backward compatibility for artist customisation

Author: tomvanmele

src/compas/artists/artist.py

@@ -30,6 +30,31 @@ class Artist(object):
     def __new__(cls, *args, **kwargs):
         return new_artist(cls, *args, **kwargs)
 
+    @staticmethod
+    def build(item, **kwargs):
+        """Build an artist corresponding to the item type.
+
+        Parameters
+        ----------
+        kwargs : dict, optional
+            The keyword arguments (kwargs) collected in a dict.
+            For relevant options, see the parameter lists of the matching artist type.
+
+        Returns
+        -------
+        :class:`compas.artists.Artist`
+            An artist of the type matching the provided item according to the item-artist map ``~Artist.ITEM_ARTIST``.
+            The map is created by registering item-artist type pairs using ``~Artist.register``.
+        """
+        artist_type = Artist.ITEM_ARTIST[type(item)]
+        artist = artist_type(item, **kwargs)
+        return artist
+
+    @staticmethod
+    def build_as(item, artist_type, **kwargs):
+        artist = artist_type(item, **kwargs)
+        return artist
+
     @staticmethod
     def clear():
         return clear()

src/compas_rhino/artists/__init__.py

@@ -125,6 +125,8 @@
 from .volmeshartist import VolMeshArtist
 from .robotmodelartist import RobotModelArtist
 
+BaseArtist = RhinoArtist
+
 ShapeArtist.default_color = (255, 255, 255)
 
 MeshArtist.default_color = (0, 0, 0)
@@ -213,6 +215,7 @@ def new_artist_rhino(cls, *args, **kwargs):
 
 
 __all__ = [
+    'BaseArtist',
     'RhinoArtist',
     'CircleArtist',
     'FrameArtist',