When you have a mixed breed dog, you rarely meet another that looks like yours.
This week, I got to meet three of Matilda’s “twins.”
At BlogPaws, we met a female chihuahua and a male chiweenie that share her short, tan fur, her big ears and even her adorable face wrinkles. It was so much fun to meet their owners and talk about where we got our dogs, and their similar habits.
When I got home from the BlogPaws Conference, I had yet another Matilda doppelganger (…doggieganger?) waiting for me.
Six weeks ago, the folks at Arty Lobster offered to create a sandstone, 3D printed sculpture of Matilda for free, and compensated me in return for my honest review here on LittleDogTips.
It’s so much fun to look at the sculpture’s miniaturized features, from her hungry eyes to her tiny toes.
The 3D Print Sculpture Creation Process
First, you send 5-10 photos of your pet to the artists at Arty Lobster.
Pretty neat, huh?
Then, digital artists create a 3D computer model based on your photos.
After that, they email you a proof so you can ask for revisions to ensure your sculpture will be as realistic and close to your dog’s features as possible.
You know your dog best, so the artists will tweak the computerized model to your liking until you’re completely happy with it.
Take a look at final proof I approved before the sculpture was created. I couldn’t wait to see how my digital dog would look as a real sculpture.
This has me thinking.
Now that she has been transferred to a digital format, maybe Matilda could be re-animated as a hologram, Tupac at Coachella style.
Dare I dream??
The Finished Product
A few weeks later, I received the sculpture in the mail.
It’s made of sandstone, fully colored with highlights and variations in fur tones. Matilda Jr. shares the minute details of her facial shape, her tendons, her elbows – all shrunk down. Yet I was surprised by how large and heavy it is, at 6 inches/15 cm tall.
This is actually Arty Lobster’s “regular” size. They also have large sculptures that are 20 cm tall, and can be created in bronze instead of sandstone.
This Is Something Special.
I can’t think of anything more special than this – my darling Matilda, recreated on a computer and sculpted using the latest 3D printing technology.
I’m trying not to think about how I’ll feel when she passes on. I’ll still have this statue in my home to remind me of everything I love about her.
In time, I know I’ll treasure this sculpture even more because it’ll mean that she’s always “there” in a way that pictures and videos cannot recreate.
I think you’ll feel the same way if there’s a unique pet in your life. Arty Lobster can work from old photos of deceased pets, too. I highly recommend getting an Arty Lobster sculpture of your own. It’s a great experience and a one-of-a-kind keepsake.
Check out more examples of sculptures created by Arty Lobster. Warning: bring tissues!
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She also uses her pet copywriting business to make sure the best pet products and services get found online through catchy copy and fun, informative blog posts. She also provides product description writing services for ecommerce companies.
As a dog mom to Matilda and Cow, she spends most of her days taking long walks and practicing new tricks, and most nights trying to make the best of a very modest portion of her bed.
You'll also find her baking bread and making homemade pizza, laughing, painting and shopping.
Hahaha this is great 🙂 Can’t wait to get one for my dog.
The sculpture is so life-like! I’m certainly impressed and it’s a great way to remember your beloved pet once he passes on. It does, indeed, look just like your dog.
This is great, we would love to get one of these for our first puppy, she was the first dog we got after we were married. She lived to 18 and this would be great, thanks so much now I will look into it
That is hysterical and lovely. I think that your dog loves it as much as you do, because the photos are so tell-tale. What a great job they did because that sculpture is really life-like
These are so cool! We have a couple of mixed breed dogs and I have never been able to get anything that looks like them.
That is the coolest thing ever! It looks just like your little girl! I should do this with my dog.
These are so cute! I would love to have a 3D sculpture of all of my dogs. I love these!
That is so super cool. I have 3 dogs and think this would be pretty awesome to have of them. Especially with the fact our oldest pup is getting older, we’d be able to have him here forever!
How cool is that? I really would love to try that service out. Thanks for sharing, this is a neat way to hang onto the memory of our pets too!
That is so cool. I have three dogs. I should do this with my Yorkie. He is so beautiful.
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I think that’s really very sweet and it would be nice to have one of these made to have as a memorabilia when they’re long gone. It’s really accurate too! How cool is that!
This is a great sculpture of your dog. She is adorable and I know I would love to have a sculpture of both my Geko and my dog. Thanks for sharing this awesome artwork and the idea from Arty Lobster.
It’s so cool to have! In their gallery they have a really neat example of a gecko they did.
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Oh my! That sculpture looks pretty real. I’m impressed. Matilda looks a little bothered lol!
Oh. My. Gosh. This is seriously the funniest, cutest thing I’ve ever seen!
LOL thanks!
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I think the 3D printer technology is really amazing. This is a unique way to use it and I love that you have a finished product that is such a treasure! These would make great gift ideas for four-legged parents!
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True, this would be such a surprise to get as a gift!
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I had no idea one could even do such a thing. I have mixed feelings. I was cracking up at the Coachella reference with the dog and Tupac.
It’s almost freaky isn’t it? 😛
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Can you give a range of cost for these memorial dogs. I recently lost my pet and would like to have a memorial made.
It’s amazing that digital artists can create a sculpture on the spot with photos. Your comments about a potential hologram are interesting as well.
Wow, this looks like a real live one. 3D printing have made many things possible in every fields . We can also 3D print human miniatures of our loved ones.
She is adorable and I know I would love to have a sculpture of both my Geko and my dog
That is so nice 🙂 we love to get one of these for our 1st (Dog) puppy, she was the first dog we will get after we were married. She lived to 18 and this would be great, thanks so much now I will look into it ahahahah
Great work. I did not expect the sculpture to be so realistic. I wonder what the result would be if the pet were a cat or a parrot. I would love to see such a project. Keep up the great work.
Hello, It is definitely a special kind of connection. I always Decanter Reviews loved seeing the connection my kids had with their pets.
As a dog lover I must say that these are superb
I planned on doing them on the grill, but with the oppressive heat, used the broiler instead. Thanks for the tip, I can easily see making these at the pool as well!dog breeds
we love to get one of these for our 1st (Dog) puppy, she was the first dog we will get after we were married. She lived to 18 and this would be great, thanks so much now I will look into it ahahahah