This is a wire sculpture bust of myself that I constructed for a three-dimensional college course. The goal of this project was to create a life size scale of the subject (myself). I started with a draft based on photographs I took of myself. I made printouts of the photos which were used as reference to make outlines on a large sheet of drawing paper.

In my haste, I forgot to include a scale reference in my Bust Reference images. I approximated my size by measuring the height of my chin to the peak of my head. I then compared the real world measurement with the printout and calculated the real world dimensions I would need to draw up my draft.

The easy part was taking needle-nose pliers to bend 18 gauge wire into a contour of my drawing. I began with the side view until I was satisfied. The same process was used to make a front view. I then merged the two wire outlines to create the illusion of three-dimensions. All other details were added using separate lengths of wire bent in loops. The loops with the most mass were anchor points for other wires.

Nathaniel Yannikos. Wire Sculpture (Side View). 12 September 2019. Steel Gauge Wire. 17" X 15" X 13".

The side view, in my opinion, was the most appealing perspective of the sculpture. It captures an outline of my likeness.

Nathaniel Yannikos. Wire Sculpture (Front View). 12 September 2019. Steel Gauge Wire. 17" X 15" X 13".

The front view of my sculpture lost details that I envisioned in my original draft.  I should have added more lines of wire to better define my upper torso.

Nathaniel Yannikos. Contour Drawing Side View. 5 September 2019. Pencil on paper. 19" X 21".

Nathaniel Yannikos. Contour Drawing Front View. 5 September 2019. Pencil on paper. 19" X 21".

Nathaniel Yannikos. Bust Reference Photographs. 30 August 2019.