Often after I get a sense of the animal in nature, I will want to really study its form. The image allows me to really hone in on the shapes and angles that inform the finished piece.
I then sand mostly Australian red-gum timber in ever decreasing grain sandpaper until it is beautifully tactile. This is every bit as satisfying to me as the sculpture mounted on top.
The material
Wire! The simplicity of everyday wire turning into something that is pleasing to the eye and has a sense of life is really appealing. Wire is tough. Twisting this material takes its toll on the hands, so gloves come in very handy when I remember.
It’s fun to see a living creature evolve out of the tangle.
I sit in front of the iPad and study the shape of the animal I’m working with.
It takes hours of subtle tweaking in the larger pieces to create a sense of unity in the wire. It sometimes seems a never ending process and I’m always learning.