WATERVILLE — A small group of art students had the chance to design their own molds, stamps and cookie cutters during a Saturday class concentrated on a new intersection of art and technology: 3D printing art tools.
The Ticonic Galleries art class, “3D Printing: For Ceramic Arts,” ran from 1 to 4 p.m. and was taught by local artist Misha Oraa Ali. Students learned how to create a 3D design from a simple picture they drew on paper, eventually resulting in a 3D-printed tool that they could use to mold clay, imprint on ceramics or cut a cookie.
The class was the first of its type at the Paul J. Schupf Art Center, introducing some artists to 3D printing for the first time, said Lisa Wheeler, education manager at Waterville Creates.
“What’s great is that a lot of people are really open to learning the technology of 3D printing if they didn’t already know about it,” Wheeler said. “So it’s another skill, and even though there are thousands of predesigned models that you can print on a 3D printer, it’s nice to be able to customize what you want to do.”
Across the front table were a smattering of brightly colored 3D-printed shapes, including a layered pyramid, a ribbed sphere and a cookie cutter outline in the shape of a cat. All had been designed and printed to show the students the possibilities of printing their own tools.

Nicole Solis Clewley, a senior at Messalonskee High School and attendee of the “3D Printing: For Ceramic Arts” workshop Saturday, sits at a table with 3D printed items in the Ticonic Classroom at the Paul J. Schupf Art Center in Waterville. Anna Chadwick/Morning Sentinel
Robyn Head, who works in design and does art on the side, attended Saturday’s class. She said she has always disliked the aesthetic of 3D printing itself, but was attracted to the idea of printing tools that could help her create a unique art project.
“Thinking about it more in terms of making your own custom tools, and specifically art tools — that appeals to me,” Head said. “I was even thinking, ‘Oh, could you make your own crochet hook, or a knitting needle, or maybe I could design my own lampshade?’ So I’m opening up to the idea of it, because I know there’s a lot of potential.”
Students sat at computers adjusting their 3D models while Oraa Ali demonstrated designing a tool — a blob with a smiley face inside — from the front of the classroom, which is lined with art supplies of every type.
Oraa Ali’s work revolves around the intersection of science and art, having studied cognitive science at Brown University and worked in a makerspace in Rhode Island before moving to Waterville last year as a full-time artist. Oraa Ali came up with the idea for this class because of personal experience balancing a love for art while studying science and engineering in school.
“I was in grad school for cognitive science, but I always felt like I didn’t want to silo myself in science, and I was always interested in things that express creativity,” Oraa Ali said. “I love trying to make my own tools, and then when I realized there was 3D printing, laser cutting and all of those different technologies which are available, I was like, ‘Why not learn them?'”
The class was made possible in part by two grants given to Waterville Creates, one from the Davis Family Foundation for 10 new laptops and four iPads, and then another grant last year from the Perloff Family Foundation for seven state-of-the-art 3D printers.
With a clay studio in the building, Wheeler said that it made sense to use the new printers to build out the center’s 3D printing program while also opening doors for artists that generally only work with their hands.
One student, Nicole Solis Clewley, 18, said she takes many classes at Waterville Creates, but this was the first time a class has allowed her to create something that helps her improve her skills in both art and baking.
There will be a second class next Saturday for the same group of students to explore adding complex textures to their 3D tools. Outside of class, Wheeler said that students can use the 3D printers and access the clay studio to put their tools to the test.
“It’s a great test of this idea of offering this in central Maine,” Wheeler said. “In our clay studio, we have space for 27 clay members, and then we also have just ongoing classes — beginner, intermediate, teen clay club, kids clay. And then we have these 3D printers and laptops, so it’s natural to try to combine it. I’m excited that this is the first one, and we’ll see where it goes in our space.”
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