The best new set of tools.

[AbstractErosion]

For the last few years I've been overseas lecturing at a university (non-art related), and spent all of my money on sculpture, and traveling. I feel like I've grown a bit and have a body of work that I'm not embarrassed to show. At least in person, the photos are still pretty sad, but I'm hoping galleries can see past that.

So, I'm finally on the last leg of my escape plan and hope to return home to 'Merica. The only problem is that I'll be spending the rest of my money on a few more sculptures, shipping, plane tickets, a little bit of travel. I'll have just enough for a van, storage unit, and food for a month or two when I get back. It should all work out nicely if I'm able to get any shows and sell any work. My plan is to live in the van and travel around to cities so that I can network. I don't actually have any connections in the states so this seems important. I'll also be applying for as many residencies as possible in hopes of getting some temporary studio space. Aside from networking, I'll also be using this time to check out local art scenes and opportunities before I decide which city to settle in.

So my question...

Since I won't really be able to set up a new studio for an undetermined amount of time, I was hoping to try my hand at gorilla art installations, and (gasp) digital sculpture. I know how to push buttons, click on stuff, and use a power button, so figure I can learn the rest. How hard can it be? I'm budgeting a good chunk of cash for tools to get me started. The newest Mac Pro with Retina is already on the list, but I'm a little puzzled about what else to do. What software is best to learn? I saw some youtube videos of mudbox. I'll be writing proposals for public sculpture, and exploring ideas that I haven't been able to try yet. I've also been looking at graphics monitors to work on such as the wacom cintiq so that I can draw / sculpt directly on the screen.

Do any of you know anything about digi sculpture? I was against it until I realized I'll no longer have a studio. Now it sounds like the best idea until I get things sorted.

[Andrew Werby]

I'm not sure I'd blow all my cash on a Mac, if digital sculpture's what I wanted to do. Most of the programs you'll be using run under Windows; hardly any of them on the Mac. Sure, I suppose you can run Windows if you need to use them, but if you're going to do that, why spend the extra money on the Mac? I realize this is a quasi-religious issue for some people, so do it if your soul depends on it, but the cheap and free programs for 3D modeling are all Windows at this point. You can put together a Windows system with a great graphics card and tons of memory for a lot cheaper, and with a lot more choice in which components you include. You wouldn't get to talk to Siri, though...

Andrew Werby
www.computersculpture.com

[obseq]

Good to see you again!

On digital art, don't allow the lack of a studio and other similar logistical practicalities leave you grasping at straws.

Originally Posted by AbstractErosion

Aside from networking, I'll also be using this time to check out local art scenes and opportunities before I decide which city to settle in.

I keep hearing that where art is concerned, Detroit is a destination.
Really cheap to get in right now.
http://www.sculpture.net/community/s...ad.php?t=10672

[AbstractErosion]

Really not a fan of Windows. Not that Mac is any less evil, but it's so easy. My PC with windows is always begging to be punched or set on fire. Can I run Ubuntu with any of the free programs? What are some of the programs that I should look into in your opinion? I don't plan on going purely digital, but it will help me fill time and create while I'm between studios.

[Andrew Werby]

You might take a look at Rhino: www.rhino3d.com It's not particularly cheap, but you can design everything from jewelry to airplanes with it, and the new beta version is supposed to run on a Mac. There's also Z-brush, which has a rather odd interface, but people can do amazing things with it once they've figured it out.

There's also a free 3D program from DAZ software called Hexagon; it seems pretty capable, but I think it's Windows-only.

Isn't Ubuntu a Linux interface? If you're dual-booting into Linux, I suppose you could try Blender. It's free, but it's not easy to use, at least for 3D modeling. The thing to do is try a bunch of different programs, and find something that works the way your head does. Then dig in, and get good at it.

Andrew Werby
www.computersculpture.com

[CroftonGraphics]

Hi there,
As Andrew Werby said, Blender.
I usually use 3ds Max. However, when I teach workshops I usually use blender http://www.blender.org/ because it is free to use, therefore you don't have to pay a massive license to teach it.
Students generally pick this up quite quickly, including myself when I first had to teach it! It has a good sculpting tool, works on Macs and Windows. It also has a simple built in game engine, so you can make applications in realtime 3d so you can 'walk'/move around the form you create.
Compared to 3ds max, Blender is very amazing as its free.
If I didn't do freelance 3d work and use it only for sculpture and forms, blender would do everything really.
As I told my students, the good news is that if you learn to grasp the overall concepts of digital 3d in one programme, it is relatively easy to transfer to another. The concepts are usually the same, the buttons, performance etc differ a bit, usually.
Also, as the others suggested are good programmes, although I haven't really used them.
Zbrush too, but you pay for it, I didnt like it that much, it was a bit too much like photoshop with 3d, but it makes amazing things though!

[AbstractErosion]

Thanks for all the help guys! Sorry I didn't respond sooner, I took a month in Indonesia to expand my mind and get destroyed by waves that only wanted to remind me how bad I am at surfing.

Anyway, I've been researching the hell out of this software, and I still feel lost.

It seems like Zbrush is a must for texture, but not so hot for basic form. Many people seem to create in one program and then export to Zbrush. Is that true?

As for basic form, I'm looking at Rhino, and Claytools.

Claytools seems very intuitive with the pushing and pulling of air to shape your virtual clay. I would love to hear more about it. I won't actually be able to try any software until I get my new computer and I trust the reviews from you guys much more than the reviews of animators and jewelry designers that I keep finding online.

Thanx again!!

[AbstractErosion]

And blender looks good, but I have much more to read and watch before I get a feel for it.

Can I prototype from it?