Dimensional illustration was a niche specialty that saw most of its popularity in the ’80s and ’90s. The term referred to sculptural work that was photographed and used as illustration in lieu of flat work and it did well enough to warrant its own annual awards presentation (I won a Bronze Medal in 1993 for an interior I did for Amazing Stories).
I did several dimensional pieces for my friend Charlie Ryan at Aboriginal Science Fiction but the overwhelming influence of computer-generated imagery smothered the use of “real” dimensional work.
This is how I imagined the Mote Warriors from the SF classic The Mote in God’s Eye; the environment measures 16″ X 24″ X 8″ and is built of wood, Bondo, plastic, paper and paint. The figure is made of Super Scuply and Pro-Mat.
Photography by Roy Buckener of Kennesaw Creative.
From the collection of Jeff Barnes.
David R. Deitrick, Designer 
Reblogged this on David R. Deitrick, Designer and commented:
Saturday Re-run: One of my dimensional illustrations that Charlie Ryan ran on Aboriginal SF (as mentioned in yesterday’s post). I might add that my avatar – the Pak Protector I wrote about a week or two ago – was also used as a dimensional illustration on an AboSF cover.