Drawing with Wire

Developing and extending an alternative to drawing
in two dimensions

A wire sculpture of a complete female figure, standing with hands on hips
A wire sculpture of a complete female figure, standing with hands on hips

Despite spending five years at art college, I never found drawing a particularly comfortable experience. When attempting to create the illusion of three dimensions on a two dimensional surface, it seemed as though there was a blockage between my brain and my hand. The message simply wasn't getting through.

Throughout my first 'foundation' year, I attended the mandatory life drawing classes. Whilst I rather enjoyed attempting the short pose sketches, I struggled with what were referred to as 'sustained' poses, for which we were required to produce a detailed drawing over a period of a few days.

2023 Attitude 1

2023 Attitude 1

A wire sculpture of a complete female figure, standing with hands on hips
A wire sculpture of a complete female figure, standing with hands on hips
Two similar wire sculptures of complete female figures, standing, bending over backwards, arms out
Two similar wire sculptures of complete female figures, standing, bending over backwards, arms out
A wire sculpture of a complete female figure, standing, bending over backwards, arms out
A wire sculpture of a complete female figure, standing, bending over backwards, arms out

I developed a 'solution' to the problem, whereby I began with a preliminary drawing, and then rather than working into it, I added a sheet of tracing paper on top, and continued the drawing on that, gradually building up layers, each adding further detail to its predecessor through the transparency.

In order to interpret the three dimensionality of the life model, I tended towards using contour lines, rather than shading. This helped me to understand and form the shapes more clearly in two dimensions. Yet it wasn't until many years later that I discovered wire as a method of drawing.

2024 Overbend sketches

2024 Overbend sketch

A wire sculpture of a complete kneeling female figure with clay hands, face and feet, arms raised
A wire sculpture of a complete kneeling female figure with clay hands, face and feet, arms raised
A wire sculpture of a complete kneeling female figure with clay hands, face and feet, arms raised
A wire sculpture of a complete kneeling female figure with clay hands, face and feet, arms raised

Whilst behaving in some ways, like a pencil line, wire of course, has the immediate advantage of being three dimensional. It can be literally bent and pushed into the form of the figure, producing a 'drawing' in three dimensions. Naturally, there are the logistical considerations that always accompany sculpture; structural considerations such as weight, balance, its ability to hold itself in space with or without support.

Taking these issues into account, a wire drawing lacks the immediacy of a pencil drawing on paper, but from my own perspective, opens up a way of exploring forms and ideas that my eye to hand coordination can understand and begin to translate.

2023 Kneeling sketch

2023 Kneeling sketch

A complete sculpture of a standing female figure, part clay, part wire, hands on hips
A complete sculpture of a standing female figure, part clay, part wire, hands on hips
A complete sculpture of a standing female figure, part clay, part wire, hands on hips
A complete sculpture of a standing female figure, part clay, part wire, hands on hips

The two pieces with the addition of the clay detail; 'Attitude 2' and 'Kneeling sketch', are representative of a method of 'working into' the wire drawing, and exploring the form in more detail. Such 'hybrid' pieces could act as a bridge between a wire sketch, and a clay sculpture, and provide reference points for future exploration in either direction. Usually, the wire armature for a sculpture serves only as support for the piece, rather than contributing to the overall form. The idea that the wire sketch could simultaneously serve as an armature, and vice versa, is a rather exciting one.

2023 Attitude 2

2023 Attitude 2

A cotton-covered wire sculpture of a standing female figure stretching with arms raised
A cotton-covered wire sculpture of a standing female figure stretching with arms raised
A cotton-covered wire sculpture of a standing female figure stretching with arms raised
A cotton-covered wire sculpture of a standing female figure stretching with arms raised

The piece entitled 'Copper Scribble' (on account of the cotton covered copper wire from which it is constructed), is an example of a 'sustained' drawing.

Due to the construction and therefore the ultimate weight of the piece, an armature was needed for support. This in itself, formed the basis for the drawing, becoming the outline and planned proportions of the piece. The initial application of wire was gradually built outwards to create the depth, and as the form began to become apparent, the placement of every individual strand of wire was crucial to maintaining and continuing the form. The finished piece has the look of a somewhat 'scribbled' drawing.

2022 Copper Scribble

2022 Copper Scribble

A detailed polymer clay and wire sculpture of a standing female figure, stretching with arms back
A detailed polymer clay and wire sculpture of a standing female figure, stretching with arms back
A detailed polymer clay and wire sculpture of a standing female figure, stretching with arms back
A detailed polymer clay and wire sculpture of a standing female figure, stretching with arms back

'Fused' is an example of a series of very detailed 'sustained' hybrid pieces, where the wire drawing was deliberately curtailed in order to work certain areas with clay (polymer in this case).

The wire drawing is smooth, with flowing lines, and lacks the 'scribbled' qualities of the aforementioned piece. The polymer clay is translucent where it is applied thinly, enabling the wire to be seen beneath it.

'Drawing' in this way, either simply with wire outlines, or by taking a more detailed approach, enables me to explore ideas in ways that I find accessible and tangible.

2022 Fused

2022 Fused

Meanwhile, my sketch books will continue to be an important work place for ideas and methods, albeit with the absence of any particularly satisfactory drawings.