Sculpture | juliedoddartist

Coral Colonies

When coral becomes stressed through pollution or the rising sea temperatures caused by climate change the algae that gives the coral it's amazing colours is ejected from the corals tissue leaving it prone to disease, taking away its main food source and most noticeably giving it a bleached appearance.

Forest: Lungs of the World

With the ever growing concern of climate change, this work is about the declining population of trees and the importance and impact they have on the planet. Carbon dioxide is probably the largest contributor to climate change, with human consumption being the major factor. Trees play an important role in the survival of our planet as they absorb and store carbon dioxide. Inspired by lung tissue this miniature forest canopy emphasizes how trees are the lungs of the World.

Storm in a Teacup

The British tea ritual has a large carbon footprint which must contribute to the erratic climate patterns and rising sea levels.

Out of Palms Way

These logs can be made to order.

The clearing of large areas of forest, plantations and peat land in Indonesia, Malaysia and Africa is having a detrimental impact on our planet.

This is happening in order to sustain the demand for the production of palm oil and is causing terrible environmental damage.

Palm oil is very versatile and cheap commodity which is in great demand and is actually very environmentally friendly, being used in the production of goods such as biodiesel, but because such vast areas are being cleared to make way for African palm trees it’s having a truly detrimental effect on the native wildlife in the loss of habitations.

But not just this, communities land is being taken away so they can’t sustain their own food and even fire is being used to speed up the clearing process, another environmental worry that is also certainly accelerating climate change cancelling out the good palm oil could be doing.

Last Resort: Coral Altered Books

Coral reefs around the World have been devastated by mass bleaching but recently it seems that some might be fighting back as a last resort for survival.

Fungal Spores

Fungi grows through the dispersal of its spores, which are all around us, floating around and landing everywhere, waiting for the right conditions to burst and grow...

Fungi is often overlooked for its importance, it is vital to our ecosystems, decomposing organic matter and recycling nutrients to the earth, enabling the roots of many the plants to take the water and nutrients needed to grow and yet they could also be our demise, causing infections in animals which could lead to their extinction.

Paper Sticks & Stones

When I was working on my 'paper eggs' I found that after spending hours and hours cutting, gluing and layering the paper and then sanding them into shape the exiting, interesting part of the process was varnishing the eggs.

This is when they become individual and unexpected colours, detail and 'flaws’ appeared. The 'flaws' are what really make them stand out, make them more attractive and interesting but sometimes with the flaws had to be sanded away to keep the shape of the egg so the idea of 'Sticks and Stones' was born. I can go with the 'flaws', they can define the object in shape, colour and detail.

Invasive Ivy

English Ivy (Hedera Helix) is a species of native ivy which is a versatile plant, being able to cover significant ground and able to climb as well. It grows well in the shade and is ideal for covering barren areas under trees, it crowds out weeds and helps stop ground erosion. its evergreen foliage makes it a great ornamental plant which provides rich nectar for insects and fruit for birds.
But it is considered an invasive weed in Australia and the United States. Due to human introduction as an ornamental plant it has widely spread, invading forests, salt marshes, woodland and fields. Growing at ground level as well as reaching up to the forest canopy, it supresses native vegetation engulfing everything and preventing light from reaching other plant life.

Contained

Fungi Paper Sculptures

PM11: Inspiration

I was commissioned to design and create a wall installation for SAICAs new paper mill with the addition of four childrens workshops which saw the children creating artwork to be incorporated into the installation.

Paper birds

I create birds from old books and magazines.

They are often available in my shop and can also be commissioned.

Discarded Trophies

These 'Trophies' have been constructed from recycled national geographic magazines. The layers of ink and paper once used to report on their decline now form the skin of these endangered animals.

Bleached Coral

‘Bleached Coral’ is a project I worked on during lockdown. It mimics the destruction of coral reefs, to represent the fragility of our oceans.

The bleaching of coral has been interpreted literally for effect but coral reefs suffer a similar fate.

The reefs are being ‘bleached' through the stresses of pollution and rising temperatures which result in the algae that gives coral its colour being ejected, leaving the coral prone to disease.

Although this can be devastating, recent reports suggest this doesn’t always have to be the end!

Given the chance, survival can be a reality for coral that is still alive.

It can repair and flourish once again!

Holly-Wood

Cross Sections

These can be freestanding, stacked, wall mounted or placed in a deep frame. Various colour sets can also be collected to make large wall installations.
Being made from recycled holly wood produced as a by-product of gardening, these unique pieces serve as a statement on the beauty and detail in nature which escapes the human eye.

Fungi Paper Sculptures on Bark

Many of these pieces are for sale and I also take commissions.

Fungi Sprouting from Tree Stump Altered Book Sculpture

These book sculptures represent decaying remains of trees that have been felled. Many of our native trees are at risk of being endangered. The Black Poplar, Oaks and Maple are amongst some. We are top of the threats to trees due to such things as logging and agriculture, but extreme weather/ climate change also threaten their existence which could arguably down to us too!

Sea Anemones

Sea anemones are stressed from pollution and rising sea temperatures caused by climate change and by micro plastics. They lose their colour giving them a bleached appearance. Plastic waste is having such a detrimental affect on our oceans. Plastics break down into micro plastics which are getting into everything as they are in our water supplies.

Paper Eggs

The arrival of migrating birds to Europe from Africa is declining rapidly and at this rate, many species will be wiped out from the UK if we don’t do something about it fast. Numbers are decreasing each year because of a possible accumulation of several issues, but loss of habitat and climate change are most certainly the main factors. The loss of trees means loss of habitat, nesting, and food.

Bird's-eye Primrose Altered Book Sculpture

These altered book sculptures are of Primula farinosa - Bird's-eye Primrose, rare, delicate plants that can be found in the North of Britain. Like many plants it is threatened due to the destruction of its habitat and by pollution.

Fungi Fabric Sculptures on Wood

Many of these fabric sculptures are for sale.

Tree Book Sculptures

These altered book sculptures and Trees presented on slices of wood take the book back to the tree to bring attention to the destruction of trees.

Nature Inspired Altered Book Sculptures

These book sculptures have been created to make statements on environmental concerns. These recycled books have been altered through cutting away parts of the books and constructing new structures from the discarded book pages. They can be displayed and viewed on a book shelf and have the addition of secret scenes on opening the book up.
The intention of using old books for me is to breathe new life into old & disused literature.

Bird Song Paper Feathers

These delicate paper pieces represent the many endangered bird species throughout the world, this piece serves as a poignant statement: "Eventually the birdsong will end, and all we'll have will be feathers."

This recycled artwork has been created from sheet music. It's delicate, featherweight form serving as a reminder of the beauty of nature.

These are for sale in sets of three and can be purchased from my shop.

Spiked Rampion Sculpture

These sculptures are inspired by 'Spiked Rampion' (Phyteuma spicatum) an endangered member of the Bellflower family.

May Lily Sculpture

Inspired by the 'May Lily' (Maianthemum bifolium), this vulnerable woodland wildflower has been considered rare from as early as Victorian times.

Spiked Star of Bethlehem Sculpture

Inspired by the 'Spiked Star of Bethlehem' (Orninthogalum pyrenaicum), thought to have declined due to loss of mature elm trees due to dutch elm disease. The disease was introduced to the UK from North America in the 1920's.

Pods

'Pods' are based on blood cells. They started out as intaglio/relief prints and where constructed into pods with the ideas of protection, security and comfort in mind, but also about how fragile these things are. First shown as a print assessment, they have since been shown several times including 'Triple Echo' a touring exhibition in 2008-2009 which showed at the IMPACT Print Conference in September 2009.

Flesh Printed Cell Sculptures

'Flesh' is inspired by cell production and represents some of the fundamental things that make us human beings.