After much experimentation, I felt the best way for me to move Forward with this concept of organic spherical forms was to use biodegradable balloons to support the structures I was creating. As I have been studying from home this seemed like a logical way Forward. If I were at uni I would have probably explored making two part plaster moulds. Although I don’t know how effective this would when I apply the texture to the surface as the forms would collapse under saturation. Therefore the balloons serve as the most practical option to get a perfect sphere.
Whilst making these shells I wanted to retain a deckled and fragmented edge that you get when you make paper by hand, so by tearing the paper rather than cutting when I was paper macheing the form builds up in an organic way. As I wanted to avoid making something that was too perfect and man made looking.
The spherical forms were inspired by my research into Jamie North and the fragmented edges were inspired by Lisa Ommanneys forms with a fragmented edge. I was also inspired by the work of Jane Ponsford, where she works with the environment using collected material and working from site inspiration.
The paper I have been using to create these forms is recycled waste paper combined with abaca fibre paper. this, I had made with dried licken picked up from the New Forest floor and dried.
I have been making a collection of 5 spherical forms all ranging in sizes, I wanted these to have impact in an open space so I decided to make the up to the size of about 90 cm.
I have been using a home made cellulose glue from corn flour to paper mache making my forms capable of being recycled and biodegradable. This also gives the sculptures a much softer organic feel rather than hard and crunchy feel when I previously explored pva glue. This also allows the paper to be applied a lot more easily as the paper becomes saturated by the waterty cellulose.
Lara Hoad Artist Designer: Maker 