Work in progress - 3D Mandala

A couple of months ago I got this idea for doing a project to get me back in the mood for doing some 3D work again. I used to be very involved with 3D graphics but many of the software programs that I spent hours learning are no longer being supported.

It feels a bit like having learned how to use paint and specific brushes for a long time when all of a sudden you have all your stuff taken away and the skills you have don't translate really well to the new available mediums.

Anyhow, here's about how far I've got after two months:

Here's the original design idea:

It is supposed to be of varying height with all these 3D shapes perched on a hilltop. Inside the hill are different layers where smaller chambers have been dug out. When viewed from directly above the mandala looks the best. Its kind of like a crop circle pattern that was projected in a couple of different directions so that there is a depth to it.

The prototype image is just on a flat plain and hovering above the rock. The color and texture are not right. The original design has an outside area that might look kind of like a castle wall and towers.

The inside objects are intended to be reflective with some translucent objects.

In the past I have taken vector graphics files and moved them into a 3D program to create the 3D objects for such projects. I started prototyping out in Inkscape but I don't really know that program well and I'm not sure I can import the file into my old 3D modeling program. I think I might have a better chance importing into Blender but I don't know that program very well either and the rendering options are not as nice as what I had before.

In any case, maybe I will make some more progress sooner than a couple of months from now. If not, hopefully I can still do some other creative stuff now that I have got my laptop working.

The background image for the rock and stream was taken in a recent camping trip in Montana. There were some very nice looking marble rocks in the area.

Thanks for reading! I always value your support and comments. The picture was taken by me with my Galaxy S9+ and modified in software. Text and graphics copyright lightsplasher & litesplasher.