Illustrating the Sun and Moon Legend¶
Symbolism & Design Concept
For this illustration, I wanted to visually express the Moon’s need for protection from the evil eye. To achieve this, I incorporated Shamshik jewelry, a traditional Armenian talisman used to ward off bad energy.
Why Shamshik Jewelry?
🛡️ Symbol of protection – Used in Armenian culture to repel the evil eye.
🌙 Perfect connection to the story – The Moon seeks protection from harm.
💎 Traditional aesthetics – Brings a cultural and historical layer to the illustration.
To integrate this symbolism, I designed an illustration of the Moon wearing Shamshik earrings as a protective charm.
Creating & 3D Printing the Jewelry
I first designed the Shamshik earrings in Adobe Illustrator, refining the details to match traditional Armenian patterns.
After finalizing the design, I moved to 3D printing to bring the jewelry to life.
🔹 First Attempt: The print was too big and too thin, making it fragile.
🔸 Second Attempt: I tried a purple filament, but the color didn’t match the aesthetic I envisioned.
⚪ Final Attempt: I switched to grey TPU filament, which turned out to be the perfect solution.
- The flexibility of TPU ensured a durable result.
- The color fit beautifully with the Moon’s illustration.
- The final piece had a smooth, high-quality finish.
3D-Printed Pattern for Clothing
For the Moon’s clothing, I wanted the pattern to be light and flexible, seamlessly integrating with the fabric.
✨ Printing Process:
✔ I used the sandwich method to print directly on Tulle fabric.
✔ Unlike previous attempts with PLA, this time I used TPU filament, which worked perfectly due to its flexibility.
✔ The result was a beautifully textured pattern that enhanced the Moon’s ethereal look while keeping the fabric soft and wearable.
Embroidery Process
Since I embroidered on paper, I used tape on the backside to keep it from moving. To make it look more interesting, I added beads, which gave the embroidery more texture and made it stand out. The mix of embroidery and beads worked really well with the illustration and added a nice decorative touch.
Polymer Clay Stone
To create the stone effect, I mixed white and transparent polymer clay to get a soft, natural look. I also added sparkle gouache to make it shiny. After it dried, I rolled it out and used a circle cutter to get the right shape. Then, I baked it at 110°C for 15 minutes until it hardened.
3D-Printed Shamshik & Metal Assembly For the main part of the earrings, I designed and 3D-printed a Shamshik (bird shape). After printing, I connected it with metal components, like small chains and hooks, to complete the earrings. The polymer clay stone was also attached to the metal pieces to bring everything together. In the end, the mix of 3D printing, polymer clay, and metal created a unique and elegant design!
Conclusion¶
Combining 3D printing, polymer clay, and hand embroidery resulted in a unique fusion of modern and traditional techniques. The precise and structured nature of 3D printing allowed for detailed and delicate elements like the Shamshik bird, while polymer clay introduced an organic, handmade touch with its smooth, customizable surface. Hand embroidery brought warmth and craftsmanship, adding depth and texture to the overall design. This project showcases how different creative techniques can complement each other, bridging technology and handcraft to produce a visually striking and meaningful piece.
Illustrating the Sun with Biochromes¶
For this illustration, I wanted to create a natural, vibrant effect using biochromes—natural dyes derived from plant-based sources.
Instead of digital coloring, I explored laser-cut floral patterns and used pomegranate shell dyeing to achieve rich, organic hues.
This method not only aligns with the natural essence of the Sun but also incorporates sustainable, traditional dyeing techniques.
Materials & Ingredients 🌿¶
Laser-Cut Floral Patterns
✂️ Material: Synthetic fabric (works well with natural dyeing)
⚡ Process: I laser-cut sun-inspired floral shapes to use as dyeing elements.
Natural Dye Recipe: Pomegranate Shell Biochrome
🍂 Ingredients:
- 2 pomegranate shells (dried & crushed)
- Alum (mordant for color fixation)
- Soda (enhances dye absorption)
- Water (enough to fully submerge the fabric)
Step-by-Step Process 🏺¶
1️⃣ Preparing the Dye Bath
1️⃣ Heat a pot of water until it is hot but not boiling.
2️⃣ Add 2 crushed pomegranate shells to the water.
3️⃣ Stir in alum (to fix the color) and soda (to enhance the dye absorption).
4️⃣ Let the mixture simmer for about 30 minutes, allowing the color to extract fully.
2️⃣ Dyeing the Laser-Cut Fabric
5️⃣ Place the laser-cut synthetic fabric flowers into the dye bath.
6️⃣ Let them soak for at least 1 hour, stirring occasionally for even color distribution.
7️⃣ Check the fabric—once it reaches the desired hue, remove it from the dye bath.
8️⃣ Rinse gently in cold water to remove excess dye and let it dry naturally.
Final Result & Application 🌞¶
The warm golden-brown tones from the pomegranate shells perfectly captured the Sun’s radiance and power.
I then will incorporat the dyed flowers into my Sun illustration, blending natural elements with artistic storytelling.
This method not only enhanced the depth of the artwork but also emphasized the connection between nature, mythology, and design.
Creating the Sun Illustration with AI ☀️
AI-Assisted Illustration Process 🎨
After preparing the laser-cut biochrome flowers, I moved on to creating the Sun illustration.
To enhance efficiency and precision, I used an AI tool to generate a base illustration, allowing me to refine the composition before manual adjustments.
Once I had a solid base, I manually refined the details to align with my artistic vision. The final illustration captured the radiance and power of the Sun.
Next Steps: Embroidering the Sun’s Clothing ✨¶
To enhance the textural depth of the Sun’s representation, I plan to hand-embroider the clothing using naturally dyed threads. This will create a fusion of digital precision and traditional craftsmanship, ensuring a unique and authentic visual experience.
The combination of AI-assisted illustration and hand embroidery showcases how technology and heritage techniques can complement each other, bringing Armenian mythology to life in a contemporary way.
Materials Preparation 🧵¶
Before starting the embroidery, I carefully gathered and prepared all the necessary materials. In the image below, you can see the essential elements I used:
- Gold and beige beads ✨ – These add a shimmering effect, enhancing the mystical aura of the illustration.
- Delicate tule fabric flowers 🌸 – I naturally dyed the tule fabric to create an organic and traditional touch in the design.
- Golden embroidery thread 🧵 – Used to add fine details and structure to the embroidery.
- Beading needle & fine scissors ✂ – To achieve precision in placing small details.
- Tape – Used to secure certain areas while working on delicate embroidery.
- Threading technique: String Art – This technique allows for structured, geometric stitching patterns, adding depth and visual interest.
Next Steps: Hand Embroidery in Action 🎨
Now that all the materials are ready, I will begin embroidering the Sun’s clothing using a combination of fine stitching and beadwork. The process will involve:
- Outlining the embroidery areas on the fabric to ensure a balanced composition.
- Applying the String Art technique.
- Adding beads and fabric flowers to accentuate the richness of the Sun’s attire.
- Ensuring harmony between digital and handcrafted elements, making the final piece feel cohesive.
The result will be a fusion of myth, craft, and technology, reflecting the legend’s essence in a tangible form. I am excited to see how these textures interact with the printed illustration! 🌞✨
At the end, I took a fine brush and gold acrylic paint to draw delicate lines and highlights, enriching the textures and making certain areas shine.
