Copper Wire Art Ideas
Natural copper wire for crafting is widely available in craft supply stores and online. Sold in huge rolls and in a variety of different gauges, copper is a versatile crafting medium on its own for wire art and sculpture. Or, it can be used in mixed-media art projects such as pottery, paper and clay arts. Through the fluid process of shaping, twirling, winding and rolling, a single strand of copper wire morphs into a bicycle, a horse, a giant butterfly or an enchanting earring.
Sculpture
The burnished gleam of a copper sculpture is eye-catching. Whether it's an elephant, butterfly or even a giant sphere or other geometric shape, copper sculptures can be found in art galleries around the world. All it takes to get started on your own masterpiece is a large roll of copper wire, lots of imagination and a willingness to work with the wire and not against it.
Jewelry
Free-form copper wire earrings and pendants, woven bracelets and necklaces make compelling jewelry designs. On its own as the exclusive medium or blended with other media, copper -- with its warm, rosy hue -- is a natural for jewelry making. Wire sculptors use it to embellish large focal beads such as Peruvian opal, creating a series of spirals from a single, fluid strand that finishes with a bale for stringing. Copper wire is the basis for wire-wrapped bangles and collars, often incorporating precious metals such as silver or gold to make two-toned or three-toned pieces.
Crystal and Copper Wire Butterfly
Butterflies come in all shapes, colors and sizes. There are many butterfly patterns, photos and illustrations from which to choose a model. Illustrations or pencil drawings are easiest to follow when shaping the wire, while photos provide ideas for crystal colors. Crystal-enhanced butterfly wings are created by threading crystals onto a separate strand of wire, anchoring it onto the wing's frame and weaving it in a criss-cross fashion to cover the wing, making for sparkling butterfly sculptures, mobiles and wind chime components.
Mixed Media
Copper wire can be incorporated into a variety of artistic mediums such as clay and papier mache. Interesting effects are created when you poke wire-sized holes around the perimeter of a clay pendant or a pottery vase when wet. Once dried, stitch through the holes with copper wire.
