Creating Gem, Beaded & Bonsai Wire Trees: Step by Step Instructions, 400 Photos & Drawings

by Sal Villano

Overview

This book is the result of more than three years of work. My inspiration for writing my third book on the subject of creating wire trees and other pieces using wire, came to me while showing my work at many art and craft shows, and in art galleries. Interested people would ask me how I got started, and, some people, who were really interested in my work, said I should write a book showing how I create my tree sculpture. I have taken great care in creating this third book, not only adding many more different types of sculpture, but also adding many extras I think the reader will find very helpful. I not only explain and illustrate for you, how to create each piece, I also show or explain how to use a basic item to create many more variations of each item. This book contains 138 pages with over 400 photos and illustrations. Plus, based on my over 30 years of creating and showing my work, I have added many pages I have called "Extras". These extras will help you with many different topics, such as: Photography, Pricing your work, Shipping your work, Accepting commissions, Attending art and craft shows, Consigning your work, and many more. You can view all my tree sculpture in full color at: www.salvillano.com The inspiration for creating my sculpture grew from a lifetime love of trees. I am in awe of the stately presence and silent majesty they posses. I find the structure of trees to be one of the perfections in nature. With their roots embracing the earth; in winter they show their bones, in spring gentle buds, in summer a canopy of green and in fall a magical kaleidoscope of colors. Beauty, pure beauty.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781482742923
Publisher:	CreateSpace Publishing
Publication date:	04/04/2013
Pages:	140
Product dimensions:	8.30(w) x 10.70(h) x 0.40(d)

About the Author

Sal Villano was born in New York City in 1944 into a large extended family of many artists. So, at a very young age he was always very aware of art in his life and was naturally attracted to expressing himself visually. He attended public grade school, high school and college. He also studied at The Art Students League in Manhattan. While still in college he assisted his uncle Charles Santaniello, a sculptor, in creating commercial displays for many New York businesses. And helped produce parts of an exhibit for a Worlds Fair in Europe. It was this time spent working with his uncle that he realized he too wanted to be a sculptor. After graduating college he went to work as a commercial artist. In 1969, after several years at this position he started his own art studio with another artist, this partnership provided the opportunity to produce a wide verity of commercial work. It was at the time he spent at the Art Students league that Sal created his first wire tree sculpture, while constructing an armature to support a clay figure, he noticed that the wire he was using could also be bent, twisted and wrapped to create a tree sculpture. Whether viewed in direct sunlight casting harsh shadows or in soft candle light creating a gentle form, the tree sculptures created by Sal Villano each take on a personality of their own. As in nature, no trees can ever be created alike. All the sculpture of Sal Villano can be viewed at: www.salvillano.com The following is an on line interview: http: //youtu.be/92UXEqP1kUk

Editorial Reviews

2014-01-06
An experienced artisan offers step-by-step instructions, including more than 400 drawings and photographs, for creating decorative trees out of wire. Novice artists will welcome Villano's (How to Create Beaded & Wire Trees, 2009, etc.) clear directions as he introduces several types of wire-tree creations. This edition includes the "Weeping Willow," which is the easiest to make, and the much more difficult "Mini Jade Leaf Cascade," as well as such wall-art sculptures as the whimsical "Wind Swept on Round Base." Although readers may be eager to quickly try their hands at making these lovely trees, the author notes that it's best to read the entire book before beginning, and he assigns each project a one-to-10 difficulty rating. He briefly discusses the properties of different types of wire (aluminum wire, for example, is very pliable), provides a wire-gauge chart, and includes a thorough materials list with relatively easy-to-obtain items, such as enamel paint, beads and white craft glue. Villano adds several helpful tips for budding professionals who want to sell their creations, such as how to set prices, obtain a gallery for showings and write press releases. Although the author's concepts are easy to comprehend and his voice is never patronizing, readers should note that the complex projects require a good deal of time and patience. Those who aren't satisfied with their first attempts can take heart, however, as the author shares a 1977 photo of his first poorly formed tree sculpture and helpfully labels the mistakes he made: The trunk was too small, and the tree wasn't securely bound to its base. With years of practice, Villano's work is now beautiful, and although his book may feel a bit like a sales pitch at times, it remains a handy addition for any artist's library. An easy-to-follow guide for serious handcrafters.

Kirkus Reviews