Jan 27, 2016 | By Alec

Though we here at 3ders.org are absolutely convinced that 3D printed pieces can be very artistic, the technology is often criticized for the rough finishes, bland colors and high level of reproducibility. But if you need to be reminded of just what an artist can achieve 3D printed objects, you just need to take a quick look at the work of digital painter and sculptor Danny van Ryswyk, who recently revealed more about how he created his fantastic range of gorgeous, and slightly creepy, 3D printed sculptures.

If his name sounds somewhat familiar, that could be because Danny van Ryswyk’s 3D printed sculptures have been appearing at a number of 3D print shows and art conventions over the past few years. All of his works, both the 3D printed sculptures and the 3D renderings, clearly emanate a somewhat creepy and fascinating vibe, with hints of nineteenth century Victorian culture, dystopian imaginations and modern Gothic subcultures clearly present. “My work is a fuse of dream imaginary with a distinctly paranormal bent. All ideas are influences of my interest and fascination for the supernatural,” he explains. All sculptures are painstaking painted by hand and encased in bell-jars, creating a sensation of some sort of scientific anomaly exhibited in a cabinet of curiosity. As if it would be a very bad idea to remove the glass bell-jar. That uniform, hypnotic style makes these sculptures gorgeous props that can also be added to scenic tableaus.

As the Dutch sculptor revealed, that style is inspired by his on vivid memories and experiences – as every good art should be. When he was just eight years old, he had a very unusual encounter with a UFO, an experience that made such a defining impact on his mind that it continuously influences his artistic creations. Like that flying saucer in his memories, Ryswyk’s sculptures and 3D drawings are dark, scientific and fantastical, and of course inexplicable. Combined with a style reminiscent of Victorian moody photography, the results are compelling. A fantastic combination of the absurd, the outdated and next-generation imaging and sculpting technologies.

And though giving physical shape to dark imaginations can sometimes look a bit tacky, Ryswyk has also developed a very systematic design and manufacturing style in which a single piece can take several weeks (or even months to complete). However, the results look everything but 3D printed. “Each work is created with 3D-software, where I sculpt my work in a very comparable way as with clay, wood or stone, but then in a digital environment,” he explains. Working completely from his imagination, a sculpture thus seems to evolve naturally over a course of weeks.

Should a project finally reach that point of completion in 3D imaging software, Ryswyk sometimes decides to turn it into a digital 2D painting. “I can decide to take it a step further by applying textures, lights and a camera and render my model into a 2D-image,” he says. Alternatively, should he decide to 3D print it, he sends it to a professional 3D printing service for printing in high resolution ultra fine detail.

What follows is a lengthy artisanal process to get results fit for exhibition. “After the printing process I start painting my sculptures with an authentic approach, comparable with old polychrome painted religious figures,” Ryswyk explains. This obviously begins with preparing the surface through sanding and coating, followed by a base color. The painting process is especially meticulous, and is partly inspired by the techniques used by old masters. “All the details need to be painted onto it. To accentuate the dynamic and form of the figure, shadows and highlights need to be added. Unconventional methods are invented along the way, like splattering paint for certain texture effects, transparent washes to highlight the focus on parts and bring out the details,” he explains. “For me, painting is not so much a technical but an emotional process.”

But it’s undeniable that the results are breathtaking and definitely fit for exhibition. It simultaneously shows that when 3D printing technology is placed into the hands of artists, even when it is used as just one step in a larger design process, it becomes a force to be reckoned with. If you would like to see his 3D printed sculptures in person, his next solo exhibition will be at Roq La Rue Gallery in Seattle on April 7th, 2016.

Posted in 3D Printing Application

Maybe you also like:









Mindy wrote at 4/26/2017 6:52:19 PM:Brilliant work.holywhutuh wrote at 2/21/2016 12:24:28 AM:Please make these avaliable for saleLucifer wrote at 2/18/2016 1:16:14 PM:It's creepy but sculptures are really great paintjob was done really wellAntiroku wrote at 1/29/2016 10:10:20 AM:This is a whole new level of wtf! Should be entitled "Visions of Hell"! I don't think those were aliens man, seems you were part of some obscure cult ritual or something!Belze_bubba wrote at 1/29/2016 12:40:52 AM:Metal as fxxk!rob wrote at 1/28/2016 11:58:19 PM:Can anyone please explain how his experience impacted his religious beliefs? I see allot of satanic/demonic imagery in his work. I am not a very religious person but find this interesting as many theories give a malicious link between ufos and demons.Stupid wrote at 1/28/2016 11:50:40 PM:Not Stupid



