Final ideas

I've decided that the method with the best results for me has been pleating the paper to create a twisted form. I think this really interprets the shape of a wave and is individually very nice to look at. I have thought about various ways of displaying these sculptures and i think they will look at their best when hung. I decided to research into chandeliers that have been made out of paper and how they have been arranged to look at their best when hung.


I think this is probably a pretty simple design but it looks really effective mainly due to the lighting that has been used. I think this is a really important factor i need to think about when displaying and photographing my final piece.

This piece looks as though it has been hung from a main ring structure that is hidden under the paper. This means the majority of the paper is left to hang naturally.

These pieces look really complex which makes them facinating to look at anyway but i really like the way they are hung low to the floor.

This has been hung to create quite a traditional chandelier shape but each paper cut out has been individually hung. This makes it very busy to look at but creates some amazing shapes.

The reason this one caught my eye is the way each model has been made at a different size and hung at a different level. I think this would work really well with the models i am planning to create.

The shape of this one really caught my eye and how it had actually been used as a lamp shade and lit from within. I think the lighting really expresses the shape of the model and creates interesting shadows.


I then decided to look at chandeliers that wern't made out of paper but used the same shapes that i am planning to use.

All three of these show glass chandeliers that have used a similar shape to that i will use for my final piece. All three of them are arranged and presented in very different ways. I really like the shape created in the middle one and how third one has been seperated into three sections.

So not as easy as it sounds!

So i tried out the wet folding technique and found it is A LOT harder than i thought.
I think the main problem was that i had my heart set on being able to produce something as amazing as Richard Sweeney. This didn't really go as hoped! Even after experimenting with several models i couldn't create the shapes i was hoping for. Richard Sweeney obviously has a secret ingredient he's just not letting out! Here are a couple of my best attempts...

This was using the pleated technique. I managed to put one curve into it but the rest of it kind of flopped!

This time i tried a different technique of scoring curved lines in the paper and folding along these lines. I originally wanted the paper to stay curved itself but i couldnt get it to stay in place so i pulled it round so both ends met and joined it with tape.

Wet Folding!

I was intrigued how Richard Sweeney created such curved and fluent shapes in his pleated models. I found that he actually used a technique called wet folding where you fold the paper whilst it is damp. This makes the paper much more flexible and lets you easily form curved surfaces. When the paper dries it keeps it's shape, becoming rigid. I researched into the technique and how it works. Its a pretty basic technique but is quite tricky to get right. The paper needs to be moistened used a damp cloth. Get the right amount of water on the paper is the tricky part. Getting it too wet means it will start to tear and fall apart, not getting it wet enough means it will dry to quickly and basically it won't work. All in all doesnt sound too complicated....so i gave it a go!

Further Experimentation!

After seeing potential in my screwed up off cuts i decided to expand on this idea in a more planned and structural way. I used a similar technique to my initial ideas using strips and slots but arranged them to look more tangled and messy.

I think this would look really interesting on a larger scale. Maybe using several pieces connect to create a sphere of tangle.

I also decided to try a very different technique using strips to make a pop up style model.

I varied where the triangles hit a point so that it created a curve along the page.

Experimentation: Paper Waves

As I have decided that repeating waves will be the inspiration for my final paper sculpture I wanted to experiment with different ways of expressing the wave form in paper. I looked at new ways of interpreting the wave form and also expanded on previous models i had already made.

To create this sculpture I cut strips out of an A4 sheet and then twisted it round so two corners met. I used glue to secure the paper and keep it in shape. I really like the final outcome and think the lines it creates express the form of a wave well. I really enjoyed photographing this piece as it worked well with the light creating interesting shodows.

I then expanded on this idea by using the same method but instead of cutting strips out of the paper i simply made slits in it. I also joined the two corners slightly differently so that they twisted round each other. This gave the sculpture much more of a natural curve and you could see the lines twisting.






I then expanded on one of my original ideas in which i used strips to create loops and then twisted this around to form a circular sculpture. This time i used adhesive to keep the piece together and found it worked much better. I started by using a triangular piece of paper and creating bigger loops at the wider end gradually going down in size. I really like how this change in size works in the final outcome and how the
loops flow round so naturally.

I then expanded on the original idea of this again. I used the same size triangular piece of paper but instead of cutting the strips across it i cut the strips downwards from the thin end to the wide end. When the strips were pulled round into loops they had room to fan across the page and created what looked like a wave.

Although this is only a simple method I quite like the final outcome.

I then screwed up all my off cuts and found that they created quite an interesting shape. The strips tangled together and looked like a rough a sea with the waves over lapping and weaving together.

Primary Research

I wanted to photograph water moving in different ways and look at the repeating patterns it created in it movements. I decided to photograph the water fountains outside Sheffield Train Station to capture the images I wanted.

As the water runs down this sculpture you can see wavey lines are being created. The water then makes a different shape as it hits the bottom and then again as it ripples out.

This image shows shapes quite similar to waves as the water is being thrown up in the air.

I really like how the water is being manipulated in this images. The shape of the structure makes the water move in a certain way and the outcome is really effective.

Shaped Structures

I found a few structures and buildings that have all been formed around or resemble the shape of moving water such as waves. I really like the bench above as it takes a really similar form to some of the paper models i have made with its pleats creating curves.

I also found the work below that has been produced using paper to create a waved appearence. I havent tried out this technique yet so i will have a go and see what shapes can be produced.

This has been displayed hanging from a ceiling, possibly using fishing wire.