Reed & Wire Sculptures

• For a 3D material, reed is extremely light weight, especially compared to 3D materials like clay.
• You don’t have to worry about your reed sculpture toppling over!
• You can work with the reed at a fairly large scale and not worry about structural issues like with other 3D materials.
• The reed has an inherent curve to it which creates really dynamic shapes.
• If you are new to the reed, it’s best to start out without a specific end result.
• Start by making some circles so that you can see how the reed functions, and learn how to wrap the wire.
• Reed is typically used by basket weavers, who usually soak the reed for more malleability.
• Soaking the reed is not necessary for this project, and in fact can create a mess which is a pain.

• Armature wire is the best fit for this project, if your wire is too thin, it won’t support the reed very well.
• Be sure to wrap the armature wire as tight as you can, if the wire is loose it will not be structurally strong.
• Wrap the wire so the wire is flush against the other wire.
• Use needle nose pliers to push down the ends of the armature wire which tend to stick out. (don’t use your fingers!)
• A wire cutter is great for trimming the reed, especially if you want to even out the lengths of pieces.
• The wire can become a decorative element if you want it to!
• Consider shapes that you can create with the wire that can then be attached to the reed.
• Wrapping the wire around a pencil and then removing it can create beautiful twists.

Art Supplies

• 4.25 mm Round Reed
• 7.25 mm Round Reed
• Armature wire
• Needle Nose Pliers
• Wire Cutter