Meet Lesleigh Jones | 3D Print Designer

We had the good fortune of connecting with Lesleigh Jones and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Lesleigh, why did you decide to pursue a creative path?
While in graduate school, I developed chronic health issues that kept me from pursuing my original career goals. I felt like part of me that I’d always taken for granted was now out of reach and my dreams had been stripped away. Throughout that pain, I found joy and solace in creating art and stories for the people in my life. Health issues kept me largely at home, but online fandom communities gave me a social outlet and support. When I considered what new paths my life might take, I wanted to focus on the joy I found in fandom spaces and sharing that with others. I found a creative outlet through 3D printing. I love its open-ended nature, the puzzle-like process of designing multi-part projects from small pieces, and the challenge of representing depth through thin layers of semi-opaque material. I look forward to expanding my business further into board game accessories and returning to my academic roots by creating educational toys and models.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
Due to machine limitations, most 3D print designers focus on creating pieces that only use one color or multi-color pieces that only work for high-end machines. They create amazing three-dimensional objects, but I wanted to instead focus on the actual layers of the printing process. In my work, I use layers of color to convey depth, similar to shadow boxes. I rely on color theory to let the layers of color influence each other, similar to mixing paint. I manually change out filament colors within the same print, sometimes seven or more times within half an inch, which allows me to use more colors & shading than any 3D printer can use on its own. I came across this process somewhat by chance–because I’m a self-taught designer, I didn’t know to be daunted by manually switching colors mid-print and stubbornly jumped into the deep end. I learned so much by trial and error, and I’d encourage other artists not to be scared of difficult challenges and to keep persevering because that’s often where you’ll find opportunities and growth.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
One of my favorite places in Dallas is the Half Price Books store. I honestly could spend a whole day just lost in the shelves. I’ve spent so many meals studying in Sushi Kyoto by SMU, so that would be a nostalgic place to visit. I take all my friends a little north to Carrollton to enjoy taiyaki at SomiSomi, spend hours in the Kinokuniya bookstore, and grab some amazing bread at the 85 degrees bakery. Other fun places we might visit would be the Magic Time Machine restaurant and the Dallas World Aquarium.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
The men at Keystone Enterprises in Bonham were so helpful to me as I was learning the process of 3D printing. They taught me so much and were very encouraging as I floundered through mechanical issues.

Website: https://www.mouseymuse3d.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mouseymuse3d/