For those not in the know, Gaslands is a table-top game based in a post-apocalyptic wasteland. Players control small fleets of armed vehicles in battles for resources, dominance and survival. Handily, the game uses Matchbox size cars and vehicles as ‘pieces’. I was introduced to the game for the opportunity to customise these cars – I’ve yet to actually play it! Here’s a makeover you may be interested in…
You’ll have seen my first mini-canvas a couple of weeks ago… During this week I have been working on a 12×12″ version of my chuck it all on altered art piece. Here’s ‘Dream’:
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I made this chap a while back, and he’s been crooning away on the desk ever since waiting for the flashbulbs to go off. His five minutes of fame have arrived, his gigs in the pubs and clubs paid off. May I present my karaoke cuboidroid?
I’ve had fun creating my cuboidroids, and as my confidence has grown so have my modelling skills. The third cuboidroid in my series is perhaps the most whimsical to date… ‘will you be mine?’
The arms took a fair number of prototypes to get right, as did the ‘hands’. I eventually settled on the hexagonal shape and added the internal thread. This will give me the opportunity to add props using bolts that screw in. I’ve also added extra elements to reinforce the droid bits:
Now I’ve done the prototypes, I need to perfect the smoothing of the various components, perfect the paint jobs and come up with more characterisations. Not much then…
Another in my series of mini-characters is this unsure cuboidroid with a faux brushed steel finish. By combining various paints and varnishes, the dulled patina plays against the satin clean metal. I am amazed at how small an expression is required to anthropomorphise an otherwise inanimate/non-human object.
This little chap/ess is available to purchase – do contact me if you’re interested. Previous characters are here.
I’ve had a little bit more ‘me time’ in the studio and decided out of the blue to create something from scratch using my 3D printer. The second time I created this little chap was a lot quicker than the first. I had learnt how to do it in the preceding four hours and then neglected to save the file before it crashed… I’m in the process of kitting out another two of these mini sculptures and will be making a series, I think. I’m dubbing them ‘cuboidroids’ – cuboid droids. Two reasons: I had to call them something and ‘blockheads’ was already taken; a quick Google search showed no one had concatenated the two words together, ever. If only I had the cash to trademark the name.
This down-in-the-dumps rust bucket stands 9cm/3½” high and is for sale if anyone wants to make me an offer. Or commission a custom cuboidroid…
I’m relatively new to the whole 3D printing trend. I have lusted after one since desktop models started to become affordable and user friendly. I have been learning how to use Autodesk Fusion 360 – 3D modelling software for designing things from scratch ready for manufacture. In my case, things are made on my 3D printer, which I have got to grips with after buying it in February. I’d invested in a crowdfunded printer a year or so ago, but the company bombed and I never received it. Judging by the feedback from those that did get one, I’m lucky I didn’t!
This afternoon, I designed a pen holder for my graphics tablet styluses. They are rarely used – in part as I can’t readily lay my hands on them. I specifically designed the holders to fit the styluses. The right hand side’s hooks are gently angled to help hold the pens in place. I’ve stuck the holders to the bottom of my screen using the 3M’s Scotch restickable pads. If you want to print your own, I’ve made the files available for free over at Thingiverse.
It’s my monthly Art Journal Session on Monday evening, and for this month’s theme we’re tackling ‘ATC art’. I’m not one for making artist trending cards most of the time – for the uninitiated, ATCs are 3½” x 2½” pieces of artwork that are designed to be swapped between crafters – and I thought it was time to revisit the format. I’ve sneaked them into my art journal timetable, and here’s the sample page. BTW – the frames are one of my first forays into the world of 3D design and printed here in The Studio.
