This week we are talking about personal projects.
I randomly got very inspired this week during Brit’s color theory class, though I don’t suppose it’s that random considering that class is really delving into creating art and experimenting.
My idea is to create a 3d stippling painting using dowels, (at least) 1″ plywood, color, illustrator, and math. Let me include a photo to help explain.
Basically I’d drill out tons of holes on a grid on a wood panel (painted black in this example) canvas, then fill each hole with a small dowel, and then paint each dowel.
Here’s a detailed list of notes / steps I plan to take to do this. Don’t take this idea please. Just kidding, steal it if you want, IT’S A PERSONAL PROJECT. I’m sick of people monetizing their hobbies. Does anyone do anything for fun anymore?
Process / Tools:
- Create Digital Mockup
- Create Grid
- Mask Image on Grid
- Decide how wide / narrow pallet is with image trace feature
- Decide on Background Color(s)
- Fill in each grid component with corresponding color using eyedropper tool
- Figure out which colors are used
- Find paper / paint that will work to match digital mockup
- Create grid on wood (likely 1” or thicker plywood)
- Punch where each hole will go
- Drill out each hole (get equal depth using a “drill bit stop collar”
- Skip 3, 4, & 5 and use a CNC if you have access to one. That’ll save so much time.
- Paint background
- Get dowels equal size to holes, Cut correct number of dowels to correct number of size
- Glue dowels into the holes
- Paint dowels if desired
- glue paper to dowels or paint dowel tips
- frame
- enjoy
I feel like this would be a good experience because it would be fun, It’d be an excuse to buy more tools, I’d get to practice with a bunch of tools that are new and interesting to me (Illustrator, drill bit stop collars, squares, rulers, guides, etc), and I could show off how cool and creative I am.
I think a big skill I’d like to learn with a project like this is using CNC software and hardware. I took a CAD class in high school (roughly 10-11 years ago) and I haven’t used shop equipment like that since. I have worked as a bike mechanic though, so I’m pretty exceptional with tools. Bike mechanics are especially crafty.