Linear Materials Skillshare
Exploring and experimenting with linear materials to create and explore 3D form and structures. The intention is to experiment with a linear material and find ways to work with and repurpose it. The linear material that I chose to work with was wire.
Material profile
Material: Wire.
Source/manufacturing: Wire is a type of metal usually made by a process of heating and stretching. Wire can be made of various different metals like aluminum, copper, and steel and has different gauges which is the thickness of the wire’s diameter.
Safety/toxicity: most wire is non-toxic and reasonable safe but some have slight inconsistencies or warnings, such as wire from California (like the wire I used in my explorations) has the’ PROPOSITION (PROP) 65 WARNING’ on it but this is only because it is a product of California not because it is a toxic material. The thin sharp nature of wire adds a slight safety risk which can be avoided with careful handling and/or gloves.
Responsible reuse/disposal options: Wire is mostly recyclable (with copper being the most recycled wire material as it is very common and occurs in many household items such as copper wire in air conditioners)
Tactile | Tangible | Personal | Physical | Connected | Space | Household | Script
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- Twisted double strand wire
- Twisted with 4 strands – this technique of twisting looks more intricate and holds more strength.
- Barbed wire – I like how this technique links to the idea of using a material for protection and how a material (like wire) can have so many uses.
- Weave – I like how it is almost abstract and become a form of its own. Abstract like my style and I actually like it more than if it had been very precise and ‘neat. Reflects the handwriting explorations in the same way it is an example of my artistic style/aesthetic.
- Coil – wrapped wire to create a spring which explores the idea of challenging the properties of a material.
- Knotting wire – using a sewing/textile technique
- Handwriting basic – wire manipulated to mimic handwriting
- Handwriting stretched – starting to distort the text
- Thin twisty handwriting – experimenting with types of wire and how they can add a different effect
- Handwriting layered – layering/finger-knitting wire type together.
- Handwriting shadows – exploring shadow and playing with light contours and value.
Favorite technique
My favorite technique/s that I explored focused on using the wire to draw and to create typographic structures.
Tools/context: to do most any/basic wire sculpture with standard wire you would need wire cutters, pliers, fingers. Pliers and fingers are used to bend and shape wire and cutters to cut the wire to desired length
For this particular technique I have only used my hands (to shape and manipulate the wire) and scissors (to cut the wire) but I think what tools you use really depends on your personal style of working.
I find it helpful to write out or draw out a small sketch to guide you before you start working. Often I like to enhance technique by pulling at the ends of the wire typography to distort the words. In the past my work has had a contemporary, abstract style with notable influences from in-formalism and abstract expressionism. I have, in high school, focused on how I can interpret negative space and portray key themes through abstract typography.
Handwriting and the shapes and contours associated with handwritten text is personal and creates a visual link between the artist and the work which I feel is an important part of creating a responsive emotive art piece.
I wanted to incorporate this into my linear materials exploration which I have done in several similar ways including ‘basic wire handwriting’, ‘layered wire handwriting’, using wire type to create shadows and contours’, and ‘layering wire and thread’. Bending the wire is a very physical process and i found makes the final product feel more tangible and personal. This links with the idea of handwriting and how each person has their own style of handwriting.
