March, 2021 - 3Doodler

Artist Spotlight: Marc Bühren’s 3D Pen Landscapes

Posted on March 26, 2021August 10, 2023 by mcdoodle

Welcome to the visionary 3D art of Marc Bühren. Hailing from Germany, Marc is a 3Doodler pen master that pushes the boundaries of what is possible with 3D pen artwork. If you want to see Marc working in his studio and hear him discuss his art check out this behind-the-scenes video. His 3-dimensional installations, comprising tessellating geometric patterns and awe-inspiring imagery, are made by hand with the 3Doodler Create+.

From hanging trees that transport the viewer into abstract forests, to arrays of ocean fish and bird wings that open up the dimensions of nature, Marc’s installation art is truly magnificent to behold. We had a chance to connect with Marc to hear more about the exhibition.

"I worked on the artwork until the day the exhibition was set up. It was six months of hard work, but it was absolutely worth it!"

“At exhibitions, it is always very exciting how the visitors react to and interact with the artwork because the installations invite them to circle around, to kneel down or to stand on their tiptoes to catch more visual impressions. It is an exhilarating and emotional experience for me and for the visitors.”

Reflecting on this latest project, Marc noted that “Working with 3Doodler pens for the exhibition at the Maschinenhalle Scherlebeck Art Gallery was a big challenge for me. I had great ideas and have never worked with 3Doodler pens on this scale before.”

About Marc

The 44-year old contemporary artist, Marc Bühren, has been drawing and painting all of his life. Since he found the charcoal of his father as a three year old he has always been drawing.

In elementary school his aspiration of having a career as a painter was born. As a teenager, he completed a training in classical watercolor painting, and after graduation he studied communication design at the University of Wuppertal. Since 2008 he works as a full time artist at his studio in Dortmund. He teaches painting and drawing in his studio, at schools and at other institutions. In April 2017 he started working with 3Doodler pens.

Marc’s extraordinary masterpieces are truly amazing to witness. Does his work inspire you? Share your 3Doodler creations on social media to spread the inspiration.

Follow Marc on Instagram at @marc_buehren. His website is marc-buehren.com

For more artist spotlights and inspiration, be sure to check out our Instagram.

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Color Us Excited! 3 Alternatives to Crayons

Posted on March 24, 2021November 8, 2022 by Lindsey

We’re tickled pink to share that one of our favorite “holidays” is coming up next week – National Crayon Day! It’s only once in a blue moon that we pursue a dedicated celebration of gorgeous colors, and we can’t wait.

But, it’s 2021, and we’ve spent the past year coloring outside the lines. So, we couldn’t help but take a moment to wonder what might happen in a world without crayons. This isn’t a new idea.

3D pen art with crayons and 3D pens on table

Author Drew Daywalt wrote a book, The Day the Crayons Quit, that explores a box of crayons’ struggles based on colors — including why each crayon might think about quitting coloring for good. For example, the red crayon complains about “working” on major holidays like Valentine’s Day (so many hearts!) and Christmas (drawings of Santa Claus).

Let’s look at some of the alternative ways we might express ourselves with color. In case all of the crayons do happen to quit one day. Here are some crayon alternatives that will help take your artwork up a notch.

3D Pens: Bringing Colorful Designs to Life

Compact and easy-to-use, 3D pens allow you to draw and create with colorful plastic. With a 3D pen you can draw a raised graphic on a piece of paper or any flat surface. But what makes a 3D pen truly unique is its ability to “draw” in mid-air, allowing you to instantly form 3D structures right in front of you, which you can pick up and hold in your hand. Learn more about 3D pens here.

3D pen art: Vase with flower & blue vase with flowers

Clay: Molding the World Around You

Clay is a colorful tool that can be molded into different shapes, including sculptures, pottery, and decorative patterns and designs. It is a great starting point for young children looking to develop coordination, build strength, and express their creativity.

Close-up of red gift box with ribbon in 3D pen art.

Construction Paper: Creating Abstract Design

Tearing paper is a productive fine motor activity for children, and a fun, beautiful way to create colorful mosaic-like images that resemble watercolor paintings. In Japan, this technique is called chigiri e. Artists have been known to trace a design onto paper, then rip colorful paper gently to color in the desired shape.

What’s your favorite color, and how do you create art with that color when you don’t have any crayons on hand? Share your thoughts with us on social media: @3Doodler #3Doodler #WhatWillYouCreate

Going Green for St. Patrick’s Day

Posted on March 17, 2021November 8, 2022 by Lindsey

This week, we’re celebrating St. Patrick’s Day – and all things Irish. If you’re looking for creative ways to get your students involved in the merriment, we have some ideas that will help them “go green” – both figuratively and literally.

Start by reading about shamrocks, the iconic plant associated with the holiday, to get into the proper mindset! Eve Bunting wrote a lively book called Green Shamrocks, which tells the story of Rabbit, who is growing shamrocks in a pretty yellow pot in preparation for St. Patrick’s Day. Unfortunately, Rabbit’s pot goes missing and he must search for his plants before the festivities come around.

Colorful vases with flowers and butterflies - 3D pen art

Why not work with your students to exercise their green thumbs and plant their own shamrocks? The best time to plant a shamrock is in the early spring, while keeping the following in mind:

Planting Tips

Put your shamrock seeds in the refrigerator for 24 hours before planting.
Fill a pot with damp potting soil.
Press the seeds gently into the soil, taking care to NOT cover them completely.
Place the pot in indirect sunlight and wait for your seeds to sprout — typically within two weeks of planting!

The three leaves of a shamrock are said to stand for faith, hope, and love. If any of your plants sprout a fourth leaf, that is where the shamrocks are said to get their luck.

Saint Pat's Pot

After you’ve planted the seeds, encourage your students to go a step further and decorate their planters with 3D Doodles using this stencil that our resident Doodlers have created to help you reimagine your pots. The stencil is best-suited for planter pots that are 2” or 4.5” in size.

Check out this tutorial for more ideas on how to decorate your planters!

Not only is planting shamrocks a festive St. Patrick’s Day activity, but it is also a natural way to encourage students’ interest in gardening and botany. Encouraging your students to decorate their planters is a great way to put an artistic spin on this special branch of biology.

What do your students’ planters look like?

Share their pretty pot designs with us on social media: @3Doodler #3Doodler #WhatWillYouCreate

How to Express Yourself Through Doodles

Posted on March 10, 2021November 8, 2022 by mcdoodle

Activism, education, and advocacy are three ways that women and girls around the world have been able to make a tremendous impact throughout history.

Perhaps one of the most memorable feminists over the past 50 years is Ruth Bader Ginsburg, an associate justice of the Supreme Court of the United States who passed away in September of 2020.

Ginsburg was known as “The Notorious RBG” for her passionate dissents. But today, we want to take a look at one of the creative ways that she found to express herself in a field dominated by men — no discussion required.

Redesigning a Judge’s Robe

RBG often said that a traditional judge’s robe was made with a man in mind, with the space around the neck meant to emphasize a shirt and tie. To put her feminine touch on this traditionally masculine piece of clothing, RBG began wearing decorative jabots, or collars, around her neck to bring some pizzazz — and femininity — to her own robe.

And while she may be best known for her lacy “dissent” collar, RBG actually had an impressive collection of unique jabots to help her creatively express herself without words.

Close-up: 3D pen necklace with yellow & silver beads

From a pride collar, to a collar she reserved for oral arguments, to a majority collar meant for announcing majority opinions from the bench, she was a woman who understood that she could send a powerful, meaningful message without any words.

Create Your Own Collar

Imagine that you have been asked to design a custom jabot to represent yourself. What would the collar look like? Would it be colorful? Would it be made of shells, or jewels, or cloth? Would it be intricate, or would it be simple to look at?

Today, in honor of RBG and International Women’s Day which took place earlier this week, we challenge you to download one of these free stencils and create a unique collar that represents you. We’ve also included a short tutorial.

Share your own Dr. Seuss-inspired designs with us on social media on Facebook, Twitter or Instagram: @3Doodler #3Doodler #WhatWillYouCreate

3 Ways to Celebrate Dr. Seuss in your Classroom

Posted on March 3, 2021November 8, 2022 by mcdoodle

Did you find a fun way to celebrate Dr. Seuss’ birthday this week? Whether you’re a student, parent or teacher, you’ve undoubtedly read some of the author’s most beloved stories — whether it be by eating green eggs and ham for breakfast or making their own oobleck.

We created a few fun STEM activities to help your students get creative while celebrating Dr. Seuss. Check out our latest Dr. Seuss tutorial found in our content library and make sure you have easy access to your 3Doodler 3D Printing Pen that will help them “think and wonder, wonder and think.”

Create Crazy Hair for Thing One and Thing Two

Perhaps the most relatable characters from The Cat in the Hat were Thing One and Thing Two. The twins emerged from a box that the cat brought into Conrad and Sally’s home, and as soon as they were released they proceeded to make an incomparable mess. Thing One and Thing Two are well-recognized by their red jumpsuits, unruly blue hair, and penchant for mayhem.

While some of your students probably wish they could run wild like the twins, this activity will help them focus on letting their imaginations run wild instead. Download our free stencil and check out our tutorial on how to help your students create their own crazy hair.

Redesign The Cat in the Hat’s Famous Hat

Close up of 3D cat in the hat hat on blue background

Known for his red bow tie and his red-and-white-striped top hat, The Cat in the Hat is one of the most iconic characters in children’s literature. The cat is quirky, rebellious, and a little bit mysterious. Kids often wonder if he is a “good guy” or a “bad guy.” But, for better or worse, his character has become so well-known that it is now a mascot for Random House, the largest general interest book publisher in the world.

But what would the cat look like without his trademark hat? Encourage your students to create a new look for The Cat in the Hat. Start by modifying his hat — what would it look like if it was a baseball cap? A cowboy hat? Or, what if he wasn’t known for his hat, at all?

Doodle Yourself a Fancy Mustache Like The Lorax

Yellow banana on stick with yellow background - 3D pen art

Dr. Seuss’ favorite book (by Dr. Seuss) was The Lorax. And while it is a children’s book, it tells the very adult story of how humans are destroying the natural environment. It has been well-received by both teachers and students. In fact, in 2007, the National Education Association listed The Lorax as one of its “Teachers’ Top 100 Books for Children.”

Students seem to enjoy the kind-hearted Lorax. He is hard-working, optimistic, rational, understanding, trustworthy, and helpful — not to mention, he has an outrageous mustache that personifies these traits quite impressively. Ask your students which other characters in literature sport unique mustaches, and what traits they associate with those people — Jafar from Aladdin or Yosemite Sam from Looney Tunes come to mind.

Next, ask your students to doodle a new mustache for The Lorax. Does it change how they think of him?