Wire Wagtail Bird Sculptures Workshop with Sarah Dukes
Create a life-size wire wagtail sculpture and another bird of your choice.
Age group and abilities to be taught
- 18 years and above
- Suitable for all abilities
Course aims and skills/knowledge to be taught
- Creating 3D sculptures from 2D source material
- Observing key features of a bird, to retain identifiable characteristics of the bird
- Drawing these with wires
- Building up layers of wire to create a finished sculpture
- Handline, cutting, and shaping wire
- Observational drawing using wire
- Creating sculptural forms from chicken wire, including how to attach and connect to create the base shape, and how to eave the wire to build form
Course outline for the day
Two sculptures: handcraft a grey or pied wagtail in the morning, and a bird of your choice in the afternoon.
Your wagtail will be slightly bigger than life-size, and your second bird can be any size you want: from a tiny wren to a regal raven.
Morning
- Create 2D bird ‘drawing’ to familiarise yourself with wire
- Chicken wire and lengths of wire will be pre-cut for this stage
- Create body from chicken wire
- Add outline of head and body, wings, and legs
- Build layers of wire to add colour and key characteristics of the bird
- For each stage, there will be verbal and written instructions, plus a model example
Afternoon
- Use the books and images to decide on your second bird
- Choose the materials needed; cut lengths of wire
- Apply skills learned in the morning sessions to a new bird of your choosing (real or imagined)
What you need to bring with you:
- There is no need to bring anything as all materials are provided, however if participants have some garden, craft, or other wire that they would like to use, please bring it. Similarly, if participants have preferred pliers, bring them along.
- Participants will be working with spiky wire so bring gloves if desired (e.g. thin gardening gloves
What we will provide:
- Chicken wire
- A variety if craft and garden wires of different thicknesses
- Materials and colour
- Pliers and snippers
- Instruction sheets that can be taken away
- Bird images and books as source material
Methods of assessing outcomes
- The tutor will circulate around the group and provide individual feedback throughout the session, creating several opportunities for self-reflection and peer feedback
- Group discussion focusing on final sculptures at the end of the session
- Completion of evaluation form
Booking information
- To book please use the ticketing system below. Alternatively, please call the Gallery on 0121 236 4353 during opening hours to book over the phone. Bookings can also be made in person at the Gallery.
- Booking is essential. Payment in full is required at the time of booking to secure a place.
- Payments are non-transferable and non-refundable.
- Places are limited to 10 people per workshop unless stated otherwise. Allocation will take place on a first-come first-served basis.
- All workshops run from 11.00am – 4.00pm with a 40 minute lunch break, unless otherwise stated. Tea and coffee will be provided, participants need to provide their own lunch.
- Please inform the RBSA Gallery when booking of any health conditions or additional needs as some workshops might not be suitable.
- A valid student ID must be provided to receive a student discount.
Cancellation Policy
- If you, the customer cancels your booked workshop, we are unable to offer you a refund.
- In the event of under-subscription, workshops may be cancelled or re-arranged. We will give you as much notice as possible if this happens and you will be able to transfer to another course or receive a full refund. The RBSA is unable to refund additional expenses, such as travel and accommodation.
- If you are booked on a workshop and do not attend on the day, a refund will not be given.
Continual Professional Development (CPD) and Copyright
- We welcome bookings from people attending for Continual Professional Development (CPD). However, our workshops are not designed as CPD. If your employer is paying for the course or you require more details about what you expect from the course, please contact the Gallery in advance before booking.
- The workshop content and any information provided (e.g. handouts, guidance notes, etc.) are the intellectual property of the artist delivering the workshop. They should not be used or reproduced without permission from the artist (e.g. copying handouts to use in any classes workshop attendees might deliver themselves afterwards).
Other information
- The workshop will take place in the RBSA Gallery, floor 1. The space will be closed to visitors and will only be used by workshop attendees. However, staff and volunteers will need to walk through the space at various points in the day to access the staff office, which is located on the same floor.
- Attendees can leave their materials in the workshop space during their breaks but the RBSA will not be responsible for any loss or damages.
- Please bring a packed lunch. Alternatively, there are a number of cafés and sandwich shops within walking distance of the Gallery.
- Please bring an old shirt or apron to help protect your clothing.
- The continuous redevelopment work in the city centre has caused increased traffic, delays, and diversions in and around the City Centre. Therefore, please allow yourself plenty of travel time, plan your route, and check your parking arrangements.
- If you are travelling by car, please ensure your car is clean air zone compliant, or charges may occur.