3DCAMP- Registration Is Open And Check Out These Speakers

For those of you who follow my blog, as Co-chairwoman of 3DCAMP Houston I have been working very hard on 3DCAMP Houston 2012.  It is going to be an amazing event. 3DCAMP Houston 2012 is an all day symposium on Saturday September 29th from 8:00-5:00.  It is being hosted by the University of Houston Department of Natural Sciences and Mathematics in conjunction with the School of Art.  There will be 15 speakers talking on a variety of topics.  Registration is only $15. and includes breakfast and a lunch.  We are also having an an art show titled “The Third Dimension” coordinated by Betz Gallery. The show will exhibit everything 3D.  It will be open all day on Saturday for those attending the symposium and then to the public after 5:00 p.m. You can check out the prospectus for further information. There is still time to get your artwork sent. We are not just looking for Rapid Prototyping items, but anything 3D. Do you work in architecture, math, or the sciences and have something to contribute? That is create because 3DCAMP is returning with STEAM an educational initiative that encompasses Science, Technology, Engineering, Art and Math.

I will be talking about some of the speakers through the 3DCAMP website and mailing list, but I thought I would include them here as well. These are our our first three speakers.

OUR SPEAKERS

Here are our first three speakers, mentioned in our recent newsletter. Stay tuned for future newsletters and the website for the next 12.

Johannes Huber
Johannes Huber has worked in the entertainment industry as an artist since 1995. His art credits include games such as Starfleet Command 1 and 2, James Bond: Agent under Fire, and Mechwarrior Commander as well as films like RV, My Ex-Super Girlfriend, Rocky 6 and Seraphim Falls and worked with published authors on creature design and book covers. His other work includes clients such as Nalco and, Introgen Therapeutics, Inc, and other pharmaceutical companies focused on cancer treatment. He is an alumni of the Gnomon School of VFX high-end CG program and teaches illustration, Sculpting Human Anatomy and Autodesk Maya for the Houston Community College System. TOPIC: Digitally Sculpting in ZBrush and Human Anatomy

Mike de la Flor
Mike de la Flor is a freelance medical illustrator, animator, instructor and writer. He’s the author of The Digital Biomedical Illustration Handbook and other CG books and articles.Mike has also been an adjunct instructor of computer graphics at Kingwood College. TOPIC: Medical Illustration and Animation

Steven Ramirez
Steven Ramirez is the owner of Smash Design a Hollywood prop and set fabrication company. Steven first realized the need for new 3d fabrication methods while he worked on Hollywood movies sets for Film Director Robert Rodriguez at the world renowned studio Trouble Maker Studios there Steven discovered the need for 3d CNC machines which opened up new doors in the set construction world. But it wasn’t until working directly for ex-NASA Senior Robotics Engineer Chris Lovchik that his knowledge of 3d cnc all came together. Steven worked as an industrial designer for Lovchik’s tech company that fabricated the famous Carvewright cnc machine. Steven’s company Smash Design has since constructed numerous large scale projects for clients such as NASA, Saks 5th Avenue, Versace, Maersk, Cosentino, TLC, Warner Brothers, and NBC TV’s Extreme Home Makeover Edition. He uses large CNC’s to carve and create his 3d computer drafted models and themed environments and polishes them with old world sculpting and finishing techniques. TOPIC: Hollywood 3d Props

What Is A Work Station/Studio?

Someone recently asked if they could see how others set up their work station. I have always been intrigued with seeing pictures of other people’s studios as well. In light of that, I am posting my work spaces.

Computer work is done in my office, separate from the traditional studio.

This is where I spend 98% of my life. Yes, I have a life, but I love what I do. The space is divided up into quadrants really. Upstairs is office, downstairs is studio and inspiration.  I love my yard and have lots of animal company at the studio while I work.  For more on that, look at the pictures below.

We built our office/studio behind our home a 40′ commute

Oh yes, there is one more space, but I won’t show it. You see I’m a writer, and I do my best writing in bed.  So on with the creative spaces.

Sometimes I have to work both inside and out. The porch is great for things like working on the foam of the panther.
As long as it is not too hot, and the project is not that big, I can work on the studio porch.
The inside of the studio is where I get wild and crazy and use power tools!
sometimes I surround myself with nothing but portraits
Here is one of my favorite studio companions Tilly. She comes and knocks on the back door in the morning and is a joy to my heart.
It is important to have “thoughtful” places.
Once a year, everything is cleaned up so that we can have an upside Down Christmas Party. Nighttime at the upside down Christmas party is magical and my favorite part of the evening.
Sometimes, in the morning, I just sit on the studio porch and contemplate work.

Bridgette Mongeon is a sculptor, writer, illustrator and educator as well as a public speaker.

Her blog can be found at https://creativesculpture.com.

She is the vice chair of the planning committee for 3DCAMP Houston 2012 http://www.3dcamphouston.com

She is also the owner and creator of the God’s Word Collectible Sculpture series http://www.godsword.net

Follow the artists on twitter twitter.com/Sculptorwriter and twitter.com/creategodsword

Follow me on Facebook

Listen to The Creative Christian Podcast or the Inspiration/Generation Podcast

Click on Podcast Host Bios for a list of all podcasts.

Listen to the Art and Technology Podcast

SIGGRAPH Conference- Looking For Interviews

Still time to register for SIGGRAPH- Check out the website for more information

SIGGRAPH (Special Interest Group on Graphics and Interactive Techniques) is a very large computer graphics conferences.  I have attended many SIGGRAPH conferences both as an attendee and as press.  As a freelance writer and a podcaster I’m always looking for interesting new technology to discuss.  My added interests this year are also emphasized by being Vice Chairwoman of 3DCAMP Houston 2012.  I’m looking for things that might be of interest for our September 29th conference in Houston and artists for our international call for art for “The Third Dimension” Art show.

Loved writing about the art at the 2008 SIGGRAPH. Traditional veteran sculpture Erwin Hauer embraces technology-An article that I would like to turn into an up-and-coming podcast.

In the past SIGGRAPH has introduced me to some of the most interesting people and technology, and indeed it was the driving force for reference material as I completed an MFA-IA that focused on Art and Technology.

My thoughts on SIGGRAPH and Technology
I thought this might be a good opportunity to posts articles that relate to some of the topics at SIGGRAPH and art and technology that I have written in the past. I’ll also list my focus for my up and coming SIGGRAPH trip. If you know of a booth or an artist I should visit, please let me know.  At this moment, I am not coming as press, but an attendee, unless someone needs an article or two from the conference, I’d be happy to oblige.  My exploration at SIGGRAPH will still be as press, for my freelance articles and podcasts, as well as for a book I have been working on about Art and Technology. I’m just not working in an “official” SIGGRAPH Press capacity, unless someone contacts me to do so between now and SIGGRAPH.

Previous Articles and posts about SIGGRAPH Topics

Mongeon, Bridgette. “Review Pixologic ZBrush 4 Packed with features for both Mac and Windows Users.
Studiodaily (November 2010) 30. pdf

Mongeon, Bridgette. “Exploring Digital Technologies as Applied to Traditional Sculpting.”
Sculpture Review. (Winter 2007) 30. pdf

Mongeon, Bridgette. “The American.”
Sculpture Review. (Winter 2007) 32. pdf
Mongeon, Bridgette. “Using the Computer and Poser in the Sculpture Studio.

Best of Artists and Artisans online. (May2008)
Mongeon, Bridgette. “A Review of New Technology for the Traditional Studio at the Siggraph Convention.

Best of Artists and Artisans online . (November 2008)
Mongeon, Bridgette. “Milling-An Additional Tool of Advanced Technology For the Traditional Sculptor.
Best of Artists and Artisans online. (January 2009)

Mongeon, Bridgette. “Frankensteinian Art
Creative Endeavors. (May 2010)

Mongeon, Bridgette. “Antiquities, Masterpieces, Rights of Ownership and 3D Scanning”
Creative Endeavors. (May 2010)

Books
Bridgette Mongeon, contributing author. Digital Sculpting with Mudbox: Essential Tools and Techniques for Artists. Focal Press 2010.

Book Chapters
Bridgette Mongeon, contributing writer. “A Brief History of Medical Illustration.” The Digital Biomedical
Illustration Handbook
. Author de la Flor, Mike: Charles River Media, 2004.

Podcasts about Art and Technology

Besides writing articles I also have an Art and Technology podcast that I began during my graduate work.  I am very interested in reviving these podcasts now that Graduate school is over.  I’ll enjoy once again having that “fire side chat” with others in the industry.

You can see a list of the Art and Technology Podcasts on my other website Digital Sculpting.net or your open the player and begin to listen

My interests for stories and interviews for SIGGRAPH-
Please note: Conferences are busy places. We can meet at SIGGRAPH and set up a time outside of SIGGRAPH to interview further.

  • Anything relating to digital sculpting- software, hardware etc.
  • Output- rapid prototyping advancements, milling, holographic imaging etc.
  • Art and technology-artists and processes
  • Scanning
  • Robotics
  • Antiquities and 3D
  • Education of 3D and especially STEAM
  • Papers relating to psychology and the process of creating in 3D
  • There is always something new that I get so excited about when I go to SIGGRAPH-what is the cool new thing that will thrill me this year?

Here is a look at a video I found on SIGGRAPH Emerging technologies.

A Completion Of A Bronze

After about three metal checks the sculpture finally meets my approval for patination.  It is once again sand blasted and the  patination is applied.  To get the color or patina the foundry man heats up the bronze with a torch and applies different chemicals. Often at this point I cannot tell what the sculpture will look like complete with the wax covering. So the foundry man wets the sculpture down with a hose.  This gives the same appearance of the waxing process.  The final process is a coat of hot wax.

The sculpture is heated and
chemicals are applied to
produce the appropriate
color of a traditional patina

Now on to figuring out installation.  According to the Evelyn Rubenstein Jewish Community Center they are having an event called the maccabie conference. It begins august 5th and goes to the 10th. I’m not sure why we can’t install it now, as the sculpture will be there for the up and coming conferences, but they have asked us to wait. So, I expect installation at the end of August.  More on the installation and unveiling of Evelyn.

You can follow along with this entire process of creating a life size bronze for the ERJCC on the Evelyn Rubenstein project blog located at http://erjcc.blogspot.com/

Only The Artist Gets To Draw On A Bronze!

I was thrilled to be called into the foundry today to see the progress of Evelyn. She is well on her way to being complete for the Evelyn Rubenstein Jewish Community Center.  Unfortunately they are having a major event at the ERJCC so we will not be able to install her until the middle/end of August.

These are the things I look for when I go to the foundry for a metal check

  • Does each piece look the way I sculpted it?
  • Are there any metal burrs that need to be removed?
  • Does the texture match my texture where it has been welded?
  • Do her hands look natural in their placement on her body. 
  • How do all appendages look?
  • Are there any holes or things that need to be fixed?

    I walk around the sculpture and mark it with a marker. The foundry man will come back in and fix the things I request.  She is so close. Next post will be about the patination or the final color of Evelyn. 

 

An Art Show Featuring 3D And Technology

I’m thrilled that Gil Bruvel will be joining the artshow. I have been a fan of his work and featured it in my Mudbox book in the chapter on digital printing, and scanning. I’m not sure what pieces he is putting into the show but this one is called “The Builder” and is printed in metal.

I received this press release from the media at 3DCAMP Houston 2012. As vice chair, I’m pretty absorbed in the planning of 3DCAMP and am excited to have the opportunity to see some really incredible work. I’m posting this here so that I can encourage others to show what great things they are doing. Please feel free to pass on this post and press release. This art exhibit is open to anyone and is a national call. It is not just what one would refer to as 3D art, but 3D printed art as well, and I hope some people send things like 3D art that has to do with our theme of STEAM—Science, Technology Engineering, Art and Math. How about some 3D printed buildings? Can’t wait to see what others do. Hey, if you own a rapid prototyping company please pass this on to those who are using your equipment, they should be sure to mention your equipment in the definition of the art. Remember this is not just 3Dprinted work,it is anything 3D – well you know 3D technology stuff- we traditional artists have been calling work 3D long before technology called it 3D.    More information can be found on the 3DCAMP 2012 website. Oh and it is not limited to physical objects, there is an area for film and can’t wait to see what images some people are creating with 3D software.

If you live near Texas and want to attend 3DCAMP Houston registration will be opening up soon.The date of the art show is 28th of September. It will be open to the public and then open for 3DCamp Houston symposium the following day Saturday September 29th, 2012. It is hosted by the University of Houston Department of Natural Sciences and Mathematics in conjunction with the Department of Arts. We also have room for more sponsors if you know of anyone who is interested.

3DCAMP and Houston Art and Culture announce a national call to artists

Brooke Davis creates amazing woodworking by using CNC milling.

“The Third Dimension” is in conjunction with 3DCAMP Houston’s symposium, an all-day conference featuring presentations and live demos from expert speakers. The symposium is scheduled for the following day, Saturday, September 29. The exhibition will remain open to the public during the symposium.

3DCMAP Houston is a participant-driven gathering of 3D professionals and students from a wide range of disciplines including fine art, education, science, engineering, medical, computing and many more. 3DCAMP’s commitment to educate the public about the latest 3D technologies will include presentations showcasing technology that can aid artists in the creative process to achieve new and exciting results in their work.

Houston Art and Culture, a nonprofit organization with the mission to enrich the local art community through mentoring and scholarships, recently partnered with 3DCAMP Houston in order to expand both organizations’ initiative for educational outreach. President and founder of Houston Art and Culture and 3DCMAP co-chair Lori Betz will be a juror.

“This exhibit will feature artwork that uses some of the techniques and technologies that the speakers will be talking about, and the art work is amazing. It’s like nothing you have ever seen before,” Betz said.

Deadline for submission is scheduled for September 3.

For full details on the exhibit and the prospectus for submissions, visit the 3DCAMP 2012 website.

If you need more infomration about this press release or the art show feel free to contact Houston Arts and Culture.

Media Contact:

_______________________________________________

Bridgette Mongeon is a sculptor, writer, illustrator and educator as well as a public speaker.

Her blog can be found at https://creativesculpture.com.

She is the vice chair of the planning committee for 3DCAMP Houston 2012 http://www.3dcamphouston.com

She is also the owner and creator of the God’s Word Collectible Sculpture series http://www.godsword.net

Follow the artists on twitter twitter.com/Sculptorwriter and twitter.com/creategodsword

Follow me on Facebook

Listen to The Creative Christian Podcast or the Inspiration/Generation Podcast

Click on Podcast Host Bios for a list of all podcasts.

Listen to the Art and Technology Podcast

A New Resource For 3D Models And Tutorials!

“Move one place on” a sculpture presentation for a Houston Park.


My frequent readers of my website/blog know that I am both a traditional and a digital artist. I use digital process as part of my traditional sculpture and in presentations such as the tiger, or my pitch for a new park piece titled “Move one place on.” I work in Mudbox and as my previous post states, have written a book about Mudbox. I also work in ZBrush well. I’m a proponent for 3D and using it as a tool and am the vice chair at 3DCAMP HOUSTON 2012. I’m also working on another book about artists who are using 3D—their resources, process and products that are created in physical form.

Final presentation for the sculpture to be created in bronze
3d Models and tutorials. I have to spend some time here.

When working on my projects I’m always searching for 3d models. You see how much I talk about Daz3d on this blog as well as Poser. Here, once again is the video I created stating some of my process. Anyway, I wanted to share with my readers a new resource 3DExport apparently has both models, but more exciting for me, is their tutorials. I LOVE TUTORIALS!  If I could do nothing but create tutorials I would be a happy camper. I’m kind of obsessed with passing on information. So, be sure to check out 3DExport

Sculptor and writer
Bridgette Mongeon

Bridgette Mongeon is a sculptor, writer, illustrator and educator as well as a public speaker.

Her blog can be found at https://creativesculpture.com.

She is the vice Chair of the planning committee for 3DCAMP Houston 2012 http://www.3dcamphouston.com

She is also the owner and creator of the God’s Word Collectible Sculpture series

Follow the artists on twitter twitter.com/Sculptorwriter twitter.com/creategodsword

Follow me on Facebook

Listen to The Creative Christian Podcast or the Inspiration/Generation Podcast

Click on Podcast Host Bios for a list of all podcasts.

Listen to the Art and Technology Podcast

BEWARE-Our Book Was Stolen By This Website

Digital sculpting with Mudbox book
Mudbox book by Mike de la Flor and Bridgette Mongeon

Last week I was collecting information for an up and coming lecture that I am going to do at 3DCAMP Houston 2012. While searching for one of the artists that I used in the book I decided to Google his name to see if any more images have come up. My thought, I would contact him to see if he is doing anything new that I might be able to add to my lecture on fine artists who are using 3D. How surprised I was to see the images that my coauthor Mike de la Flor and I used in the book Digital Sculpting with Mudbox: Essential Tools and Techniques for Artists were being displayed on another site. I was even more surprised to see that our entire book had been copied-word for word on this site.

I immediately reported it to our publisher Focal Press. My coauthor was also livid. Each of the chapters were displayed as individual tutorial on this website. They had no reference to the book or where they got it. There was no credit to the authors, and no links—nothing. Well, of course it would not have any of this- they stole it.

If anyone was going to “give” this stuff away we would. According to our contract, instead of supplying the CD with the book we had to create a way for the files to be downloaded.   So, Mike and I created http://www.digitalsculpting.net If anyone was going to give something away we would and we would have done it there.

I hesitate in putting the name of the website because individuals may be tempted to go to their site and drive traffic to them. But I must put the information here so that other will beware. The name of site is what-when-how.com There is actually copyright information on the bottom of their page.
Copyright Information
The-Crankshaft Publishing’s what-when-how.com claims copyrights to documents only created by The-Crankshaft Publishing and it’s staff. Any information used from The-Crankshaft Publishing’s web site must have a link to the URL from which it came from.

Excuse me… you did not create this.  And if others use what you stole from me they have to link back to you? Also it is not it’s it is its.

The-Crankshaft Publishing is not responsible for the content of someone else’s work or the source of the information. We claim no rights to documents created by any other organization or individual.

Content on our website falls in two categories::

1. Articles which are written by technical writers ,part of crankshaft’s staff.

2. Articles which are in contract with several publishing houses,on revenue share basis.

Our entire book, which took months of our lives to create was not permitted to be used on this site. There was a great deal of advertisement on this site. I have no idea how long the book was there or how much money this website has made by using our book on their site.  My coauthor sent an e mail to them right away and said they must take it down. They sent us a form to fill out?  What the heck.

I wish the lawyers at Focal Press would have done it.  I think we are entitled to something.  It has been taken down, but I think people need to be made aware of the underhanded practices of such a site.  You can tell it was there, all you have to do is search Mudbox  under their search engine and every one of our chapters comes up. I don’t really want you to do that, so I’m posting a screen shot on this blog taken at 1:00 on Thursday July 5, 2012.  The links are broken, but it comes up. To see our chapters on their website, click on the photograph.

So, I’m writing and wondering if anyone else has had trouble with Crankshaft Publishing or what-when-how.com.  What was your experience? I’m also wondering who else we can report them to.

Oh yes, and it pays to google your content.
Please feel free to pass this information on.

_______________________________________________

Sculptor and writer
Bridgette Mongeon

Bridgette Mongeon is a sculptor, writer, illustrator and educator as well as a public speaker.

Her blog can be found at https://creativesculpture.com.

She is the vice Chair of the planning committee for 3DCAMP Houston 2012 http://www.3dcamphouston.com

She is also the owner and creator of the God’s Word Collectible Sculpture series

Follow the artists on twitter twitter.com/Sculptorwriter twitter.com/creategodsword

Follow me on Facebook

Listen to The Creative Christian Podcast or the Inspiration/Generation Podcast

Click on Podcast Host Bios for a list of all podcasts.

Listen to the Art and Technology Podcast

Poor Evelyn

I sure hate to see Evelyn this way. Not only is she in pieces, but she has welds all over her. I trust in Miguel at Betz Art Foundry. His work is impeccable. She will soon see Evelyn back together. I hate posting the picture with her with the strap around her neck, but we don’t want her to fall over and she is not welded to her base yet. I want to be sure she is going to stand properly so we tack on the arms and check her attitude! She does stand with an attitude and I want to be sure it is there. 
You can follow along with this entire process of creating a life size bronze for the ERJCC on the Evelyn Rubenstein project blog located at http://erjcc.blogspot.com/

The foundry men prepare to put Evelyn on 
her base.