Need help in choosing arts/crafts hobby

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Falloy
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22 Jan 2015, 2:58 pm

If you like the idea of Lego but are put off by the price have a look at Lego Digital Designer which is free from Lego themselves - you can have as many pieces as you like and you don't have to pick them all up off the floor every time!

More generally would digital art be of interest? I'd recommend getting a graphics tablet but this quite quickly pays for itself when you work out the cost of paints and other traditional artists materials. Digital art has the advantage of not taking up any extra room and doesn't generate strong smells that can annoy other members of the household.

Another thing I've found with digital art is that it;s a lot easier to correct a mistake - very useful if, like me, your co-ordination isn't fantastic.

You can work in 2D or 3D and there are lots of free software packages and tutorials on YouTube. I had a lot of fun with Sculptris (free) over Christmas. You could learn a marketable skill too.



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22 Jan 2015, 4:27 pm

Clay modeling? If you don't mind the texture, malleable materials can be very therapeutic and process orientated. You don't need all the equipment to try it out, only invest if you like it. Plenty of types to choose from at differing prices. http://www.wisegeek.org/what-are-the-di ... g-clay.htm
If you are on a tight budget you can make kitchen clay to work with http://chemistry.about.com/od/chemi ... ecipes.htm
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22 Jan 2015, 4:31 pm

Falloy wrote:
If you like the idea of Lego but are put off by the price have a look at Lego Digital Designer which is free from Lego themselves - you can have as many pieces as you like and you don't have to pick them all up off the floor every time!

More generally would digital art be of interest? I'd recommend getting a graphics tablet but this quite quickly pays for itself when you work out the cost of paints and other traditional artists materials. Digital art has the advantage of not taking up any extra room and doesn't generate strong smells that can annoy other members of the household.

Another thing I've found with digital art is that it;s a lot easier to correct a mistake - very useful if, like me, your co-ordination isn't fantastic.

You can work in 2D or 3D and there are lots of free software packages and tutorials on YouTube. I had a lot of fun with Sculptris (free) over Christmas. You could learn a marketable skill too.


Good question... I can't say I'm into digital art (or painting in general) - few years ago I was making rendered scenes in DEZ Bryce 3d design software. I'm still curious what was the real purpose of this program but for making surrealistic art it is no doubt still perfect. However I didn't found myself as an artist and this didn't become that kind of hobby for which you'll rush home every evening. I also tried some another program, I don't actually remember the name - there you 3d model in same way you'll make some figure of real clay. Again, I did few weird masks and small statues there and dropped it- not so many fun of process and results as I expected.

I downloaded Lego Digital Designer - looks nice. Good tool for the development of new kits.



Andreger
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23 Jan 2015, 2:43 am

For now I checked more closely matchitecture kits and Lego Digital Designer. Both seems to be rather interesting things especially LDD - I started construction of WW2 German Panzer III tank there, it's a bit slow process for now but lots of fun as well!

I found that you can order official Lego pieces not only in kits but one by one via catalog to build exactly what you modelled in LDD. And I also found out there are cmpanies who make custom lego minifigures, it's possible even to order ww2 soldiers. Or design and then order - now even despite some companies have many variants they are still very limited, insufficient and inaccurate. Of course all these real pieces and figures costs money but at least I don't need to pay for them right now :-)

Now I feel really inspired of this building and possible opprtunities! Maybe it's very temporary but at least for some time.



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23 Jan 2015, 6:32 pm

My two hobbies are writing and sewing. I haven't really done much of the latter, but it's a work in progress. My mom likes painting pottery and fusing glass, though both of those require a kiln. Whoever had the miniature models idea, that was also a good one, and my initial recommendation.


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Andreger
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24 Jan 2015, 4:07 pm

StarTrekker wrote:
My two hobbies are writing and sewing. I haven't really done much of the latter, but it's a work in progress. My mom likes painting pottery and fusing glass, though both of those require a kiln. Whoever had the miniature models idea, that was also a good one, and my initial recommendation.


Problem with miniature is that if you don't like artistic painting much and don't like to make dioramas or any other scenes - you have almost no creative things there.