Fire & Water: A Sibling Rivalry 🌊🔥¶
In Armenian mythology, Fire and Water are siblings—Fire as the sister and Water as the brother. One day, they quarreled over which of them was stronger. To settle the dispute, they decided to face off.
For this page, I wanted to capture the essence of Water’s movement and the feeling of being submerged underwater.
Illustration & Concept 💡¶
I started by creating a digital illustration of Water, carefully designing the fluidity of the character to emphasize motion. While thinking about water (waves), I realized that adding a textile layer could enhance the visual experience, making the artwork more immersive.
To achieve this effect, I decided to:
✔ Use tule fabric – This would act as a transparent, flowing layer, mimicking the feeling of being underwater.
✔ 3D print water wave patterns 🌊 – I designed and printed waves using white PLA filament to overlay the illustration, reinforcing the water’s movement and depth.
Creating the Water Effect: Steps 🖌️¶
1️⃣ Digital Illustration 🎨
- Designed the Water character, ensuring the fluid movement was well represented.
- Focused on soft gradients and light reflections to imitate an underwater environment.
2️⃣ Tule Fabric Overlay 🪡
- Selected a light, transparent tule to create the illusion of water flowing over the illustration.
- Cut and positioned the tule to drape naturally, blending with the composition.
3️⃣ 3D-Printed Water Waves 🌊
- Modeled water wave patterns to match the illustration’s movement.
- Printed the waves with white PLA filament to maintain a clean, ethereal look.
3D-Printed Corals: Bringing the Underwater World to Life 🪸¶
To enhance the underwater scene, I decided to add 3D-printed coral details, making the composition richer and more immersive.
Design Process 🖥️
✔ Illustrator: I started by sketching coral shapes based on natural reef structures.
✔ Blender: After exporting the designs from Illustrator, I imported them into Blender and applied a solidify modifier to give them depth.
3D Printing Process 🖨️
✔ Blue PLA Filament: I used a vibrant blue PLA to match the oceanic theme.
✔ Infill Experimentation: To create a more organic and natural texture, I experimented with different infill settings:
- Used 40% infill
- Selected the Gyroid pattern in Cura for a dynamic, wavy texture that mimics natural coral formations.
Fire Illustration: Process and Techniques¶
AI-Generated Base Design
To start the fire illustration, I used AI to generate an initial concept that captured the fluid motion of fire. This AI-generated base served as a foundation, which I refined and customized to match my vision.
Objective: Capture the dynamic energy of fire with elements reflecting warmth and transformation.
Incorporating Natural Elements
I incorporated dried flowers dyed using pomegranate shells to add warm, earthy tones to the illustration. These flowers were arranged to blend seamlessly with the fire motif, bringing an organic touch to the design.
Key Idea: Nature’s colors—reds, oranges, and gold—symbolize transformation and connect with the fire element.
Embroidery for Texture and Detail
To enhance depth, I used golden thread embroidery and small beads. These details enriched the texture, mimicking the movement and energy of flames.
Effect: Golden thread and beads create a shimmering, tactile quality that adds dimension and movement to the illustration.
Designing Wearable Elements
Inspired by the illustration, I designed a pair of earrings that reflect the shapes and patterns from the artwork. These earrings bring the fire design into a tangible, wearable form.
Final Result¶
The combination of 3D printed layers and tulle for water, along with the fire-inspired earrings, brought the concepts of fire and water to life in a unique and interactive way. The water effect added depth to the illustration, while the earrings provided a tangible, wearable connection to the fire element.
Outcome: The fire and water elements, through both visual and wearable design, enhanced the illustration’s themes of transformation and dynamic energy.
By combining digital techniques, natural materials, and handcrafted embroidery, I created an illustration that is visually engaging and rich in texture.