Hi all, going to start todays blog by uploading the image of my paper-straw

head, as promised yesterday. Had to take a new photo of it and as you can see it's now up on the wall. Although not completed I've taken this experiment as far as I want to for now. I'm not discounting doing a piece using paper straws - it's just that at the moment I'm keen to try other materials and so I will limit my time spent using each one while experimenting.



Anyone need a hand?

 Another idea I have to give a sense of my space is to cast the space I occupy ( at present ), so that when the cast is removed, the imprint left behind is a visual record of my space for as long as the cast exists. I actually thinking of how a full body cast would work if say the front half of the body was cast, then the back half, then they could be hinged together. A bit like the old Iron Maiden torture device, or maybe painted on the outside to resemble an egyptian phaeros casket. Might just create a big mud puddle in the garden and lie in that - wouldn't that look good on the wall?

Just wanted to give you all a link regarding a style of wire sculpture I saw lately that I really liked. It's by an artist called Tomohiro Inaba and has a real mystical quality which is something that I personally associate with the word 'sense'. http://www.thisiscolossal.com/2011/07/wire-sculptures-by-tomohiro-inaba/. Another link that I'd like to add is for a paper sculptor called Peter Callesen. http://petercallesen.com/info/galleries.Makes me want to experiment some more with paper.
   I watched a video clip of a sculptor at a recent tutorial by the name of Andy Goldsworthy. It showed him building a stone cairn on the seashore and then watching the effect the tides had on it. On recognising his name on a book in the library today I took it off the shelf to see some of his other work, and I have to say it has opened up a whole new avenue of ideas for me.

 The range of natural materials and settings he incorporates in his work is amazing. Having been advised to try out 'found' materials, possibly something from where I live - to include a sense of personal space in my piece - I'm going to attempt something with these shoots that were growing at the base of a tree in the garden. (see image on the left ) Not sure what kind of tree but I'll get back to ye with the next update.