Colorful, eclectic, detailed and eye-catching are some of the adjectives we can use to describe Denise J. Reytan’s 3D-printed creations. Working and living in such an alternative city like Berlin, we didn’t expect any less from today’s featured artist.
Read more to know how she got started with 3D printing and how far she has gone in her 3D designs for jewelry.
Denise working on her 3D-printed creations
Where are you from and what’s your background?
Hi! My name is Denise Reytan. I’m a Berlin-based jewelry designer and artist and I create jewelry as well as installations and art objects. I studied in Pforzheim and Düsseldorf and opened my studio in Berlin in 2009.
How would you describe your 3D printing work?
My work is an exploration in contrasts – between materials, values, colors and personal content. I really like to question conventional boundaries and am interested in the transformation of precious into non-precious and vice versa.
Necklace by Denise J. Reytan. Mixing 3D-printed parts in polyamide (SLS) and glass beads
I really like to question conventional boundaries and am interested in the transformation of precious into non-precious and vice versa.
How did you start to use 3D printing for your jewelry design?
The first time I used 3D was in 2004, in a course at university, but the quality back in those days was so horrible that I didn’t use it further. Then I did an Artist Residence at the “Institute of Applied Arts” at the HS Düsseldorf in 2013.
They had just gotten a new 3D scanner and lots of new software, so I was super curious about the new possibilities. In the end, it was an amazing experience to create my collages on the computer!
What about 3D printing materials. You have designed jewelry in brass, like the “Rock o´clock”, but you also use plastics like polyamide.
How different are those materials for 3D printing and which one is your favorite?
Of course, the materials are very different, especially in terms of weight. I always choose the material which fits best with my idea and how I want to wear it.
When I´m thinking of a brooch, polyamide (SLS) is definitely the better choice, because it is very light. The “Rock o´clock” ring is perfect in brass. It has a nice golden color and the material fits great with its use as a ring.
Rock’o’clock ring in brass
How different is your creative process when 3D printing is involved or not?
For me, 3D is a great tool, but my creative process starts in the beginning before I choose the technique. When I choose 3D, I first work on the preparations, like 3D scans. Then I create a collage on the computer, which is very playful and intuitive.
For me, 3D is a great tool, but my creative process starts in the beginning before I choose the technique.
Polyamide is a very versatile material. Which are your favorite polyamide finishes?
I really like the polyamide(SLS) dyed purple or blue color. The white option is quite sensitive to dirt, but great for further processing. I also like the polished version very much.
Brooch Marienkäfer by Denise J. Reytan
Which projects are you working on at the moment?
At the moment I´m working on a pendant, made of 3D-printed brass.
Brass brooch by Denise J. Reytan
Explore the possibilities of 3D Printing for your art and jewelry projects with i.materialise. You can go for brass or polyamide (SLS) like Denise, for other classic materials like silver, or give an unconventional material such as alumide a try. As you can see, there is not just one option for 3D-printed jewelry.
Just upload your designs to our 3D printing platform and make your 3D printing ideas come to life!
Read the material design guides carefully to get the most out of each material.
Follow Reytan on her social media accounts and discover her website to get a dose of 3D printing inspiration.
