I want to work with LEDs and create a sculpture with them for my project. Specifically, I want to create a sculpture of a tree using LEDs that changes its look to match every season of the year and cycle through these looks. I plan on making the tree around 5 to 6 feet tall. If time allows, I would like to add animations to the tree, like leaves falling or snow landing on the branches. To build the structure of the tree (base, trunk, and branches) I was planning to use PVC pipes that I would wrap the lights around. Currently, I want to build this sculpture in a 3D manner so it looks like a tree from any angle, but if that proves to be too ambitious, I can create it in a 2D manner, thus causing it to lose the component of depth that 3D sculpture has. I plan on using a pixel-blaze to program the LEDs. I would like to keep the LEDs to one single light strip, but if that is not possible with the current outline for the project, I can make the sculpture smaller or add another LED light strip.
Artist Questions:
1) Do you think creating a 3D light sculpture of a tree is too ambitious for the limited time we have in this class, and would it be more attainable to do a 2D light sculpture of a tree (would not have depth component of a 3D sculpture)?
2) Do you think PVC pipes are the best for building the structure of the tree, or would another material be better?
3) What do you think are the best ways to attach the LEDs to the structure of the tree?
I think the PVC pipe would be perfect to build the model of the tree. It is easily accessible, cheap for the most part, and easy to build with.
Yes, PVC should be very cheap, which is nice. I need to decide what type of joints makes the sculpture look most like a tree.
I think that wire or real branches will give the tree a more natural look. It depends on your artistic vision though. If you used these materials, I think it would be a good idea to attach the LEDs with another more natural material like rope. Or possibly thin wire. If you want to go with seasonal or environmental driven effects, I would start experimenting with the Pixel-Blaze asap.
Thank you for the advice. I like the idea of using rope or thin wire to attach the lights. A thin wire could be very nice as it probably won’t be that noticeable. Also, using real branches for a natural look is an interesting idea that I should look into.
1) I do not think it is too ambitious, from my prospective the lights will be the hardest part.
2) PVC will be perfect for a big tree. If you are planning on doing a smaller bonsai like tree, PVC might not be the best idea.
3) Even if wrapped around the tree, any random points of going through the base would be your best bet for attachment.
Thank you for the advice on attaching the lights to the tree. I think PVC will be the best as it’s cheap, and I can either wrap the wire around it or put the wire through it. If I make the sculpture smaller, do you have any advice on materials I could use other than PVC pipe?