ART OF WIRING - from Peter Adams talks at Ideas Summit 2009

[MelaQuin]

ART OF WIRING
From Peter Adams talks at the Ideas Summit in July 2009

The important thing is the idea you have in your head and not the technique used to get it. Too much emphasis is made on having perfect wiring and not crossing wires. Wire well enough to do the job. Wiring is part of the journey – not the end in itself. Wiring enables you to line up the green. It is the green that counts. Try not to be mechanical in your outcome.

In basic shaping don’t wire to the ends. Wire the main branches then let the tree rest a few months and then fine wire when the tree is rested and robust.

When you are fine wiring the foliage that is sticking up everywhere, wrap branchlets around your finger, give them movement, jigs and direction changes and tuck them into the silhouette. They will fill out from there.

When you are shaping a foliage pad let your eye go over the pad from side to side, front to back to ensure the best outcome. You need to look at the body weight of the green and get balance there.

There’s a French saying ‘ the difference between beauty and ugliness is millimetres”. Small adjustments to your styling design in the branches and foliage can make a world of difference. Think all round the tree.