So, I bumped into the name Kathy Miles a while back. Wasn’t really looking for anything specific, just browsing some art stuff, you know how it goes. Saw some pictures of these amazing wire sculptures. Really delicate, but also strong looking. Mostly figures and natural shapes. It just stuck with me.
I thought, “Hey, I could try that.” Looked simple enough, right? Just bending wire. Big mistake. It’s way harder than it looks.
Getting Started, or Trying To
First off, I had to get the supplies. Went down to the local craft shop. Stood there staring at this wall of wire. All different kinds – copper, aluminum, steel, different thicknesses. Had no clue what Kathy Miles actually used, so I just grabbed a few random rolls that looked okay. And some basic pliers I found in my toolbox. Thought that’d be enough.
Back home, I tried making a simple bird shape. Like the ones I saw. Man, it was a mess.
- The wire was either too soft and wouldn’t hold its shape, or too stiff and my fingers just couldn’t bend it right.
- It kept kinking up in weird places.
- The pliers I had were clunky, made marks all over the wire.
- My hands got sore pretty quick.
After maybe an hour, all I had was a tangled piece of junk wire and sore thumbs. Felt pretty dumb, honestly. Clearly wasn’t just about ‘bending wire’.
Figuring Things Out Slowly
Okay, so plan A failed. I wasn’t gonna give up that easy though. That stuff Kathy Miles made was too cool. I started looking closer at pictures of her work, trying to see how the wires were joined, how they flowed. It looked so effortless, but mine was just… stiff.
I realized I probably needed better tools. Went back and got some needle-nose pliers and maybe some round-nose ones? Can’t remember exactly. Just knew the ones I had weren’t cutting it. Also picked up some thinner gauge wire, thinking it might be easier to handle.
Spent some time just practicing. Not even trying to make a specific shape. Just bending, twisting, making loops. Trying to get a feel for how the wire behaved. It took a while. Lots of wasted wire. Lots of little scratches on my hands.
A Small Win
Then, finally, I managed something. It was supposed to be a leaf. It kinda looked like a leaf, if you squinted. But the important thing was, I actually made the wire do what I wanted it to do. Mostly.
After that, I tried the bird again. Took it really slow this time. Focused on making smooth bends. Used the different pliers for different jobs – holding, bending, snipping. It wasn’t perfect. Not even close to Kathy Miles’ level. It’s a bit wonky, a bit rough. But it’s recognizable as a bird. And I made it.
It’s sitting on my desk now. A little reminder that things that look simple often aren’t. Gave me a whole new appreciation for artists like her. It’s not just talent, it’s practice, patience, and probably the right kind of pliers.
