Here is an example of Jacquard's work using the 3D printer to create a wax mold template. These rings could have only been made on the 3D printer because they are sculpted form the inside out, they are extremely detailed and lightweight.
This image is part of a huge series that Jacquard created exploring her local flora and fauna. She sculpted stamens, seeds, seed pods and other parts of a plant's reproductive system. She mimics the shape and basic design, but the details are exquisitely fine.
Artist Now Lecture: Nicole Jacquard
Nicole Jacquard is a jewelry, metals, and sculpture artist. She works in metal with a wax casting process. Rcently, Jacquard has been exploring the possibilities of working with a digital 3D designing program. With a program like this, Jacquard is able to design the item from the inside out, then the wax caste is build by a 3D printer. The intricate, exciting possibilities are endless with this new technology.
Jacquard grew up in a metals sculptor's home. Her and her sister always had access to a forklift and a crane for moving her father's large sculptures around in their garden. Jacqaurd didn't start taking jewelry and metals until high school, but she excelled when she started. She was a very involved, hands-on maker in high school.
In college she was inspired by flora and fauna, African culture and religious adornment. After her BFA, she got an opportunity to go to Australia on a full ride scholarship. Jacquard loved Australia's landscape and coral reef, and was inspired by the natural forms in those places. She surprisingly became drawn to the English-French fusion architecture in Australia. She had planned to work with naturalistic or figurative forms in Australia, and ended up building architecture-inspired pieces.
After getting her PhD in the Role of Computer Aided Design in Contemporary Art Practice, she headed back to the United States to work at University of Toledo. Jacquard kept herself busy making work and applying to shows until she was asked to develop a computer design program in Seattle.
Jacquard accepted the offer, and moved to Seattle. She had to bring her own software, hardware, and also had to install all the programs, and set up her office area. After she was done with the project, instead of developing a design on a personal computer, sending it in to a 3D printing business, and waiting for the project to come back in the mail, Jacquard was able to do it all on campus by herself.
Three dimensional computer design programs work in a couple different ways. Some programs start with silicon cube, and laser melt/cut away the extra materials in a subtractive process. Some programs have a silicon substance in a tube that allows the computer to build the sculpture additively. There is also a process called reverse engineering which is where curators and artists scan 3D art pieces and recreate it from the inside out. This information is valuable for preservation and study. The final process that Jacquard discussed was using a nylon powder that fused when it was hit by a laser.
After the experience of trying to work with all this technology in a traditionally handmade discipline and exploring other contemporary artists's use of the technology, Jacquard's work led her to a clear goal. She wanted to make computer-generated sculptures appear to be hand made. Her process uses the computer as a tool to sketch and design, and mock up her final sculpture to figure out cost of materials.
Jacquard was excited about the opportunities that digital design provides. In the traditional style of creating a wax mold, the artist would need to carve or melt every part of the sculpture. With the computer-aided design program, possibilities of carving are endless. The program can do extremely intricate designs on the inside of a sculpture that are completely sealed off from external sculpting.
Some themes that Jacquard has always found herself drawn to over her career is the overall topic of Object and Spaces. How can an object retain a memory or experience we hold dear? How can a site be the location of strong memory or experience? Jacquard had done a series about fishing boats because many members of her family are commercial fisherman. She seeks to express community traditions that existed while she was growing up. Jacquard created broaches with old pictures printed with a 3D printer.
I am so blown away by Jacquard's practice and her drive to continue her exploration in sculpture. I am so excited how she was able to incorporate technology into her regular practice in a way that challenges her and makes her question her way of working. I am so inspired by her passion to express her experiences through sculpture, I think it is amazing how much education she continues to get to inform her practice.
I think all art teachers can use a constant reminder or inspiration to continue with their own studio practice. Obviously Jacquard is teaching elementary or middle school on the side, but she can still be an inspiration to us. I am so impressed the way Jacquard was able to develop her practice so much by finding different opportunities that support decisions she makes in her own work. She has experience applying for grants to get the funds necessary to do what she wants to.
I have attended a demonstration on 3D printing at Discovery World, here in Milwaukee. The 3D printer has a low fee and is open to the public. When I was attending MIAD, my painting class went to Discovery World to find out possibilities that were available to us through the use of the 3D printer.
As an artist who is fascinated with the possibilities in technology myself, I feel that i can relate to the juggle of trying to balance technology and traditional art making methods. I think there will always be a group of people who advocate for the unchanging, hand made method of each art discipline. I think we will see more and more artists and viewers become attracted to the possibilities technology can offer in the art world. The more research I do, the more it seems that technology is finding its way into every studio discipline. I can't wait until the day where every school has a 3D printer available for its students to use!!
Nicole Jacquard is a jewelry, metals, and sculpture artist. She works in metal with a wax casting process. Rcently, Jacquard has been exploring the possibilities of working with a digital 3D designing program. With a program like this, Jacquard is able to design the item from the inside out, then the wax caste is build by a 3D printer. The intricate, exciting possibilities are endless with this new technology.
Jacquard grew up in a metals sculptor's home. Her and her sister always had access to a forklift and a crane for moving her father's large sculptures around in their garden. Jacqaurd didn't start taking jewelry and metals until high school, but she excelled when she started. She was a very involved, hands-on maker in high school.
In college she was inspired by flora and fauna, African culture and religious adornment. After her BFA, she got an opportunity to go to Australia on a full ride scholarship. Jacquard loved Australia's landscape and coral reef, and was inspired by the natural forms in those places. She surprisingly became drawn to the English-French fusion architecture in Australia. She had planned to work with naturalistic or figurative forms in Australia, and ended up building architecture-inspired pieces.
After getting her PhD in the Role of Computer Aided Design in Contemporary Art Practice, she headed back to the United States to work at University of Toledo. Jacquard kept herself busy making work and applying to shows until she was asked to develop a computer design program in Seattle.
Jacquard accepted the offer, and moved to Seattle. She had to bring her own software, hardware, and also had to install all the programs, and set up her office area. After she was done with the project, instead of developing a design on a personal computer, sending it in to a 3D printing business, and waiting for the project to come back in the mail, Jacquard was able to do it all on campus by herself.
Three dimensional computer design programs work in a couple different ways. Some programs start with silicon cube, and laser melt/cut away the extra materials in a subtractive process. Some programs have a silicon substance in a tube that allows the computer to build the sculpture additively. There is also a process called reverse engineering which is where curators and artists scan 3D art pieces and recreate it from the inside out. This information is valuable for preservation and study. The final process that Jacquard discussed was using a nylon powder that fused when it was hit by a laser.
After the experience of trying to work with all this technology in a traditionally handmade discipline and exploring other contemporary artists's use of the technology, Jacquard's work led her to a clear goal. She wanted to make computer-generated sculptures appear to be hand made. Her process uses the computer as a tool to sketch and design, and mock up her final sculpture to figure out cost of materials.
Jacquard was excited about the opportunities that digital design provides. In the traditional style of creating a wax mold, the artist would need to carve or melt every part of the sculpture. With the computer-aided design program, possibilities of carving are endless. The program can do extremely intricate designs on the inside of a sculpture that are completely sealed off from external sculpting.
Some themes that Jacquard has always found herself drawn to over her career is the overall topic of Object and Spaces. How can an object retain a memory or experience we hold dear? How can a site be the location of strong memory or experience? Jacquard had done a series about fishing boats because many members of her family are commercial fisherman. She seeks to express community traditions that existed while she was growing up. Jacquard created broaches with old pictures printed with a 3D printer.
I am so blown away by Jacquard's practice and her drive to continue her exploration in sculpture. I am so excited how she was able to incorporate technology into her regular practice in a way that challenges her and makes her question her way of working. I am so inspired by her passion to express her experiences through sculpture, I think it is amazing how much education she continues to get to inform her practice.
I think all art teachers can use a constant reminder or inspiration to continue with their own studio practice. Obviously Jacquard is teaching elementary or middle school on the side, but she can still be an inspiration to us. I am so impressed the way Jacquard was able to develop her practice so much by finding different opportunities that support decisions she makes in her own work. She has experience applying for grants to get the funds necessary to do what she wants to.
I have attended a demonstration on 3D printing at Discovery World, here in Milwaukee. The 3D printer has a low fee and is open to the public. When I was attending MIAD, my painting class went to Discovery World to find out possibilities that were available to us through the use of the 3D printer.
As an artist who is fascinated with the possibilities in technology myself, I feel that i can relate to the juggle of trying to balance technology and traditional art making methods. I think there will always be a group of people who advocate for the unchanging, hand made method of each art discipline. I think we will see more and more artists and viewers become attracted to the possibilities technology can offer in the art world. The more research I do, the more it seems that technology is finding its way into every studio discipline. I can't wait until the day where every school has a 3D printer available for its students to use!!
RSS Feed