When I first moved out to western Mass, I lived in the town I live in now for a short while looking for a more permanent living situation. That was also the time I was finally in a place mentally and emotionally about my work where I could start doing projects for myself rather than for a company.

So I bought a water testing kit, went outside where there was a body of water and got to work. The visions I had with this was to turn this project into some sort of art and science abomination where it assumed artistic qualities while also promoting scientific methodologies. 

I gathered my data and went inside and that was that. This project laid dormant for awhile since I struggled trying to come up with an artistic concept for it as well. Eventually, I had a silly but potential concept – taking the shape of the body of water the water test was done in and then turn that into something… but the water testing would be obsolete and unnecessary. 

I then discovered a sale not to long ago for a 3D printer built with crafters and people like myself in mind. Who want to 3D print but don’t want the tech behind it (i.e building it yourself). I jumped on the sale and yay acquired one of the pieces of equipment I had been seeking! 

But then to figure out the 3D modeling aspect. I took 3D modeling in college, so it’s been like 10 years since I thought about that. It’s something I don’t typically use being a graphic designer. But eventually I found a tool I think would work well for me. It produced a STL file of the graphic assets from the water testing and I was able to make a vase from that. 

Now, the colors from the water test of that body of water I did initially could dictate how these vases will look visually, however they aren’t the most aesthetically pleasing colors curated together. Although a few of them I think some people can get behind. 

Yay! This project materialized into something tangible. I just now have to purchase the prototype filament for the first print of this vase and to see how I’m going to add the colors. Buying filament for each color will get expensive so I don’t think I’m going to go that route, but buying paint for each color may just be as expensive. 

So introducing – Aquaware! The home decor line for my vase project. It may eventually include other type of products from the home decor category but for now it will just have 3D printed vases. Maybe it may be more of my 3D printed line… who knows.