Pieces of Saint John was a project started by my wife and I. We moved to Saint John for a number of reasons. One being the architecture. With PSJ we wanted to bring awareness of Saint John’s rich architectural heritage to visitors and residents alike.
We designed, 3D printed, hand painted and sold over 500 figurines. Locals were quite enthusiastic about what we were doing which resulted in a generous amount of mentions in local media and invitations to give talks about our newfound passion.
Each piece began with a photo, drawing or idea. Basic shapes were added and manipulated in a 3D modelling program to match the details and proportions of the original object. After the first draft models were divided and/or reoriented, so that the print would be successful.
Multiple changes were needed to create the cleanest, fail-proof and paintable objects. The prints each had different amounts of cleanup and gluing required before painting began. Making sure the thinner parts of each print were both accurate and durable was a challenge.
