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| A happy find from the construction zone that is my studio! |
As a child, I fondly remember my cousins fashioning rings and people from brightly colored telephone wire. It was magical; they were older, and I was jealous! I never would have guessed then that my creative path would bring me full circle to my love affair with wire. If I were stranded on a desert island with only a few supplies, wire would be one of them.
This year, when my Mother spent time as an inpatient at our local rehab center, I decided to work while I visited with her. When I arrived and opened my tool box, I realized that I didn't have what I needed to complete my intended project. Instead of being disappointed in this discovery, I issued a challenge to myself. I allowed myself to create with wire and found objects from Mom's room alone...no beads...no pliers...no other tools of any kind. I find that limiting the materials, tools, or color palette of my work can stretch me creatively in ways that are hard to imagine.
These photos illustrate a few of the results from this project...
Day in and day out, wire also serves as the basis for many of the cold connections in my work. From wire wrapped connections to links fabricated from wire alone to rivets made exclusively of wire; I can't get enough of this stuff!
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If you share my passion for wire, please tell us how you use it or what you love most about it?If wire isn't your thing, what is? Please describe it to us, and tell us why you love it like you do.
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I like to use wire in making woven rings, soldered jewelry, as well as embedding in encaustic work. What I like about it, is that it can be messy or neat...stretched, pounded, or transformed.
ReplyDeleteGreat description, Melissa! Its versatility gets me every time. <3
DeleteI love using wire for so many things: wire wrapping beads, embedding spirals of wire in resin or glass glitter, making rings, hammering it into bangle bracelets, making wire links, wrapping sea glass!!
ReplyDeleteWe're kindred spirits, DonnaD!
DeletePinned to my board ReMe Art Retreats.
ReplyDeleteShared on FB.
ReplyDeleteI spent three years in jewelry class in school so have a definite love of wirewrapped jewelry. Especially preciouse stones. I love making wire bead trees as well.
ReplyDeleteHow lucky for you to have had that as part of your educational background, Victoria! I have such admiration for those who wire wrap neatly and meticulously, as it escapes my abilities. My approach is wild and unruly in what I hope is a good way. <3
DeleteI was a wire and metal worker before I got into mixed media...I made lots of jewelry ....I even did a bunch of wire weaving and some chainmaile. I learned to solder too...and made some rings. At some point, I'm sure I'll put wire into my mixed media work....
ReplyDeleteI bet you will too, Ali. I love the manner in which all of our varied artistic experiences materialize in our new work and in different media. :-)
DeleteWire is not my thing, but I appreciate it when it's done well. It is so hard to get the curves without the kinks! 40+ years ago, a friend of my family worked for the telephone company. He gave us a box full of multi-colored plastic wrapped wires. We made many a piece of jewelry with those scraps. I wonder if you can still find them.
ReplyDeleteThat's exactly what we did, Ellen! It's still available; although I purchase my telephone wire on eBay now. ;-) As I just mentioned to Victoria, my passion is for the wild side of wire, and I embrace the imperfections as part of my designs. Having said that, I so admire the work of those who have the skill and ability to wrap with care and precision.
DeleteI like wire to make embellishments and findings. My love is polymer clay. Love making things from it and especially pendants and dolls.
ReplyDeleteSeveral of my dear friends work with polymer clay, Denise, and they consistently amaze me with the versatility of their medium.
DeleteWire is fun to use as embellishments on my canvas, attaching it to black upholstering tacks or using it to hold glass beads on the edges.
ReplyDeleteAbsolutely, Hope!!! Uphostery tacks are another one of my favorites; I'll have to include them on our next "Favorite Things List".
Deletewire, you say? ha! i am a freak for metal in whatever form. i actually found a stainless steel cut of bundled wire while visiting carrot island. it is brutally sharp and i carried that sucker all around the island and all the way back home.
ReplyDeletei love wire for jewelry making, paper arts, even gift wrapping. love me some metal!
What a great find, Ellie! We're definitely kindred spirits. <3
DeleteI really enjoy wire wrapping around stones. Many semi precious stone have meaning to them so when someone brings me a specific stone that they want wrapped, I think that's extra special.
ReplyDeleteI adore this, Autumleaf! As Artists, I love the personal connection that we share with others.
DeleteNot as much into the wire, but thinking perhaps I should! My weakness is paper products! I love love love them as they are so versatile and can be manipulated in so many different ways.
ReplyDeleteYou're a woman after Penny Arrowood's own heart, Wendy! :-) I suspect that you'll love wire too, and I bet that you'll manage to use it in a way that incorporates it with your beloved paper.
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