By Amelia Perry
Introducing Henry Zhao, 3D design aficionado. Henry is a Grade 10 student at Collingwood who is passionate about the digital arts. Digital arts is simply when art crosses with technology. Henry started drawing when he was young. He had a notebook where he would sketch out all of his ‘invention’ ideas. Over the next many years, he drew, primarily in pencil. Then, when Henry was in Grade 6, his passion for the digital arts began. He got a cheap pen tablet that worked well enough to portray his imagination into real-life images.
In this period, Henry also became very interested in the realm of 3D designing. For those that do not know, 3D design is the online creation of a product in a virtual environment. These creations use different apps and software to develop. It may be printed, creating anything from shoes to a comic figurine. Henry watched all sorts of YouTube videos, fueling his brain with creativity and new ideas. He watched talented artists who were skilled at CAD. CAD is a computer-aided design. Henry learned how to use fusion360, which is a software that can create precise modelling of 2D and 3D objects. You can do much more with it, such as animate your designs, render objects, or simulate loads.
Introducing Henry Zhao, 3D design aficionado. Henry is a Grade 10 student at Collingwood who is passionate about the digital arts. Digital arts is simply when art crosses with technology. Henry started drawing when he was young. He had a notebook where he would sketch out all of his ‘invention’ ideas. Over the next many years, he drew, primarily in pencil. Then, when Henry was in Grade 6, his passion for the digital arts began. He got a cheap pen tablet that worked well enough to portray his imagination into real-life images.
In this period, Henry also became very interested in the realm of 3D designing. For those that do not know, 3D design is the online creation of a product in a virtual environment. These creations use different apps and software to develop. It may be printed, creating anything from shoes to a comic figurine. Henry watched all sorts of YouTube videos, fueling his brain with creativity and new ideas. He watched talented artists who were skilled at CAD. CAD is a computer-aided design. Henry learned how to use fusion360, which is a software that can create precise modelling of 2D and 3D objects. You can do much more with it, such as animate your designs, render objects, or simulate loads.
‘The Finding of the Draconic: “I drew this artwork around November of 2019. The foreground person is one of my characters, and this artwork is a scene that had been in my mind for a very long time before I drew it. I am a massive fan of gigantic mechanical fauna, which was a great chance to draw one finally.”
In Grade 7, Henry got a small 3D printer. He used it to print all sorts of little fixes and devices. One of his creations was designing and printing a new temperature adjustment knob for a slow cooker! Many may think the process of 3D design is straightforward. It is actually quite complicated. One must be good with math, creative and excellent with technology.
Henry did not get into the ‘arts’ side of 3D modelling until earlier this year. Before then, he was creating inventions or mechanical tools. He finally got a computer that wasn’t a laptop; this meant it could handle higher loads for printing. He started learning how to use a blender and create prettier looking models and renders from thereon.
In Grade 7, Henry got a small 3D printer. He used it to print all sorts of little fixes and devices. One of his creations was designing and printing a new temperature adjustment knob for a slow cooker! Many may think the process of 3D design is straightforward. It is actually quite complicated. One must be good with math, creative and excellent with technology.
Henry did not get into the ‘arts’ side of 3D modelling until earlier this year. Before then, he was creating inventions or mechanical tools. He finally got a computer that wasn’t a laptop; this meant it could handle higher loads for printing. He started learning how to use a blender and create prettier looking models and renders from thereon.
Lonely Guardian: “I created this artwork in March of this year. I was inspired by an art piece by ‘AllesiaTheHedge’ on DeviantArt, which was of a dark cheetah sitting in the rain. I suddenly got the idea of a lonely guardian statue, bound forever to the place they stay. As I like dragons, I decided to make this one a dragon as well.”
Artists have their muses and inspirations. Inspiration is an unconscious burst of creativity in literary, musical, or other artistic endeavours. Henry’s first artistic inspiration was a digital artist called “LynxGriffin” on Tumblr. They created (and recently finished) a webcomic called “The Skybox.” Henry tuned in to her live streams occasionally and picked up many tips and tricks for digital art. Another artistic inspiration for Henry is another digital artist on Tumblr called “Zandraart.” Henry stated that he “really admire their art style, and has often tried to imitate it, though without success so far.”
Artists have their muses and inspirations. Inspiration is an unconscious burst of creativity in literary, musical, or other artistic endeavours. Henry’s first artistic inspiration was a digital artist called “LynxGriffin” on Tumblr. They created (and recently finished) a webcomic called “The Skybox.” Henry tuned in to her live streams occasionally and picked up many tips and tricks for digital art. Another artistic inspiration for Henry is another digital artist on Tumblr called “Zandraart.” Henry stated that he “really admire their art style, and has often tried to imitate it, though without success so far.”
The Marble Citadel: “This 3D render was made in September of this year. A little while before I made this, I dreamt about a city called “The Marble Citadel.” It was essentially a miniature nation that lived in a vast human-made structure. This specific building stuck with me, and I had a great desire to create this building in 3D.”
Most of Henry’s art is self-indulgent and usually does not have a “purpose.” This is what makes his art so exceptional. Henry loves that he can think of things and then just draw them. He also gets inspiration from his very vivid (yet unrealistic) dreams. Henry stated that he loves being able to sketch out the locations and places that visit within them to remember future dreams.
His art has improved over the years. Henry claims that he has settled into a style that he prefers. Henry has also been challenging his comfort zone, starting to draw non-realistic characters and people - something he has never been done before.
Most of Henry’s art is self-indulgent and usually does not have a “purpose.” This is what makes his art so exceptional. Henry loves that he can think of things and then just draw them. He also gets inspiration from his very vivid (yet unrealistic) dreams. Henry stated that he loves being able to sketch out the locations and places that visit within them to remember future dreams.
His art has improved over the years. Henry claims that he has settled into a style that he prefers. Henry has also been challenging his comfort zone, starting to draw non-realistic characters and people - something he has never been done before.
“This artwork is technically not finished, but this render specifically was created in April of this year. This idea had been in my mind for a very long time, ever since I visited the Pantheon in Rome. I loved the hole in the roof, and I’ve always loved trees growing on the inside of buildings and structures. This is a portal room, connecting three different dimensions. This building was meant to have water falling from the roof into the channels on the ground, though I still have not been able to figure out how to do a proper water flow/simulation in a blender, the program I use. This artwork currently does not have a name, though I like to call it: “The Portal Room.””
In terms of a possible future career in the theme of arts, Henry would like to focus on more of the technical side of 3D modelling rather than the artistic side. This includes jobs such as a mechanical engineer, in hopes of creating new and useful mechanisms and creations. Art is a shared interest but can be very broad. Whether it be musical, involving literature, or painting, it is something all of us have in common - and that is what makes it so special.
In terms of a possible future career in the theme of arts, Henry would like to focus on more of the technical side of 3D modelling rather than the artistic side. This includes jobs such as a mechanical engineer, in hopes of creating new and useful mechanisms and creations. Art is a shared interest but can be very broad. Whether it be musical, involving literature, or painting, it is something all of us have in common - and that is what makes it so special.