Check out this Art Deco relief on Chicago’s South Side. They don’t make ’em like this anymore!
This isn’t a photograph, it’s my 3D reproduction of it.
What a contrast to my previous 3D piece! Unlike the Art Deco owl in the lobby of a posh Chicago apartment building, this entry is much less glamorous. But it’s no less inspired!
Backstory
I’ve followed Chicago architectural photographer and built environment evangelist Will Quam (Brick of Chicago) for years. I’ve always admired his passion for Chicago history and to recount these stories through the prism of brick! And what is remarkable is his ability share that excitement with people who don’t have an encyclopedic knowledge of masonry.
Will posted this incredible relief.
The detail is on a ComEd substation in Grand Crossing. The limestone seems to come alive, and you can almost hear the electricity buzzing as the bulb casts its light for all to see.
Procedure
I modeled the structure of the relief first, taking some liberties here and there for the purposes of aesthetics (and also simplicity). It was challenging to balance the precision of the hard lines of the relief with the effortless geometry.
From there, I added texture. I adapted public domain resources for my use by adding noise texture to simulate weathering and roughness.
Next, I spent some quality time wrestling with sliders and nailing down displacement settings. What a back and forth! I spent hours fine-tuning, never feeling quite happy with the product.
Frankly, I was getting a bit frustrated! It’s always like this at the end of a project.
I’m glad I kept going, though. I think I did a good job to capture the likeness and spirit of the relief. And after all that toil, looking at this image makes me truly proud.
Particularly satisfying, I showed my work to a couple of friends. Multiple were surprised that the image wasn’t a photograph!
Here’s a brief look at my process!
Closing
I learned a lot — both about art and about 3D modeling — in this project. And I’m already busy at work on my next 3D project, a seasonal spin on our city’s architecture.
It’s such a privilege to live in a place surrounded by exquisite design like this, as well as folks, like Will, who keep us all curious. It’s a constant encouragement to keep looking around. We’re so lucky that these artworks are on display for anyone to see. We just have to look.
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