Fishbowl
Craft Wire & Imagination, 2007

The Wire Inspired! Posted Jul-14-2007
My First "Warm-Up" Wire Art Sculpture
After reading Angela Hook's book "Let the Wire Inspire: Release Your Creative Energy", I acquired some craft wire, donned some cloth gloves, grabbed a pair of pliers, and set sail into the sea of imagination.

Not having a clue at what I was going to make with a long, single strand of wire, I just started playing with it until inspiration took over. The end result after bending, twisting, and encouraging the wire to do what I wanted it to do for about a half an hour is reflected in this greatly imperfect "fish in a bowl."

Now, realize that my Fishbowl is a first attempt, a warm-up, if you will, at allowing the wire to inspire. See how the wire is not bent smoothly around the curves? Notice how you have to make your imagination work hard to "see" the fish? Take note of these imperfections because this is how an unskilled artist begins learning a new form of art. It takes a lot of practice and a number of fishbowls later before that one piece of art that sparkles beautifully with perfection finally emerges. Well, at least it works that way for me (remember the wheel-thrown pottery class?).

If you're interested in learning more about wire sculpture and trying this flexible form of art for yourself, visit Angela Hook's and Elizabeth Berrien's wire art sections on the Creativity Portal Web site. Both of these professional wire artists share an abundance of information and insight based on their working knowledge and experience with this unique artform.

Meanwhile, I'll be practicing some more on this wire bending art stuff. Just wait — one day I will post a sparkly perfect piece of art bent from my own creative hands. Indeed I will. •

© 2007 Chris Dunmire www.chrisdunmire.com. All rights reserved.