How to Make a Sheep Out of Wire
Wire sculpture is a form of art that can be made with as much or as little detail as you want. You can use any kind of wire, but the easier it is to manipulate, the easier it will be to make your first few sculptures. Some wire sculptures are made with barbed wire or rusty wire. These are intriguing but should be tried only if you have mastered the skills. If you are a beginner, use less dangerous wire first. Does this Spark an idea?
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Instructions
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Form your sheep outline shape using wire and pliers. Make the head, neck and a general shape of the body. Ears can be made separately and attached. Legs can be made by shaping the body wire down into leg shapes and back up. Wrap wire ends together where you need to join wire pieces. Use wire cutters where shorter pieces of wire are needed.
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If you are making a 3-dimensional sheep, you may want to make two body outlines and then wrap wire around the two pieces along the "spine" and the "neck." Spread the two sides apart at the bottom enough that the sheep can stand on the four feet.
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Use a tubular form to shape wire into "fluffy" shapes where you wish to depict the sheep's body. Wrap the wire around the form and then slide it off. Stretch the springy shape and twist it into the puffs. Place the puff shapes around the body as desired. Twist ends into the body frame to hold them in place.
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Wrap wire around the nose and legs to represent the shorter haired areas where the sheep is not "fluffy." You can also wrap wire around the ear outlines.
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Secure loose ends by twisting them together. Check that your wire pieces are firmly affixed.
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Set your sculpture in the garden.
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Tips & Warnings
Be careful of wire ends while working. Use gloves to protect hands and arms. Wire ends can cause puncture injuries. If you puncture skin with wire, check with a physician regarding the necessity of a tetanus shot.
References
Resources
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