Sculptures


 COLLECTING
  • I collect items such as plastic packaging, tape, stickers, foil and papers.
  • Clean items are then stored in one of my many bins. 

 CLEANING
  • Dirty items such as packaging from food are cleaned.
  • Cleaning is done either by hand using the leftover water from my dishes 
    or in the washing machine with my cleaning cloths.

CONSTRUCTION PT 1
  • The sculptures are constructed using the rubbish I have collected
    (mainly plastic packaging).  
  • Photos and my memory help to create a basic shape (frame) of
    the sculpture.
  • The frame is bound together using mostly recycled items such as string,
    stickers, tape or strips of plastic.
 
CONSTRUCTION PT 2
  • I cover the frame with about 2 layers of papier-mâché, a shredded
    paper and glue mix.
  • Once these layers are dry I coat the entire art work in approximately 
    one layer of papier-mâché pulp (a finer mix, more like a paste).
  • This layer takes quiet some time to dry so I will often place the art
    work by a heater (already in use for something else) in winter or outside
    in the sun in summer.

FINISHING OFF
  • The final layer of the sculpture is made from a combination of dry
    plaster, papier-mâché pulp, and glue and it is spread over the piece
    in sections to allow it to dry evenly without marking. 
  • When I am happy with the final look I sand the sculpture to remove 
    any imperfections and reveal the underlying papier-mâché to shine
    through to give a stone like quality to the art work.
  • Finally I give the sculpture a few coats of varnish to finish it off.
N.B. At the moment the work is not waterproof so is for inside display only