Anna & the Willow, a British sculptor has
given this time-honored method a modern touch. She makes amazing
nature-inspired artworks out of willow rods grown in England. The ancient skill
of basket weaving is said to be one of the most widely practiced crafts in the
history of mankind. Weaving malleable, natural products together to serve a
variety of functional shapes and containers is one of the processes.
Anna
began working with willow ten years ago when she enrolled in a weekend
sculpting class. “Working with a natural material opened up a whole new world
for me, and I went on to study all the other basketry techniques,” she adds. “I
like to use traditional basketry abilities while adding my own flair to the
process.” The gifted artist creates a wide range of willow baskets and little
presents, but her remarkable sculptural work elevates the conventional method
to new heights. Before being generated from handmade steel frames, each huge
outdoor work is initially conceived using hand-drawn designs. Then Anna wraps
them in layers of intertwined willow rods, exposing their magnificent shapes.
The
Huntress of Skipton Castle Woods, a 9-foot figurative sculpture, portrays a
lady firing a bow and arrow. Set in a wooded setting the stunning work appears
to have sprung from the forest floor and may spring to life at any moment to
launch her arrow. Anna has sculpted life-size animals, such as a stag and a
horse that appear to be surveying their surroundings, frozen in time, in other
pieces.
On
Instagram, you can view more of Anna's work. If you're motivated to make your
own willow sculptures, you may attend one of the artist's workshops in North
Yorkshire, England.
Anna
& the Willow, a British sculptor, produces stunning outdoor artworks out of
English-grown willow rods.
Before
being created from handmade steel frames, each major work is initially
conceived with hand-drawn designs.
Then Anna
wraps them in sheets of intertwined willow rods, exposing their amazing shapes.
It
appears to have sprouted from the forest floor when placed in the natural
environment.
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