In this project, we were tasked with creating our own “make believe” insect completely out of wire, using the inspiration of real insects/animals. One part of our creature had to move and linkage of wire had to be consistent. We also were supposed to give it a scientific name and describe how its form influenced its function. The goal was to introduce and grow our skills using wire and creating volume with wire, without lumping.
Honestly, I approached this project very apprehensively, because I dislike insects. While it was hard, I started with research of different insects. After input from Professor Lisa, I settled on a fashionista insect that incorporated a butterfly, pill bug (rollie pollie), and silkworm. Then, I drafted intricate sketches of those insects to better understand their anatomy and how each part fits together in real life.
I started with the head and worked my way down the body, creating each part after a different part of the bugs I researched. I successfully created all the body parts like I wanted, with only the antennae representing stability challenges. I learned how to make quick spirals with wire cutters and how to bring different pieces of information into a cohesive narrative for my insect’s backstory. After watching my fellow students approach the project, I pushed myself to create something that looked more skillfully crafted.
I think I learned the concepts of how drawing can help you understand a subject and how line can create a volumetric form. I say this because after those sketches, I understood how skinny the butterfly’s front legs needed to be; how a pill bugs legs were segmented; and how a silkworm has false legs. Moreover, my wire line became a volumetric form. While there’s always room for improvement, I think my skills using wire has definitely grown through practice and adhering to natural insect body proportions. I think my final piece is well done and reflects my skill level and the assignment timeframe.
I also think my project shows an openness to subjects I don’t prefer and a willingness to add accents (like nail polish, jewelry, etc.) that I didn’t think of at first.
This was my first-time using wire and I created a whole sculpture! So, that was definitely an achievement that I can add to my repertoire of skills.
Take A Look Into My World
