Workshop...

Wire Sculpture

Making Body

Joining Wire

Body-adding wire

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Imaginary Insects

Materials & EquipmentTransparent Paper Rolls (328-PC00114)

Minimesh (328-MESHN)

Floristry Wire (328-PC00072)

Aluminium Rod (328-AMW3)

Berol Marvin Medium (328-MB1)

Knitting Wire (328-CWM9)

Long-nosed pliers with integral cutting section

Use a piece of aluminium rod and bend it to the shape desired.Repeat with a second piece of aluminium rod then place the twoshapes at 90° to each other.

Fix the two pieces at 90° by with a piece of floristry wire.Cut in half then bend each piece to make a U shape.Place the bend of the wire across the diagonals where thealuminium rods cross and twist in opposite directions.Continue to wrap the floristry wire across the diagonalsthen round the aluminium rod. Finish by wrapping the pliersaround the rod and roll the pliers round pushing the end ofthe floristry wire down so it lies flush against the rod.

Use floristry wire to add dimension & bulk. Twist the end of the wire roundthe aluminium rod then give it a slight curve and wrap it round the body,fixing on the nearest piece of aluminium rod. Continue to add wire roundthe body, fixing as required. Fill gaps by weaving floristry wire randomlyacross the body and fixing the ends in place with the pliers. Ensure thereare no big gaps as the paper needs to be fully supported.

Please Note: Students must be taught to cut wire andhandle pliers correctly in order to avoid potential injuryfrom sharp ends. It may be helpful to wear protectivegloves & goggles when working with wire mesh.

Making & Wrapping the LegsBend aluminium rod into leg and foot shape then slide through the body. Fix the leg to the body with floristry wire. Bend the second leg downwardsand shape the foot then fix to the body. Repeat for the back legs. Trywrapping the legs with floristry wire. Fix the first piece of wire to the bodythen for each subsequent piece bend the first 2cm at 90° and slide it upinside the previous wrapping. This is enough to hold it in place. Always wrapthe last end of each piece behind the leg and press it flat with the pliers.

BugTear transparent paper into strips – it tears more easily alongthe grain. Dilute Marvin Medium with water roughly 1:6. Dipthe strips of paper into the glue, allow the excess to drain offthen lay the paper over the body of the insect. Thinner stripswill lie flatter round tight curves, legs and wings than widerstrips. Overlap the strips and smooth the edges. Apply asecond layer and allow to dry. As the paper dries it tightens –this is known as the dope effect. Cut spots from contrastingcolours and apply with more dilute glue.

Bug EyesAttach floristry wire to the body by piercing the paper then twistinto circles and coils to make eyes. Thread knitting wire throughthe minimesh to add colour if desired.

Wire mesh withaluminium rodUse a length of aluminium rod and bend it into a wingshape leaving a tail so that it can be fixed to the bodylater. Take a piece of Minimesh or Maximesh and cutslightly larger than the wing. (The larger meshes needto be cut with proper wire cutters.) Lay it over thewing and bend the edges of the mesh around thealuminium rod. Use pliers to press the ends of themesh so they lay flush against the rod.

Joining wingsto bodyBend the tail of the wing 90° and lay it against the spineof the creature. Take half a length of floristry wire bentinto a U shape and fix the wing to the body joining asalready described. Make sure sharp ends are rolledround to the back using pliers. Repeat for second wing.

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