For this particular roundabout, we were given a brief safety demonstration before we began practical work, as some of the equipment we were using could be dangerous if not used properly. Our tutor showed us how to correctly use the spot-welder and wire-cutting pliers.
I decided to produce a piece based on a photograph I took from the residential trip to Dolphinholme, however rather than construct a 2D line drawing of my photograph, I wanted to recreate the subject of the image: a river plant. I chose a medium thickness wire, and created the stem and 4 branches off it, on which to build up the shape of the plant. From each of the 4 branches, I added 3 perpendicular pieces of wire, which were then bent into shape. I then used a second, more pliant wire to create loops on the end of each protruding piece, slowing building up the shape of the plant. At this point I was concerned it looked more like an aerial than a flower, so I used more of the thinner wire to give the piece roots, instantly transforming the piece into a plant. During the next session, I began covering the individual loops with tissue paper using pva glue, then cutting around them to keep the circular shape. To build up the piece even more I added individual pieces of wire, which I had glued tissue paper on, to the centre of the plant.
Rather than make a stand for the piece, I decided to leave it in a horizontal position, because it looks more like an uprooted plant this way. When light is shone on the top of the plant, it gives the impression the 'petals' (tissue paper loops) are illuminated.
