Most people grab a pencil or pen when they want to draw. Celia Smith grabs recycled wire instead, utilizing its malleable nature to draw her favorite subject.
Walking Puffin 9.8″ tall copper wire, telephone cabling
Smith’s three-dimensional drawings of birds capture the essence of each animal’s character while giving the viewer a sense of movement.
Lapwings 9.8″ tall copper wire, telephone cabling
Curlew Calling, 27.6″ x 15″ wire wall drawing, copper wire, rusty steel netting
She often creates small wire studies right in front of her subjects. Love that.
Studies of Guillmots, approx 4.5″ tall, copper wire
Guillmot, 14″ tall, copper wire, fabric coated telephone wires
“I use wire to create sculptures. Each sculpture that I make is a three-dimensional drawing with the wires representing a quality of line. Birds are my main inspiration; capturing their movement and character is my primary concern. I find that wire has a spontaneity that can give my sculptures a feeling of life and energy.”
Magically lifelike. She’s taken an idea many of us have toyed with, then with the perceptiveness of a zen brush painter added real life and gesture into the lines. What a gift to be reminded of the integrity of line, of calm kinesthetic observation translated so sensitively. Thanks, Susan.
I adore your puffin! Your work is original and refreshing to look at! Plus you recycle wire at the same time! Kudos to you for that!
The sculptures are great. They really portray the essence of the birds.
I have worked with wire but mostly two dimensionally. I would love to know what gauge wire she is using.
These wire pieces remind me of the artist Alexander Calder. Very nice work.