1. Sculpture Exploratory 2

3. Decaying leaf study - Wire and string. I have started my decay exploration by investigating the possibility of producing a leaf like the ones I had collected and drawn in my initial sketches. I found some old chicken wire in the forest on that day so I decided to dress the wire with string. I carefully looked at the formation of the decay and tried to emulate its delicate structure. I wanted to maintain the properties of the leaf with using the veins as a guide to give the leaf its shape and framework for the different shapes I could create with each ‘cell’. I wanted to then try and contrast the string, inducing a feeling of time..by using green there was still some life left in the form, slowly changing into the brown sleepy state of decay. I looked at lots of different examples of how to show this but I used my own creative way in the end.

4. As cold as ice....

5. Investigating the ‘Hoarfrost’ - I have explored the effect of the crystalline deposit of water vapour formed on my pieces that I left outside in the clear still night. The beautiful effects induced a feeling of sleepiness frozen in time. I thought about the shapes that could frame the leaves by utilising the stone bird bath; I was pleased with the effect and the frozen water that gave an infinitive value to the decaying leaves.

6. Silver Birch Exploration – Binding the collection of willow together gave me the strength I was looking for to create the feel of the silver birch. The texture is smooth and has a sheen, the form is shaped with the firm faces of the trunks shape. Entwining a few different colour threads gave me the interesting pattern of the birch. I have photographed them after leaving them out in the frost overnight. I wanted to capture their towering beauty with the crystals to replicate the winters sleeping trees.

7. Investigating softer wire with leaf decay. Manipulating some garden wire I wanted to create an ‘emptiness’ to the leaf. Exploring just its skeletal structure that is so delicate yet so strong. I used just one piece of wire to represent the feeling of veined unity and woven intricacy of the leaf. I then changed the process to look at another way to investigate the structure of decay. Using the wool to provide windows and segments where the decay has eaten the leaf away. I photographed the leaf in the darkness to show the frayed edges and the softer values of the leaf.

8. Taking the leaves outside – I wanted to show them in a formation also with a more contrasting background. The paving lent itself to providing a perfect basis for this – I thought how the squares could represent each season and the how the leaves placed like hands round the annual cycle clock of woodland life. I also liked the way the shadow falls down one side of the single wire leaf, giving it depth and makes this delicate structure appear stronger than it is. It is also tainted with the hoarfrost and the paving detail provides the leaf texture that has been omitted using a hollow wire form.

9. Exploring decay with Mod Roc - Using a wire armature I wanted to investigate the values of plaster and how I could manipulate to show the fragility of the leaves. Initially I prepared the chicken wire to form a shape that would bend and bow as if it were curling up with dehydration. Once I started to wrap the bandages I was able to rub away at the plaster to achieve the desired effect. The holes appeared and the frays hung so brilliantly from the main leaf. I have tried to sculpt as much structure into the leaf as I could, I was really pleased with results. The materials are hardy and resilient like a leaf yet the effect is delicate and compliments the decay I was trying to emulate.