved to Ryan's hometown of Bloomington, Illinois
Bloomington, Illinois
Bloomington is a city in McLean County, Illinois, United States and the county seat. It is adjacent to Normal, Illinois, and is the more populous of the two principal municipalities of the Bloomington-Normal metropolitan area...
in 2004. They added Jason Bliss in 2006. The Bliss family currently resides in Illinois.
Career
Ryan Bliss created Digital BlasphemyDigital Blasphemy
Digital Blasphemy is a commercial website for computer wallpapers designed and created by independent artist Ryan Bliss, an English and Computer Science graduate from the University of Iowa...
in 1997 and it became a full time job for him two years later. Bliss finished college with a bachelors degree in English. In 1995 in Iowa there were limited career opportunities for newly graduated English majors, so while working at a bookstore Bliss also took a job working as a preschool teacher.
He worked seventy hours a week for around six dollars an hour without progressing within his job and life. After receiving a PC as a graduation present he discovered a talent for computers. He took out college loans and re-enrolled at the University of Iowa
University of Iowa
The University of Iowa is a public state-supported research university located in Iowa City, Iowa, United States. It is the oldest public university in the state. The university is organized into eleven colleges granting undergraduate, graduate, and professional degrees...
for a Computer Science
Computer science
Computer science or computing science is the study of the theoretical foundations of information and computation and of practical techniques for their implementation and application in computer systems...
degree.
In the computer classes that Bliss took he enjoyed coding, but enjoyed making 3-D graphics even more. Computer Science was the only degree path directly relating to computers available at the time. It was during his studies at Iowa that Bliss started Digital Blasphemy.
Bliss graduated in 1998 and took a job at American College Testing as a Web Engineer. His artwork gained a large following online however and he decided in 1999 to leave programming behind to focus exclusively on creating wallpapers for Digital Blasphemy.
Digital Blasphemy has over 15,000 current paid subscribers and Ryan continues to work full-time creating wallpapers.