Bob Ross and The Joy of 3D Direct Modeling
Posted by John McCullough on Thu, Aug 26, 2010
We've had some fun here recently in Marlborough creating a short parody of one of my favorite 'how-to' TV show hosts - Bob Ross. Check it out here - [The Joy of 3D Direct Modeling].
Bob had a 30-minute landscape painting show on PBS for over a decade. If you missed it, well, that's your loss. If you are interested in picking up a copy of some classic episodes check here [BOB ROSS JOY OF PAINTING SERIES: 3-HOUR WORKSHOP DVD]. He did some amazing stuff with a fan brush and titanium white. Bob's pleasant demeanor and positive commentary, which often came across as dry humor, was what made the show special. That and his hair of course.
While researching some Bob Ross quotes to use as part of the script I was reminded why I liked him. He made encouraging comments about learning painting which demonstrated a strong belief in the potential of everyone. He encouraged his students to paint from their imaginations and to not limit themselves to rigid formulas. He went on to explain how we each have a different set of eyes and all see the world differently.
I hear a lot of Bob's philosophy in the Kubotek KeyCreator 3D direct modeling philosophy. Commonly used parametric modeling software locks models to initial ideas and limits the ability to experiment with changes. The features lock models to the thought process of the initial design engineer without allowing the eyes of others to see the model as a different set of features. In contrast, 3D direct modeling is conceptually simpler and easier for new users to open up to 3D modeling. 3D modeling can be easy and fun for everyone.