Creating art takes creativity and innovation, much like 3D printing. Throughout history, we’ve seen art adapt to technology, from cave paintings to chronophotography and computer graphics. As technology advances, so do artists.
Therefore, it is not surprising that some trailblazers have embraced 3D printing technology as an opportunity to create new art forms. 3D printing is easily accessible and can be combined with CAD software, allowing artists to create anything they want – yes, anything! The additive manufacturing process complements the creative process, allowing artists to turn their visions into reality.
From 2D to 3D art, music, and film, creatives have found ways to incorporate 3D printing into many different mediums. In this article, we will present some notable examples. So go ahead and embrace your inner art critic as we take a closer look at 3D printed art!
Sculpting
Traditional sculpting involves using a soft material like clay to create a 3D shape, whether that be a human, animal, or abstract form. Virtual sculpting, typically done in programs like ZBrush, involves making a 3D model on a computer. You usually use a virtual ball of clay and shape it using brushes until you have a finished 3D model. This method leads to some impressive results and is used for video games, cinema, and collectibles. But what if the virtual sculptures didn’t have to stay virtual?
Nowadays, many artists are trying computer-aided sculpting and bringing their sculptures into the physical world with the help of 3D printing. How ingenious!
Joshua Harker
Joshua Harker is responsible for the 3D-printed, sugar-like skulls you’ve probably seen online. He’s considered the father of 3D printing art due to his innovative approach to sculpture design. He’s famous for combining CT and 3D scans to create stunningly accurate plastic facial and skeletal structures.
On his website, he writes his “art is about pushing the limits of form & dimensions to share visions… an exploration into what can be made and how to accomplish it in an effort to tell a story or create an experience.”
- 3D printing technique: Not explicitly stated, but FDM and resin-based are good possibilities
- Notable examples: Taurus Geodesica Exposition, Crania Geodesica Exposition, Zodiac Series
- More information: Joshua Harker, YouTube
Kate Blacklock
Sculpture doesn’t stop at just plastic filaments. Blacklock uses clay to make 3D-printed pottery. Her mesmerizing work includes many cut-outs and delicate patterns made with the accuracy of a 3D printer and the vision of a creative genius.
She includes surface finish processes such as glazing, and you can even purchase some vases in her shop. This project was inspired by her beautiful painting work, specifically the vessel paintings.
- 3D printing technique: Powder-bed binder jetting of ceramics
- Notable examples: Vessel M, Vessel P
- More information: Kate Blacklock
Danny van Ryswyk
Danny van Ryswyk creates whimsical, nightmarish figures inspired by the Victorian era and the practice of Memento mori. He 3D prints his creations, paints them by hand, and places them carefully in vintage glass display cases. He likes to evoke a feeling of decay with his work, along with steampunk and Gothic styles.
The artist uses SLS to print with ultra-high resolution polyamide that brings his fantastical creations to life instead of sculpting them by hand. He claims 3D printing improves the clarity and accuracy of the image.
- 3D printing technique: SLS, using polyamine
- Notable examples: Close to Madness, Tender Loving Darkness, Deleted Souls
- More information: Instagram, Danny van Ryswyk
Dr. Moon
Who said art had to be static? You can combine moving mechanisms with artistic expression to create something special, and that’s what these next creators have done. The first one, Dr. Moon, creates traditional kinetic wall art sculptures that move in mesmerizing patterns. Even though the mechanism is made of layers located at different depths, the magic happens when you look at them on the same plane and see that it’s a moving 2D image.
- 3D printing technique: FDM, often using wood filament
- Notable examples: Turtle swimming in the sea, Blink
- More information: YouTube
JBV Creative
Next up, JBV Creative creates 3D moving sculptures that aren’t limited to in-plane motion. JBV Creative is an engineer, and he uses his knowledge to design and plan interesting motions and shapes. This goes to show that engineering and art do mix.
Some sculptures are interactive, and you need to play with them to activate the motion, while others are just for display. Additionally, JBV Creative provides explanations for the design process, which might be useful if you’re an aspiring kinetic artist.
- 3D printing technique: FDM
- Notable examples: String Powered Sine Wave, Mechanical Ping Pong Sculpture, Love at First Swipe
- More information: YouTube
Painting & Drawing
Painting and drawing are among the oldest visual art forms, dating back to ancient cave paintings. However, this art form hasn’t remained there. It’s advanced with technology, as drawing tablets and iPads take painting into the digital scene.
But that’s not where it has to stop. 3D printing has become a bridge between the physical and the digital world, and painting is no exception. Creative artists are finding more ways to implement 3D printing into 2D art forms.
Woodblock Painting
Woodblock printing is an art form that dates back to ancient Japan. The famous “The Great Wave off Kanagawa” was created using this technique. Old printing systems used to post town announcements also employed this system, where they would carve messages that had to be repeated many times in a block of wood and stamp over it.
Nowadays, woodblock painting is still a practiced art form, combining drawing with hand-carving skills. Many projects make use of traditional woodblock carving. However, now it can be done with 3D printing, meaning no carving skills are required. You make a drawing, put it into CAD software, and after printing, it’s ready to stamp.
- 3D printing technique: FDM
- Notable examples: Hiroshige Sparrow and Hibiscus Ukio, Wild flowers, 8bit character Rubber Stamps
- More information: ErraticallyRndm, Jon Sweitzer-Lamme, Carlos Velez
Wall Art
3D printed wall art is a great way to decorate a blank wall. Instead of painting on a canvas, you draw digitally, print, and it’s ready to go. The print itself is the canvas, and it has the added advantage of not being contained to simple shapes.
The finished product can be any shape or color. Wall art is a popular home decor trend, and it’s a staple of contemporary interior design.
- 3D printing technique: FDM
- Notable examples: A river in the woods, He She, Geometric Cat
- More information: Jonathan Hofman, Johan Muurling, Geric Cdge
Music
You may think 3D printed art is limited to visual art, but no! Music is sound, and sounds are just mechanical waves. As we saw with the kinetic sculptures, 3D printing is great for mechanics. Therefore 3D printing can also be used as a source of sound – if you’re creative enough.
Here are some examples of the most impressive and creative music projects that utilize 3D printing.
Olaf Diegel
A sound engineer and professor-turned-3D printer guru, Diegel took his love for music and used it to create ODD Guitars, his own line of customizable 3D-printed electric guitars. Diegel is incredibly open about his creative process and explains how his guitars are made on his website.
The hardware and electronics are still commercially available items, so don’t worry, sound quality won’t be affected. Diegel’s art focuses on customized and original guitar casings.
- 3D printing technique: SLS
- Notable examples: American Graffiti, Atom, Steampunk
- More information: ODD Guitars
K.L.I.K. Instrument Collection
KLIK by the KontinuumLab is an interesting (and ambitious) project that combines music, 3D printing, and electronics. KLIK stands for KontinuumLab Instrument Kit, and its range of instruments includes ocarinas, woodwinds like flutes, and string instruments like guitars.
While these instruments don’t work in the traditional sense, they most definitely create music, mostly using tactile sensors. You can buy them in bundles or take on the challenge of building your own, as all the files are available for free.
- 3D printing technique: FDM
- Notable examples: Ocarina, Wind Instrument, Melodica
- More information: KontinuumLab, YouMagine, YouTube
Music Box
You’re probably familiar with music boxes, as they’re a staple antique. With 3D printing, you can create your own, although the acoustics may not be the best.
This collaborative project was shared on Thingiverse, a free repository where makers can share their designs, makes of other people’s designs, and remixes. A remix is when you take an existing design and add your own modifications. However, you still credit the original creator by marking it as a remix on the site.
This creator created a customizable music box. If you have a basic understanding of sheet music, you can take the original design and modify it to create your own music cylinder. Right now, this model has more than 1,600 remixes!
- 3D printing technique: FDM, resin-based
- Notable examples: Mario Bros. Soundtrack, O Holy Night, Mad World
- More information: Thingiverse (original by Philipp Tiefenbacher)
Performing Arts
3D printing and the performing arts go hand in hand. Creating complex props can be challenging for stage productions. While you can use CGI to make a dinosaur appear in films, it’s more difficult to create believable props for a play. 3D printing is a great solution, as you can achieve practically any shape and create props that require motion.
Here are some great 3D printing projects for the performing arts, including costumes, stop-motion animation, and even ballet shoes!
Theater Set Design
An example of 3D printed set design is the opera Fra Diavolo, which to was reported to have the first 3D printed scenography. There were probably others before that, although on a smaller scale.
Wasp engineers printed eye-catching, life-sized set pieces for Opera Theater’s production of Fra Diavolo in Rome, Italy. These pieces could change the entire future of set design, making even the wildest pieces come to life in a matter of weeks.
- 3D printing technique: FDM (large-scale delta printers)
- Notable examples: Fra Diavolo by Wasp
- More information: 3D Wasp
Costumes & Props
The theater students at Arizona State University (ASU) have all the resources to build their own costume pieces, thanks to the school’s makerspace facility. In this building, actors, technicians, and students alike can take introductory 3D printing workshops and create items for their projects without having to spend large amounts of money. Some students used 3D printing to create teeth for the costumes in the Greek tragedy, Ajax.
Another notable example is the costume design from the movie Black Panther. The costumes from the film were 3D printed and even won the Oscar for Best Costume Design in 2019.
Stop Motion
Almost any medium can be used for stop-motion animation, including wood, clay, and even detachable bricks. However, there’s a new element on set now that 3D printing has caught the eye of animators.
Studio DBLG created “Bears On Stairs,” a looped animation of a bear walking up a staircase using 50 3D-printed models for each frame. You can read more about the Bears On Stairs process here.
- 3D printing technique: FDM
- Notable examples: The Greatest Gift, Bears on Stairs
- More information: DBLG
Dancing Shoes
Dancing shoes need to be sturdy, comfortable, and safe to use. Not to mention that they should look good on the dancer. Creating 3D printed ballet shoes is quite a challenge, but a brave company has proved themselves up to it.
act’ble is a company based in Germany creating pointe soles from 3D printed TPU. The shoes feature a modern look and a sustainable concept. Plus, they are proven to last up to five times as long as regular dance shoes. They are currently available for purchase online.
- 3D printing technique: FDM, using TPU
- Notable examples: Act’pointes
- More information: act’ble
Lion Head
Traditional festivals are an important part of Chinese culture. One of the most important ones is held in Chimelong Ocean Kingdom Park in Zhuhai, China for the Chinese New Year. Part of the spectacle consists of a dancing lion that performs beautiful moves based on Kung Fu.
3D printing was incorporated into the 2018 festival with a majestic 3D printed lion head. It was used in the New Year’s Gala, and designed and printed by Print-Rite 3D Design & Modeling.
- 3D printing technique: Not explicitly stated, but it’s suitable for FDM
- Notable examples: 3D Printed Lion Head
- More information: LinkedIn
License: The text of "3D Printed Art: 3D Printing Makes Its Mark" by All3DP is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.