Lobby Artwork in Progress

**Jake** · 08-21-2007, 10:59 PM

I'm working on an art piece for a hospital lobby. I want it to look like a cast plaster relief or similar material. It will be divided up in 5-6 pieces and hung on the wall. Attached are some preliminary studies.

It's a graphic piece which uses quotes attributed to St. Francis of Assisi. Still a lot of work to get the graphics in order, but I would like to tap the knowledge base here for ideas for the process best used to produce the piece. Any ideas? Anyone create anything like this before?

**d.sign** · 08-22-2007, 12:24 AM

It is looking nice so far. But I think it is difficult to make studies of such white material relief in this lightning situation even though is realistic. I would try to make it as a separate object and analize it in studio lightning setup or something like that.
As an idea, I like how it look, but I would suggest that you separate your pieces and make them cast deeper shadows on each other, thus making play with letters more visible... when you cut out some, the shadow will be deeper if the piece is couple of centimeters separated from other one... so basically, try to make it more plastic (in sculptoral sense of the word of course)...
As for production method of real piece, well it is too early to say... in this stage...

**Russell L. Thomas** · 08-22-2007, 12:25 AM

Looks very cool, not certain on the best construction, I almost think the panels as painted MDO in layers as necessary, this would allow the cutouts to work. The raised text may be what a signage company suggest, it might be gator board or similar with self-edge? You may have a good line on a cast product, I just think plaster would be prone to craking? Nice work!

**Jake** · 08-22-2007, 02:50 AM

good idea dSign. Isolating the model will help. I'll set it up and take a look at it.

Russell,
I guess it could be some sort of high-density board. I was hoping that construction and routing could be done by a computer from a 3d model that I supply, similar to the rapid prototyping technique used by some architects. Hopeful that would allow for better detail. The question is how large a section can be. Maybe I'm dreaming.

**Russell L. Thomas** · 08-22-2007, 04:05 AM

I thought about the same thing, but I have only seen smaller stuff done that way. However there are CAD/CAM systems that use water jet streams, hot wires or even lazers (over kill for this) that can do plastics at a larter scale, perhaps there is some option, I would talk to a sighnage preson as well as a prototyping company. Maybe it ends up being wood like I suggested with a baked on flat white finish?

**Jake** · 08-22-2007, 04:13 AM

Well I'm trying to break it down to two or three-foot squares that can be machined individually and then reassembled on the wall. Seems that there should be plenty of computerized routing machines that could handle something that size. I will call ASI tomorrow and see what sort of tools they have that might pull it off. I'm not necessarily stuck on something white, but something that looks more like limestone.

**pradipta** · 08-22-2007, 04:48 AM

Jake, i like the overall design. I notice the tree is not going well with the scene. I need more dense tree, the current one is not working properly. Also some indoor big leaves plant will go well. I guess, you will putting them at a later stage since this is well into at wip phase. I also have some problem with floor, the color is too similar to that of the wall behind. Its coming good and will look forward to the next updates from you!

**Jake** · 08-22-2007, 04:05 PM

Originally Posted by pradipta

Jake, i like the overall design. I notice the tree is not going well with the scene. I need more dense tree, the current one is not working properly. Also some indoor big leaves plant will go well. I guess, you will putting them at a later stage since this is well into at wip phase. I also have some problem with floor, the color is too similar to that of the wall behind. Its coming good and will look forward to the next updates from you!

Yea, I agree with you on the trees. Still trying to get those to look nice. The floor and walls are not finished in a lot of places. Got sidetracked by this art project.

I have a plant in the lobby, but I don't have it turned on. The green stuff is a real weakness for me.