Plumage is a stereoscopic 3D experience showcasing the culmination of a personal exploration and observation of birds: a digitally modeled and rendered, fantastical bird referred to simply as a Phoenix. In many cultures birds are tied to ideas of freedom, power, and the otherworldly. Preconceived notions of a phoenix exist across many cultures as well, but for this project I wanted to create my own interpretation.
While working, I drew upon my admiration of birds for their qualities of strength, beauty, and curiosity to infuse into the project. Inspired by the dynamic and detailed works of naturalists like John James Audubon, I took the opportunity to make my own observations and records of birds.
I began exploring different processes of digitizing three-dimensional forms by scanning bird skins. However, due to the nature of fibrous and reflective materials (of which birds are often both) I ran into challenges that made accurate and detailed representation difficult if not impossible. From there I made the decision to pursue a more imaginative artistic approach to the project.
More than just a homage to feathers and birds, this project represents the continued value of artists in the field of preservation and their ability to push visuals further with their own observations where automation and digitization fall short. Using life references I created my own textures and forms with details meant to emulate my favorite aspects of the birds that inspired me throughout my journey.
Larger-than-life, projected stereoscopic 3D allows the audience to see details clearly and enhances the dynamic quality of the piece; both very important elements that needed to shine through in the final artwork. Plumage is made possible through the use of the Cyclorama, a series of convex screens that surround an audience and allow them to appreciate scenes projected in stereoscopic 3D. / Master of Fine Arts / <i>Plumage</i> is a projected 3D experience that uses state-of-the-art projectors, 3D glasses, and a large, cylindrical screen--known as the Cyclorama.
My research began with a focus on 3D scanning dead bird specimens from a museum collection as a means to archive them and make them viewable by anyone with access to a computer. Unfortunately, the scanner I used could not effectively capture the intricate shapes and colors of feathers, and the resulting scans were not sufficiently detailed for learning or archival purposes.
In the end, I used the observational data I had collected from the bird specimens to digitally sculpt my own ficticious species of bird. I closely studied the feathers and wing structures of the birds available to me to recreate a detailed, digital 3D representation where scanning had failed.
Using software, I created still images of the finished digital bird sculpture. To create the 3D effect when projected onto a screen, I created pairs of images for the left and right eyes. The projectors and 3D glasses, coordinated with a powerful computer, allowed the audience to experience convincing 3D effects such as the Phoenix jumping out or sweeping a wing at its audience.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:VTETD/oai:vtechworks.lib.vt.edu:10919/77435 |
| Date | 21 April 2017 |
| Creators | Sewell, Gwendolyn Vera |
| Contributors | Art and Art History, Tucker, Thomas J., Webster, Dane, Hand, Jennifer Leah Brouwer |
| Publisher | Virginia Tech |
| Source Sets | Virginia Tech Theses and Dissertation |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Thesis |
| Format | ETD, application/pdf |
| Rights | In Copyright, http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/ |
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