Paper Workshop - 28/01/11

This first Skills Workshop was focused on the manipulation of paper by using a variety of techniques to create 3Dimensional structures.
The workshop was directed by Richard Sweeney, who specialises in this type of art.

Richard began the workshop by showing a small selection of his work, and then went on to demonstrate a few of the techniques that he uses to create 3D forms and structure.

We then we given the task of creating these forms, following a specific set of guidelines, using:

• 1 A5 flat sheet of paper
• A scalpel
• Your imagination!

Another specific rule was that NO adhesives or tapes of any form could be used.

One of the techniques that Richard demonstrated was to score the paper using a scalpel, and then folding along the score line to give the paper a defined edge and dimension.

This is my first attempt at the scoring technique, and although this is not a particularly interesting form or shape, I can see how the scoring method can be used very effectively after more practice.

Another technique that was demonstrated was the method of creating tabs and slots in the paper in order to eliminate the need for adhesives. This technique was the one which I found to be most interesting, and therefore the one that I experimented mostly with in this workshop.

This photograph shows my first attempt at the tabs method, combined with the previous scoring method.
Again, I am not particularly satisfied with the sculpture itself, but I can definitely see how this technique could be incredibly useful in creating non adhesive 3D forms.

After the first attempt, I began to use these methods in different ways in order to experiment with the capabilities, qualities and limitations of the material itself.

I used the scalpel to slice the paper into long thin strips, whilst leaving a small section at the top untouched, to ensure the paper did not separate completely. I then cut tabs above each strip, and slotted the strip of paper into the slot directly on the right.

As I progressed onto the further strips, I began to vary the length of the strip that was slotted each slot, which created an increasing size effect. This particular shape reminds me of a typical shell that can be found on a beach.

After slotting the first 4 strips into the slots, I cut further slots in some of the curled strips themselves, and slotted the remaining strips into those. However I felt that after doing this, the sculpture did not work as well aesthetically as it did before.
Nevertheless, I continued with this method so that I could assess the final outcome once it had been totally finished.

The remaining paper from each strip was then fitted into a newly made slot, until all of the material had been 'used'.

This is the final outcome of that particular attempt. Overall I think it does work much better than it did halfway through the construction, but I do prefer the more consecutively curved structures. I think that this design would look more effective on a larger scale.