For my layers concept, I decided to go with my concept of making a statuette of the astronaut. I included all of my first round concepts at the end of this post, but I decided to go with a statuette because I wanted to have something physical that I could hold as part of my project. I also wanted to get back into 3D modeling for a bit*.

I’ve worked with Blender on and off for 3D modeling and should be able to recreate the astronaut in the given time. I looked into a slicer made specifically for Blender and found a plug in created by an artist who was trying to do similar projects with a laser cutter and material. Their plugin is perfectly functional for what I was looking for and I’ve gotten a chance to experiment with Blender’s stock model of “Suzanne” as shown below.

I’m planning on using a clear and translucent acrylics and cutting the layers perpendicular to the arms (aka parallel to the medial plane). I want to use clear acrylic to cut the layers for the helmet’s and the translucent acrylic for the rest of the body. I want to make it so that the astronaut feel ethereal and adapts to the light around him. I am considering adding something insider the helmet. I planned to paint the inside black to create this one part of the astronaut you can’t see, but I think I would prefer a light inner wash of white to create a glassy look on the outside that is blocked by the paint wash. This method would allow for me to maintain an ethereal look for the astronaut.

If I had a choice of how to display the astronaut, I would use a strong spotlight or flashlight faced at the astronaut. I’m possibly thinking of using a cube modifier on the model when I’m done to make the astronaut look even more unfitting to their environment (If you’ve seen the “voxel” style, this is what I’m referring to). Below is a further refined sketch of the astronaut to show positioning. I mainly wanted them to look off into the distance. I attached an early model of the astronaut as well.

I took inspiration from some of the glass etchings of Steve Clarkson. Their sculpture had utilized etched glass lit up by an overhanging light that created the 3D look produces by the layers. This reaction between light and clear panels of acrylic is one that I do want to replicate and a different time. I had also looked into other cardboard sculptures as well which made me consider the layer construction of a piece that I could possibly even “hide” and object in during construction. I will have to look into it, but I did want to add LEDs in the astronaut’s construction to light then up from the inside, but I believe the ethereal look would be broken. I am considering making an “abyss” base similar to the artwork of Duffy Studio in London. It would be a much thinner version with possibly 4 layers. I would want to add this to make the astronaut’s estrangement from the world more obvious by giving them a sort of environment to be in. I would possibly also use a milky white acrylic above birch wood to create this “between worlds” effect.

All of the drawings I original made as concepts

*During my sophomore year of high school I competed for 3D animation for SkillsUSA.

Fun fact: I’ve nick named the astronaut “Ece” (ee-see) since I originally called them “The Eclectic Astronaut”.