Colin Rennie

I am a subject specialist in hot glass, digital crafts, and drawing.

I am Director of Studies for two PhD students.

• 3D modelling, Rhinocerous, Blender, Grasshopper
• Glassblowing
• Making
• Digital Crafts

My research focuses on the emerging relationships between 3D modelling and handcraft skills. A back-and-forth method is applied from digital to handmade and back to digital again, which opens up new relationships extending the potential of the processes in isolation.

My current work involves 3D scanning of handmade, freeform hot glass objects. Scans are then developed and elaborated virtually in software, and then the digital constructions, additions or armatures can be manufactured using CAD-CAM processes.

Parametric modelling techniques are utilised extensively to develop forms by evaluation of the scans of handmade objects, the resulting final sculpture thus explores contrasts between the intuitive and freeform approach and analytical and generative approaches.

• Glassblowing
• Hot glass sculpting
• Coldworking
• Polishing glass
• Rhinoceros 3D modelling
• Blender rendering
• 3D printing
• Waterjet cutting