Shown below is the concept design sketch for my layer project. I am hoping to put a layer of water, then the koi, then the lily pads (possibly in multiple layers). I am undecided if I want to keep all of the component in different wood veneers, or different cardstock to create contrast or if I want to paint over some of the elements and keep it all wood. The overall size of the design is 5″ by 8″ so it is a larger piece than my previous designs. I took a lot of inspiration from the Mitchell McGee art as well as the Shadowfox designs. I’ll put the ones that inspired me the most below.
UPDATE:
Below is concept sketch #2. This is what I used to create all of the layers and pieces I will need to cut out. The entire piece will hopefully be embedded in a raster of the water layer (the blue green rectangle) on plywood. The rest of the details will be cut out and pieced in place from veneers.
Hi Lauren,
How big do you plan to make your piece?
Hi Sameer! The entire design should fit within a 5″ by 8″ rectangle. I decided to limit myself to the size of the veneers that I bought in case this takes multiple attempts. However, due to how I designed the piece I could upscale it later if needed and change my materials.
Hello! I love this idea, I think it can turn out very beautifully. My question how do you plan to express depth or like show that the fish are underwater?
Hi Jakob! Thank you! I hadn’t thought about that actually. I sorta see the aerial view of the design as enough to convey that the scene is taking place in water. Maybe adding a clear acrylic would convey an underwater depth better? I guess we’ll see how it turns out!
Hi Lauren! This is a very beautiful design. My question is what made you decide on wood as the material?
I look forward to seeing what you make!!
Hi Vanshika! Thank you! I really liked the pack of veneers that the professor recommended and wanted to use them to create “natural” looking art. I think it’s kind of fun to use wood to create nature scenes, animals, and landscapes.
Hi Laure- very beautiful I love this! I am wondering how big you plan of making this?
Hi Hannah! Thank you! I am trying to keep it within a 5″ by 8″ rectangle for now, but my first cuts seem to fly away in the laser cutter. I may need to resize a bit for future versions..
Hi Lauren! I like the idea of using veneers for the piece and the subject of koi fish, What do you plan as a finish for the piece?
Hi Kat! I am thinking of keeping the final version of the piece in the natural veneer wood (meaning it won’t match the colors I designed with). If something doesn’t turn out quite right, I may decide to add some paint.
How many layers do you plan on making? Have you thought about making many layers to make it more 3D?
Hi Shane! Right now, the design is more focused around inlaying different types of wood to create the scene. I had wanted to make it 3D but didn’t like the idea of layering wood for the koi details.
Hi Lauren! I love your idea! What inspired this design and how do you see it inspiring others?
Hi Jada! Thank you! I had originally wanted to try embroidering a koi pond but thought that this project would be a really cool alternative. In terms of inspiring others, I just hope that it brings happiness.
Do the colors of the koi fish have any symbolic meaning? I love that they use very similar colors but still appear as almost opposites.
Hi Amanda! There isn’t any significance, I just wanted them to have colorations of koi that I have seen before.
Hi Lauren, what is your plan for the water surface material? This is my own suggestion but I think between the wooden layers, transparent acrylic for the water surface will make it more realistic. By the way, I love your idea.