This week we are highlighting Brian Richardson. This incredibly unique shop proves just how far imagination and 3D printing can go together. Whimsical and fascinating creatures fill Brian’s shop and are so well done, you can hardly tell they’re printed.

Tell us a little bit about yourself: Who are you? Where are you located?
I’m a designer, illustrator and 3D modeler located on Long Island, New York. My shop Mythic Articulations provides all kinds of mythical creature and cryptic skeletons. And a few plants. I’ve had experience with all manner of sculpting including clay, metalworking, and woodworking, but 3D printing is by far my favorite method for producing sculptures.

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What’s the story behind your designs? What inspires you?
Most of what I sculpt is bones. I spent most of my time up until college studying biology, and it is a major inspiration in almost everything I make. I’m also a fan of mythology and cryptozoology, so combining the two seemed like a perfect idea.

What brought you to 3D printing with Shapeways?
I sort of just stumbled upon Shapeways while on the internet, and thought “This is the coolest thing I have ever seen”. It wasn’t very long after that that I began to learn 3D modeling.

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How did you learn how to design in 3D?
I’m more or less completely self-taught. I started with the free program Sculptris. For anyone wanting to learn organic 3D modeling, this is the best program there is in my opinion. When I felt I had reached my limits in that, I got Z-brush and spent a bit of time just messing around and watching YouTube tutorials when I needed to. YouTube is the best teacher I’ve ever had.

How do you promote your work?
FacebookTwitterTumblrPinterest, and YouTube. And my own website. I’ve found Tumblr to be really good at spreading word of my new products, and it’s growing faster than any of the other sources. Also any aggregate site that wants to show my work, likethisiswhyimbroke.com, and Cnet.com.

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Who are your favorite designers or artists? Who in the Shapeways community has served as an inspiration to you?
My favorite historical artist, is Leonardo Davinci. Some people on Shapeways worth mentioning are, artfulshrapnel, for their awesome “Land Squid”, Wondercat, and their “Soul of a BurntMarshmallow”, and FunkyBunnies, with the “Hand Turkey”. There are many others, but those are my 3 favorites. I really like anything that shows the artist’s skill.

If you weren’t limited by current technologies, what would you want to make using 3D printing?
Living organisms. I could imagine it working similar to modeling and programming AI in video games, but then printing them into existence instead of keeping them in the virtual world. Plants would be cool too. Although either of those could wreak havoc on the ecosystem if released, and would probably need some sort of self-destruct feature. But it would still be awesome.

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WHAT WE LOVE ABOUT THIS SHOP:

  • Amazing imagination and presentation, showing the possibilities of 3D printing
  • Beautiful photography with detailed shots from all angles
  • Cohesive product line
  • Great branding with banners, logos, etc

Amazing work, Brian! Your designs are both beautiful and inspiring – we can’t wait to see more creatures! Show your support via Facebook, Twitter, Tumblr, Pinterest, and Brian’s site. As always, to be featured, please email aimee @ shapeways.com.