Wire construction
Wire is Able to be bent, modified or changed to achieve different results and can be used in a variety of ways. Wire is made from different metals and each type has different qualities: colour, firmness, strength.
- Aluminium wire is soft and easy to bend, cut and make things with. It has a nice shiny silver finish to it.
- Copper wire is soft and is a red-brown colour.
- Steel wire is strong and useful as a frame.
- Chicken wire is pre-made into a mesh structure. It is hard wearing and can be used to make a large structural frame.
- Electrical wire has a colourful plastic coating and can be used for sculpture.
Equipment and tools
Wire cutters are used to cut the wire, and pliers can be used to bend and fasten the wire together.
From line drawing to wire sculpture
A continuous line drawing is made by drawing without taking the pen or pencil off the paper.
A successful continuous line drawing usually does not contain heavy outlines - instead, the lines are more Relates to movement, motion and the use of gestures that can create expressive qualities.
Thin wire can then be bent into shape on top of the drawing to produce a copy of the shape in wire.
Click through the slide show to see wire sculptures:
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Twisted wire sculpture
It is helpful to visualise a 3D sculpture from all angles before making it. Bending wire into shape and then adding more layers onto it, making it twisted, will give the piece more strength.
Twisted wire sculptures can be small and delicate, or they can be made into large, heavy pieces.
Chicken wire sculpture
Chicken wire can be used in two ways - it can be a structure on which another material is added, or it can be used on its own and left uncovered. This material is strong enough to be made into a hollow shape, or it can be built up into a thick surface.
