For this project, we had to combine three real insects to create a make-believe bug and then build it out of wire. At least one part had to move. Additionally, we had to give it a scientific name, describe its eating habits, explain its environment, and share any cool facts about it. The insects I chose to fuse were:
- A White banded fishing spider.
- A ruby-tailed wasp.
- A wheel bug (a type of assassin bug).
In the end, we were to hopefully have a better understanding of line and volumetric form.
I first attempted to make an armature for the bug’s body using the bulkier wire. I bent the piece I’d cut off until I thought it looked vaguely like the shape I was going for. After that, using the silver wire, I started on what I can only describe as an exoskeleton by attaching its ends to the end and front of my ‘endoskeleton’. Once I had accomplished that, I made its legs out of the black wire to provide the insect with some support, adding ‘webbing’ to their tips. Then, it was onto the head. I did the same thing I did when making the body; I used the black wire to mold the overall shape. Finally, I added the fangs (tiny wall nails) and the antenna.
This project was the most frustrating one for me out of all four, but on the upside, I got to try new material and learned how line and form function together. I had trouble figuring out how to twist the thicker black wire with the pliers. For a lot of the weaving and twisting, I ended up just using my hands. It was a bit easier but a lot more painful, and once I was done, I could feel my fingertips pulsing.
