On today’s DIY list, we’re making wire sculptures! I’m demonstrating how I do this on a large scale, but you can try the same thing for tiny sculptures, too!
I started making wire sculptural pieces for a photo series, so my plan to use this wire is ultimately to be photographed. The next part of the DIY will go through how to finish the piece and photograph it.
I use chicken wire because it is malleable but strong. It can be cumbersome to work with but once you get the hang of it, it molds into shape.
Step 1: Separate the edges of the wire from the roll.
Step 2: Bend the sharp edges inward for safe handlingusing either your gloved hands or pliers.
Step 3: Roll out the wire. As you go, bend it backward so that it doesn’t curl in on itself.
Step 4: Cut the wire away from the roll when it reaches your desired length.
Step 5: Bend the newly sharp edges inward for safety.
Step 6: Start bending the wire into the shape you want, hooking the wire to itself via the cut edges to hold it in place.
Step 7: Finalize the shape and admire your handy work!
My sculpture doesn’t look like much, but that is because it is only half finished and is meant to be extremely abstract. Remember, you can sculpt anything from abstract creations to little animals and more!
In the next blog about wire sculpting, I will show you how you can coat your sculpture to finish it. Here are two options:
Paper mache is a great choice for coating your wire sculpture. It can be done with newspaper and glue, or you can get the heavy duty stuff for things like body casting. Either way, this technique can be done simply and is great to utilize if you plan on painting it.
Because of the nature of my sculpture, I’ll probably opt for using spray foam. My final sculpture will be covered in mushrooms, and I want to keep the organic flow of it alive.
I hope this was helpful, and I can’t wait to see what wire sculptures you make!
Please share below if you have an idea, tips for wire sculpting, or if you finish a piece!
I’ll be back soon with Part 2 of “How to Make a Wire Sculpture”!
Gallagher Green -I need to start checking your blog more, I missed this.
once used a similar method for the background in a vivarium, but instead of chicken wire, I used “egg create” pannels for overhead lights since it was going on a flat wall of a tank.
After the spray foam, I roughed up the surface so it no longer was glossy and carved it into rock shapes. Then I used grout, apply it about 1/4″ thick (more or less) molding it into the rock shapes you want adding the lines with a butter knife. Then once the grout is just stuff (dry) enough to stand the sculpture up a bit, (but not so far that the grout falls off) spray it with a heavy mist from a spray bottle. The water will smooth it to a natural rock look and the little bit of water runoff will give the rock a very natural weathered look.
You want to be careful because grout is concrete, and it gets heavy very quickly, so make sure your structure/frame can hold it up.
I also know a great way to thin down silicone to make it paintable and mix it to look just like dirt. If anyone wants to try it just say so and I will post the directions.
Brooke, you are a new discovery for me …in the last few weeks I have become aware of your work and I am fascinated with your style, your methods and your ability to share so beautifully.
The Mask challenge is the first one I have joined and it comes at a very opportune time (as did discovering you).
I have always photographed people but candidly. Recently I decided that needed to change but I was incredibly nervous about approaching anyone to model. In a strange (somewhat serendipitous) way I decided that the least frightening thing to do would be self-portraits …this is before I discovered you (thus the serendipity).
While initially this seemed like a great idea I had forgotten (for a moment) that I’m 68 years old and showing every second of those years! Plus I hate being photographed! In the end none of that stopped me, I plowed forward. The best shots from that day where the ones where I used my own hair as a mask, enabling me to hide the ravages of time but still capture my essence.
Not long after that day I discovered your work and began investigating your process …I was enthralled! Since then I have found the courage to do photo sessions with a few friends and have plans to do more. I believe this bravado is (in part) due to you!
Thank you for sharing and inspiring, I will continue to expand my horizons and work on conquering my fears and doubts …you are a wonderful guide.
When it comes to creating a strong portfolio, confidence is
key. The more you can stand behind your work, the better received the work will
be. This is true of anything we do in life. Our own confidence inspires
confidence in others.
How do we gain that confidence, and how do we project it?
That’s what this outline is for. These are my methods for creating a strong
portfolio that I can feel good about.
I’ve been an artist for 11 years with a successful business
for 10 of them. Five years ago I began attending portfolio reviews, and my work
has only improved since then. In fact, it was a review that got me to create my
first award-winning series. After that, it was a review that got me a book
deal. I’ve had harsh criticism and soft, been praised and hugged and ignored.
The gamut has been run!
I want you to go into crafting a portfolio with a good sense of what images to choose, how to print them, how to present them, and how to stand behind your decisions. Portfolios are useful for so many things. It’s your business card as an artist and the way you introduce the world to your work. You can create a portfolio in print, on social media, on your website, or any other way you choose!
Here is an outline I made to help with the portfolio process. I hope this helps, and if it does, let me know! In fact, leave a link to your portfolio in the comments!
Choosing images for your portfolio
Think like a gallery owner (or whomever
you’re going to show your portfolio to!)
Galleries,
magazines, clients, etc., mostly want cohesion. They want someone who is known
for something, who will deliver that thing excellently, and who will give them
direction. All of this comes from understanding your niche.
Multiple styles
If
you have multiple styles, keep them well separated or only show the style that
most pertains to the person you’re showing your portfolio to. Don’t mix them.
Choose your strongest images
Don’t
know which are strongest? Ask a diverse group of people, and then ask them why.
Ask people who do what you do, who have no idea what you do, and in between.
The people who know how to create can look technically. The people who have no
idea how you do what you do can look conceptually and emotionally. And anyone
else is a bonus.
Part
of having an awesome portfolio is understanding intuitively and intellectually
which images are strong. You should not rely on others to choose for you, and
if you do, you have a lot of work to do in understanding your craft.
Start
by looking at which images speak to you the most and that you were most excited
to create.
Narrow
that down by then asking which are technically strongest – that matters A LOT.
Finally,
choose 2-3 images that are both emotionally strong and technically strong. Use
those as your flagship images.
If
you feel overwhelmed in choosing your strongest images, try studying your
medium. Look into classic examples of well-received and critically acclaimed
art. Dissect that like you’re in a classroom and ask yourself why they were
applauded for their work. Chances are there are books about these people or at
the least, blogs, that go into detail about their merit.
How many images should you choose?
In
my experience, choosing anywhere from 10-30 images for a printed portfolio is
great. Any less, and you won’t seem experienced enough. Any more, and you won’t
feel curated. I go for the higher number because my portfolio is massive.
Printing your portfolio – sizes, paper, order
When you print a portfolio, you must consider
how you’re printing it. Or, if you’re printing it at all! Are you presenting
digitally or physically?
When
presenting a digital portfolio, make sure you arrange them in an order that
makes sense and keeps the viewer’s attention all the way through. I have reviewed
a LOT of digital portfolios, and the biggest issue is that the sender puts too
many images in. I lose interest and can clearly tell that as I keep moving
through the portfolio, the work is getting older and older. There are glaring
technical errors and the concepts aren’t as thought through. Limit yourself.
If
you’re printing a physical portfolio, choose the paper that you would present
your work on professionally. For example, I print my images on Elegance Velvet
Fine Art Paper from Breathing Color. Therefore, when I show my portfolio, I
make sure the images are printed on that paper. That way, if a gallery sees it
and likes it, they know exactly the standard, quality, paper, ink, etc., that
they would receive to hang in their gallery. There are no questions because
it’s right there in front of them.
I
recommend printing two different sizes to show people. I print at 10×10 inches
and 20×20 inches. The 20 inch size is rather large for a portfolio review, but
it always wows them.
What order should you put them in?
Order
matters a lot when creating a portfolio. Here are some ways you might choose to
order your prints:
Color
– by creating a through-line of color, you create natural visual cohesion and
flow. You may go from cool tones to warm, desaturated to colorful, or you may
even alternate color palettes.
Theme
– Sometimes it’s great to combine like themes together. This is especially
great if you are presenting a series (which would naturally go together) or if
you are a concept based artist. This method has another bonus: it gives you
more to discuss as you flip through.
Date
– you may choose to order your portfolio chronologically, but I warn against
this if your work continues to get less polished as you go.
Order
matters because it shows you understand the work you are presenting. A sloppily
laid portfolio will reflect that you aren’t sure how to curate your prints.
How to present your portfolio – questions to ask, type of
case
What case should you use?
The
case is the least important part of a review. You’ll likely immediately take
the prints out and then not bring the case back until the last minute. That
said, cases are hard to come by. There are very limited options, and the
awesome ones are so expensive it is often prohibitive. I got mine at a local
craft store. It’s just a big zippered case where the prints sit lose inside.
For this reason, I keep the different sizes sandwiched between cardboard. Don’t
overthink it! The prints are the star.
Questions to ask. This is vital to a
successful portfolio review. If you have nothing to ask, your reviewer might be
annoyed and it will reflect that you didn’t put enough time into preparing.
I
would come up with a list of 10 questions to ask the reviewer. They can be
generic, but slip in some specific questions as well. This lets them know you
have done your research and you are looking for their specific expertise. Here
are some sample questions:
Do
you think I am technically ready to submit to X (galleries, magazines, clients,
etc.)?
Do
you think I am conceptually ready to submit to X (galleries, magazines,
clients, etc.)?
What
do you feel is the best niche for my work?
What
stands out as most unique in my portfolio?
What
stands out as most generic in my portfolio?
Do
you feel my work is sellable?
How
do my images make you feel?
Can
you recommend any resources for me to look at after our review?
Does
my work fit in to the industry on a professional level?
What
do you feel would be a good next step for me?
When
asking questions, remember to ask for detail. Don’t be afraid to ask: Why? How?
Can you help me further? Ask them to be specific. You paid for a good 20
minutes and some reviewers will fall short – very short – of giving a proper
review. Pull it from them.
Finally, leave a leave-behind.
A
leave behind is a piece of paper that they can keep with them. It could be as
simple as a business card, or you could go my route:
My
leave behind is on the paper that I print on for exhibitions, at the size of
8×8 inches. It has multiple images represented on it, plus my name, phone
number, and website. This allows the reviewer to remember me, remember my paper
and printing quality, and to follow up if they want to work with me.
Many
reviewers are looking for artists to work with, so this is not far fetched!
Like I mentioned, I’ve gotten shows and other good opportunities from reviews,
so always be prepared.
There
are reviews that have gone terribly for me, so I use my best judgment in giving
someone a leave-behind. When in doubt, do it! They’ll politely take it whether
they want to work with you or not.
I hope this outline has been helpful for you in growing your craft, business, and confidence! Take all these steps and you’ll be sure to present a more polished portfolio that you can feel good about.
Share a link to your portfolio here if you’d like!
Maria Fynsk Norup-Dear Brooke – thank you for sharing your experience and insight! I am only just starting out trying to get my work out into the wider world 🙂 So what you share here, on IG and in your course (am slowly working my way through it) is like gold nuggets!
If you have time I would be truly grateful to hear your feedback on my online portfolio: http://www.mariafynsknorup.com ❤️
Warm wishes from a tiny Danish island,
MariaReplyCancel
Aleksandra-I don’t think I can thank you enough for the way you selflessly share your expertise with us. Thank you, thank you! <3ReplyCancel
January 14, 2020 - 2:41 pm
Therena Carlin-Hi Brooke,
You’re such an inspiration, and by chance I came upon your live today, thank you for sharing your wisdom so freely!
I’ve been working on putting together a series for my first gallery show that I started last year. It’s slowly coming together, and I’d love to have you review it. I’m still creating more content, but I’m nearly there. I have put them together on this page: https://www.therena.ca/fineart
I’m completely open to any advice and full honesty/critique because it’s my passion and the story I want to share with the world.
The series is called “Broken but Strong” – about pain, strength and hope.
I’m working on putting together the words for each image and why I created them, and hope to present it in a fine art style magazine.
Thank you again for your passion.
Warmly, TherenaReplyCancel
January 14, 2020 - 10:15 pm
Gallagher Green-This is such incredible information, that I really needed right now. I am trying to get my junk together, and all this port talk has really given me the kick I needed.
This is the first I have really tried to put a portfolio together, and here is the link to it ( https://proflexdk.wixsite.com/gscreativearts/copy-of-fine-art ). I leave one series out of my port on my website and it is on its own page do to a scene of suicide, I don’t know if this is the right thing to do or not. (link to the series https://proflexdk.wixsite.com/gscreativearts/series-sacrifice )
Thank you so much again for the great post as always. ❤ReplyCancel
January 14, 2020 - 10:27 pm
Gallagher Green-(I sure hope this doesn’t double post, but my comment doesn’t seem to be here, I’m not sure why this keeps happening. If it is just me that can’t see them, forgive me.)
This information about ports has been so wonderful, I am finally building up the courage to start contacting some galleries and I have been working on my port, so thank you for all the help with these post here and on IG.
This is my fine art port, https://proflexdk.wixsite.com/gscreativearts/copy-of-fine-art .
This is the series “Sacrifice” I do not have it with the other work in my port because of the suicide scenes, I didn’t want to trigger someone just clicking around my site, it may be a bad idea to keep them separate, I don’t know. Here is the link for that series since it isn’t with the others. https://proflexdk.wixsite.com/gscreativearts/series-sacrifice
Suzanne Barber-Thank you for sharing so much information and encouragement! I just ordered 30 5×5″ prints so I could move them around like a puzzle and see what they will look like together. I’m enjoying looking through what everyone has shared so far-truly beautiful collections!
Do you suggest having a separate website page that acts as a portfolio? Or some other format? I gave it a shot, just to move out of my comfort zone (thanks for that,too!) https://www.sbarberimages.com/portfolio.html
I feel like FotoFest in Houston is maybe overkill for me at this stage. Do you have any suggestions for an online paid review or something similar? It’s hard to know if a site will give a reputable critique from a google search!ReplyCancel
January 19, 2020 - 11:58 am
brookeshaden -Hi Suzanne! That’s an awesome idea! I recommend having a dedicated page for your portfolio for sure. I’d go to Lensculture.com for a review – they’re great there!ReplyCancel
Fairytales vary from country to country, but one thing remains the same: Fairytales are cautionary tales. Some of them are sweet as sugar and oh-so-cute. Others are rather horrifying. No matter which way you interpret this theme, it is sure to be very, very fun.
Get extra weird this week with it!
I’ll pull some of the art that I see this week to feature! Use the hashtag #PromotingPassionChallenge so I can find you!
Here is some food for thought. Enjoy the challenge, and remember to push yourself creatively!
Shot in an abandoned house in New Jersey with my sister-in-law, Steph.
Alice in Wonderland!
Not a direct fairytale or story, but reminiscent of them.
I love that in this image, she escapes into her own dream world.
Gallagher Green-Good theme, I will have to brush up on my fairytale mindset. My Mom loved fairytales growing up, her aunt had a big old hardcover of Brother Grimm’s fairytales that she borrowed so much that her aunt finally gave it to her, we still have it (I think).
Gallagher Green -P.S.
I found out why my comment didn’t show up last time. When commenting where you fill in “Name” “Email” and “Website”, if I put my website in the “Website” slot it will not show the post, if instead, I put my FB or IG URL it works just fine. Weird.ReplyCancel
This week, take a look at these 10 things that inspire me. I hope you find inspiration here, too! Let me know if you watch/listen to/read/view any of these! The weekend is the perfect time to jump in.
I love the theme of “broken” for so many reasons. One is that it is a chance to dive deep into what hurts us. Another is because it is a chance to dive deep into what hurts others. But even more importantly, it’s a lens through which we can look at hope and redemption.
Whatever you do with the theme, I can’t wait to see which direction you take it.
I’ll pull some of the art that I see this week to feature! Use the hashtag #PromotingPassionChallenge so I can find you!
Here is some food for thought. Enjoy the challenge, and remember to push yourself creatively!
I shot this at a shipwreck in New York!
Part of my newest series, Begin Again. This image: “Reflection: Sown”.
Getting darker!
I created this with stock image of a hole in a floor + tons of shots of smoke and flour!
by brookeshaden
Gallagher Green - I need to start checking your blog more, I missed this.
once used a similar method for the background in a vivarium, but instead of chicken wire, I used “egg create” pannels for overhead lights since it was going on a flat wall of a tank.
After the spray foam, I roughed up the surface so it no longer was glossy and carved it into rock shapes. Then I used grout, apply it about 1/4″ thick (more or less) molding it into the rock shapes you want adding the lines with a butter knife. Then once the grout is just stuff (dry) enough to stand the sculpture up a bit, (but not so far that the grout falls off) spray it with a heavy mist from a spray bottle. The water will smooth it to a natural rock look and the little bit of water runoff will give the rock a very natural weathered look.
You want to be careful because grout is concrete, and it gets heavy very quickly, so make sure your structure/frame can hold it up.
I also know a great way to thin down silicone to make it paintable and mix it to look just like dirt. If anyone wants to try it just say so and I will post the directions.
Can’t wait for part two of this.
Nancie Green - HAIR CAN BE A MASK TOO!
Brooke, you are a new discovery for me …in the last few weeks I have become aware of your work and I am fascinated with your style, your methods and your ability to share so beautifully.
The Mask challenge is the first one I have joined and it comes at a very opportune time (as did discovering you).
I have always photographed people but candidly. Recently I decided that needed to change but I was incredibly nervous about approaching anyone to model. In a strange (somewhat serendipitous) way I decided that the least frightening thing to do would be self-portraits …this is before I discovered you (thus the serendipity).
While initially this seemed like a great idea I had forgotten (for a moment) that I’m 68 years old and showing every second of those years! Plus I hate being photographed! In the end none of that stopped me, I plowed forward. The best shots from that day where the ones where I used my own hair as a mask, enabling me to hide the ravages of time but still capture my essence.
Not long after that day I discovered your work and began investigating your process …I was enthralled! Since then I have found the courage to do photo sessions with a few friends and have plans to do more. I believe this bravado is (in part) due to you!
Thank you for sharing and inspiring, I will continue to expand my horizons and work on conquering my fears and doubts …you are a wonderful guide.
@ntgreen39