This would take a long time, maybe years.

You'd start with an inner core with opaque paint. just a blob on the base. Since it will eventually be a solid sculpture you'd use something that would be structurally sound when hardened.

The layers would be built up using various colors and transparency. You could presumably, for instance, paint/sculpt a mountain with villages and roads that you could walk around, peer into and explore but that's just an example. The subject would be up to the artist's imagination obviously.
-- doctorremulac3, May 18 2024

Inspired by this https://fb.watch/s8qsFP4YUN/
[doctorremulac3, May 18 2024]

Only vaguely related idea ... Solar_20Panel_20in_20a_20can
[normzone, May 20 2024]

layered resin painting example https://www.3dresin...rt-painting-process
Looks amazing. [Loris, May 21 2024]

mural sculpture construction https://www.youtube...3%A0HuyHi%E1%BA%BFu
title (automatic) translates as: "The process of embossing cement relief paintings Tung Hac Nghenh Guest - Huy Hieu" [Loris, May 21 2024]

Years? Nah, I could whoop one up in a week.

Of course, you would be able to smell the offgassing for a year ... (link).
-- normzone, May 20 2024


"they layers" is something which wouldn't have flagged as misspelled but you might want to change.

Feel free to delete this public service announcement as you see fit.

(+)
-- 2 fries shy of a happy meal, May 21 2024


There's a technique called "layered resin painting" which is kind of like you're describing. It handles the semi-transparent aspect, but I don't know if it would work for pieces which weren't flat.
I suppose you could create a piece in a glass jar or perspex box etc. to see in from the side - but the artist would need to use a lot of very thin layers for it to look good from the side.
-- Loris, May 21 2024


Oops, thank you 2 fries. Corrected.

Loris, there's no way that's not a real goldfish! That's amazing.
-- doctorremulac3, May 21 2024


Applying paint in thick layers is a well known technique called impasto.
-- xenzag, May 21 2024


Some being opaque and some translucent so it creates a three dimensional sculpture like shown in Loris' layered resin painting example only viewable from all angles?

The idea is a mixture of sculpting with thick paint like the example Loris gave, only as an expanded, three dimensional sculpture. Don't believe that's ever been done before, at least not that I know if.

But if it has been done I assume you'd know about it. Has it?
-- doctorremulac3, May 21 2024


Impasto in general seems to be using paint thickly on a (typically flat) canvas, rather than building up depth. I think a1's suggestion of 'additive sculpture' is the more general term, although the material for that is often unpigmented and painted later.
Of course, once you go into three dimensions you start having additional problems, such as support. I'll link to a video I found of an artist making a beautiful sculpture mural - he uses several different materials to help it maintain its structure.

I think to do it right by the idea, you'd want a really thick transparent resin, compatible with pigments, which could stick to its own cured surfaces really well.
I don't know of a commercially available epoxy resin with the desired properties, but there could be one - and if not, I'm fairly confident one could be developed.
-- Loris, May 21 2024


Whoa! That guy's got some amazing talent, that's really incredible.
-- doctorremulac3, May 22 2024



random, halfbakery