South African artist Nico Meyer spent over 700 hours using Creality's Halot resin printers to create The Mariner's Shadow, a stunning mixed-media whale sculpture.
From Childhood Sketches to Mixed-Media Masterpiece
Nico Meyer, an illustrator and graphic designer from Pretoria, South Africa, has spent more than 25 years working across advertising, publishing, and fine art. His creative roots stretch back to childhood, when he filled pages with unusual creatures and imaginary worlds. Those early drawings eventually became the seeds of a remarkable new artistic direction — one that only became possible with the arrival of resin 3D printing.
How Resin Printing Changed Everything
Less than two years ago, Nico began experimenting with 3D sculpting using a Creality Halot-series resin printer. What started as a small side project quickly evolved into a full creative workflow that blends digital sculpting, resin printing, woodwork, metalwork, lacquer finishes, and integrated LED lighting. The Halot series appealed to him for its balance of fine detail, reliability, and approachability for newcomers.
The Challenge of Large-Scale Sculpture
Producing large mixed-media works with a resin printer demands careful planning. Because finished sculptures far exceed the printer's build volume, Nico splits each digital model into dozens of individual sections. Every part must be oriented, hollowed, supported, and printed so that it assembles seamlessly with the rest. Consistency across hundreds of print hours is non-negotiable — a single unreliable print can derail weeks of work.
The Mariner's Shadow: 700+ Hours in the Making
The culmination of this process is The Mariner's Shadow, a whale sculpture that required more than 700 hours of total work. The piece unites digital sculpting, precision resin printing, hand painting, traditional craftsmanship, and custom lighting into a single cohesive artwork. For Nico, it represents not just a finished piece, but proof of how far his skills and workflow have developed since he first picked up a resin printer.
What Comes Next
Rather than treating The Mariner's Shadow as a final achievement, Nico views it as a foundation. He is already developing his next chapter — pushing the boundaries of scale, material, and storytelling even further. His journey is a compelling example of how modern resin printing tools can open entirely new creative possibilities for experienced artists willing to explore them.
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