In the first part of the day, I will demonstrate and teach basic wire sculpting using assorted gauges of annealed wire. This demonstration will include strategic thinking about how to sculpt in a way that allows the final sculpture to become nailed to a wooden substrate.

In the later part of the day, I will demonstrate and teach how to attach sculpted wire subjects onto wooden substrates. Mostly, we will use small nails and hammer for this. We will also have the opportunity to use a staple gun for those who want to try that.

Finally, we will add small strokes of acrylic paint to the wooden substrate and other elements as time allows including pencil, collage, and crochet.

TECHNIQUES
o Overview of tools and materials with principles of best practices in terms of handling wire and caring for tools
o Warm-up exercises to get our mindsets into new ways of thinking and seeing and feeling
o Demonstration and teaching of how to sculpt with annealed wire using pliers and wire cutters
o Discussion of concepts drawn from literature that have applications on how to overcome creative barriers during the creative process
o Discussion of lifelong journey involving how to make the art we make our own by reaching deep into who we are and allowing who we are to be expressed in our work
o Principles of solving problems and deciding when a work is finished or finished for the time being

SKILL LEVEL
All
 

I will bring small nails and grommets that you can use and have. I will also bring a staple gun and collage elements for you to use if you want to. Not everyone will want to use a staple gun but it is an option for certain wire sculptures. NO kit fee for this.

Supplies Needed  to bring for Class:

o WIRE: Black annealed wire in assorted gauges. I like using gauges 19, 22, and 26. Remember that the higher the gauge number, the thinner the wire. Please make sure you do not bring galvanized wire as that is difficult to sculpt with. Bring annealed wire.
o TOOLS: I use small and larger needle-nosed pliers, square nosed pliers, and wire cutters. If you have other sculpting tools in addition to that that you’d like to use, please bring them.
o WOOD PANELS: if you search on amazon, you can find wood panels (either flat or cradled) in assorted sizes. I like 5x7 inches, 8x10 inches and sometimes a square size like 6x6 inches. If you have access to plywood that you can have cut to size, please feel free to bring that. Sometimes if you go to a lumber store, you can either ask them to cut plywood to size or buy scraps that they have. Anywhere from a ¼ inch thick to a half inch thick is great. Cradled wood is also good and available online.
o ACRYLIC PAINTS in basic colors in whichever brands you like. Here are some of my favorite basic colors: white, black, beige, brown, blue, red, yellow, florescent pink
o Stabilo-All pencil (black)
o PAINTBRUSHES: One or two paintbrushes of any size. I use short flat Blick Scholastic brushes with white nylon brushes in either size 12 or 20.
o MISC: Hammer, paper towels, baby wipes, glue stick apron, container for water