array of random cylindrical extrusions

Question

I am trying to model this bowl pictured below with rings of elements with slightly varying section, extrusion length and angle. I am wondering how best to go about this? If I added randomization to an array as described here that would deal with the random angle of each element but how then would I go about randomizing the extrusion section shape?

Answer 1

I would do it that way :

First, create your cylinder by using an elongated rectangle. Delete the bottom face.

Add a subdivision surface modifier. Don't forget to smooth it out with Object > Smooth

Add an array modifier to get your row of 3

This is the trickiest part. Add an empty in your scene. Add an array modifier with a constant offset and set the empty as an object offset :

Drive the empty rotation depending on the array count :

Add a displacement modifier, add a new texture and set the direction to "RGB to XYZ".

In the texture tab, set the type to "Clouds" and the color to "Color". Increase the size. There is a soft limit of 2 but you can manually input higher values.

Tweak the displacement modifier strength so that it is believable.

Result :

If you want lower frenquency in your displacement noise, you can add another displacement modifier with a new texture, set to a higher size.

I didn't go full non-destructive but you can still tweak some parameters :

Addition (Thanks R. Betts :) ) : To give a nicer transition between the base of the cylindrical thingies and the plate, I modified the base mesh to have a square extended base :

Next add a vertex group, and make sur only the top vertices have a weight of 1.

In your displacement modifiers, make sure the group is selected so that the base doesn't get displaced :

Final result (Eevee - By no means supposed to look realistic :) ):

The blend file :