Model citizen
James Abell explains the secrets behind his 3D printed instectoid
James Abell mixes 3D printing and other maker technologies with traditional art elements, and you can see the results in these stunning sculptures. We liked them so much that we wanted to find out more – beginning with: why ants and bees? “They’re a common theme in my 2D and 3D artwork,” he explains. “They hint at how collective species like these resemble humans in some ways in our cities. I also like these creatures as they are a homage to retrofuturism. Saul Bass made a film called Phase IV in 1974 which was a big influence on me – check it out.”
Modern artists provided an influence too. “I like artists who use 3D printing with retrofuturistic elements,” he says. “I just found the artist Micah Ganske and am looking more into her work. Also, I always find the artists who emerge from the Pier 09 Autodesk Residency in San Francisco residency really interesting.”
James used 3ds Max poly modelling, Symmetry modifier and the Paint
James takes inspiration from artists who use 3D printing with
retrofuturistic elements Deformation tool to help get the proportion and ‘flow’ of the anatomy. “I also used a lot of Google images from photos of Red Fire and Honeybees to get the anatomy looking good.”
Working on an ASUS Republic of Gamers GL552VW 15.6” Gaming Laptop, he used 3ds Max 2015, Blender 2.76, Cura, Sketchbook Pro and also the 123D suite from Autodesk. “I’m also trying to get into Autodesk’s Fusion 360,” he adds, “so I don’t have to guess when I need more accuracy with future 3D prints with joining mechanisms, for example.”
As for 3D printers and other maker technologies, James uses fab labs and makerspaces. “For example, Maklab in
They’rethey’re aa commoncommon themetheme inin mymy 2D2D andand 3D3D artwork…artwork… theythey hinthint atat howhow collectivecollective speciesspecies likelike thesethese resembleresemble humanshumans inin somesome wayway
Glasgow and I also worked with Fablab London, so used their machines too. It’s really important to join and support these places wherever you are in the world, it is a new industrial revolution!”
Deciding how much detail to go into with his models was tricky. “I decided to stop in 3ds Max,” he says. “Sure, I could have taken them to Zbrush to add finite details, but with 3D models the details can get lost with lower print resolutions,” he reasons.
Printing provided an added technical challenge. “The ants and bees proved difficult on the Ultimaker printers. I got them made but the quality was woolly and the 3D printer had to print such a large amount of support structures, it was almost impossible to take these off to get to the models.”
To sell his models, James uses the online printing service Shapeways. “They have a really good application after uploading a 3D mesh that enables any fixes so the screening is good prior to letting you print,” he says. Find out more about James’s work at www.jamesabellart.com