Darrell Wakelam
LightNews LightNews
banner
darrellwakelam.bsky.social
Darrell Wakelam
@darrellwakelam.bsky.social
1.9K followers 940 following 1.4K posts
Freelance artist and provider of 3D ART workshops & training. Author of the best-selling book Art Shaped. Free ART ideas and projects at www.darrellwakelam.com
Posts Replies Media Videos
Pinned
darrellwakelam.bsky.social
Darrell Wakelam @darrellwakelam.bsky.social · 21d
Are you after the perfect Christmas gift for your creative loved one? 🤔 Do they like making things?
Well this might be the perfect little surprise. 😮😁
'Art Shaped' is my best-selling guide to 3D making, with over 150 five-star reviews 🤩
It's here ⬇️
www.amazon.co.uk/Art-Shaped-s...
#edusky
A little advert for my best-selling book 'Art Shaped'
darrellwakelam.bsky.social
Here's something I posted yesterday on Instagram, so new people there could get a feel for what I do and the reasons behind it. 🙂
If you're an artist, the 'why' sometimes get's lost in sharing the process.
www.darrellwakelam.com #edusky #artist
two cardboard seahorses made by me and using a process that's explained on the 'news' link on my website darrellwakelam.com A photo of this text - I’ve spent my life looking for patterns, trying to find art in the everyday mundane things we take for granted. Back when I was a boy, ‘Junk Sculpture’ meant plastic yoghurt pots hastily wrapped together with Sellotape to make rockets, or big egg boxes snapping open to make crocodiles. But working with children all these years has opened my eyes and made me realise the true potential of working creatively with what you have available. I’ve never found that restricting the materials curbs their creativity, in fact, I think it’s quite the opposite. Give a young child a table full of shiny, expensive craft materials, and mostly what they’ll do is try to gather as many as possible, without thinking of their possible use. If you give them just one, or two, then they will begin to explore their properties, and use them in different and exciting ways. If I can, I try not to mix recyclables with non-recyclables. I try to think about what’s being wasted, and if I can I use it, that’s what I call ‘pure making’. I try to choose materials that are free, or readily available, and I try to only use tools that you’ll already have at home, or that are cheap to buy. Over the years I’ve followed these principles, and honed my skills so that now, armed with just a pair of scissors, a roll of tape, a pencil, and a few recycled bits and pieces, I can make pretty much anything a child would ask for. For them, it’s like magic, it always will be. Art is alchemy.
November 23, 2025 at 10:05 AM
Reposted by Darrell Wakelam
darrellwakelam.bsky.social
Are you after the perfect Christmas gift for your creative loved one? 🤔 Do they like making things?
Well this might be the perfect little surprise. 😮😁
'Art Shaped' is my best-selling guide to 3D making, with over 150 five-star reviews 🤩
It's here ⬇️
www.amazon.co.uk/Art-Shaped-s...
#edusky
A little advert for my best-selling book 'Art Shaped'
November 2, 2025 at 9:00 AM
Reposted by Darrell Wakelam
darrellwakelam.bsky.social
Last night it was number '89' in the craft book chart, this morning it's number '130' 😂😂😂 . . . my ad campaigns are great aren't they. 🙄
a screen shot of my book at number 89 in the Amazon craft book chart
November 22, 2025 at 10:09 AM
darrellwakelam.bsky.social
It's 'Black Friday', and me and my mate Spoon Baboon are very excited to see 'Art Shaped' creep back into the Amazon craft book chart. 😆😮
If you need a special gift for a mate, or even a primate, it's here . . . www.amazon.co.uk/Art-Shaped-s...
#edusky #christmas #christmasgift #christmasbook
Me, looking at my own book with my best friend, a baboon, made out of a spoon.
November 21, 2025 at 8:49 PM
darrellwakelam.bsky.social
Today, I’ve been working with the Year 5 classes at Birchwood Primary. They are reading ‘Clockwork’ by Philip Pullman, so using that as inspiration, we made Sir Ironsoul, the mechanical knight from the story. 🤩
www.darrellwakelam.com #edusky
Sculpture made by the Year 5 pupils from Birchwood Primary in Tamworth. The image is of a mechanical knight from the Philip Pullman story ‘clockwork’. To fit in with the theme we build the sculpture on a circular base, turning this into a clock face, with intricate workings.
November 19, 2025 at 5:04 PM
darrellwakelam.bsky.social
The Year 4 kids at Birchwood Primary School have been inspired by the fabulous book ‘Varjak Paw’ by @whatsfsaid.bsky.social
and the illustrations of Dave McKean . . . they’ve built this artwork in just one day, with all 60 kids taking part. 😺
www.darrellwakelam.com #edusky
Artwork created by the children showing the main character from the story Varjak, and one of the robotic ‘toy’ cats. Making the cat faces A close-up of the cat sculpture.
November 18, 2025 at 4:57 PM
darrellwakelam.bsky.social
Today, I’ve been helping the Year 3 kids from Birchwood Primary to make this very jolly pirate. 😁 He’s happy because he’s finally found the treasure. 😮 Loved this, the kids had a lot of fun.
darrellwakelam.com #edusky
A 3D pirate made from cardboard and built in just one day by the 60 Year 3 children from Birchwood Primary in Tamworth. A close-up of the pirate’s head A close-up of the treasure chest.
November 17, 2025 at 4:24 PM
darrellwakelam.bsky.social
It is quite crazy watching something you've made just spring into life. It's like 'Frankenstein's Fish'. 😮😆
Creating film from images is still a bit clunky, but the future arrives fast!
www.darrellwakelam.com #edusky
November 16, 2025 at 9:01 AM
darrellwakelam.bsky.social
A cardboard bird . . . made entirely from recycled cardboard tubes. "You don't need a mountain of materials, or expensive tools and equipment to make something that is sophisticated and beautiful" DW
www.darrellwakelam.com #edusky
A bird made entirely from recycled cardboard tubes
November 15, 2025 at 10:08 AM
darrellwakelam.bsky.social
I rounded off the week with a 'zoom' visit up to Hope School in Liverpool to share some skills and techniques with the children . . . and to answer their questions about art, ice creams, and crisp flavours. 😆😆😆
www.darrellwakelam.com #edusky
Photos of me delivering various online 'zoom' workshops over the last few years on all kinds of themes. In each photo I'm holding up a different piece of work, fossils, fish, trees, rockets, masks etc.
November 14, 2025 at 11:13 AM
darrellwakelam.bsky.social
I've had a very busy few days up at Old Church Primary working with both Year 3 classes. Every child has had four different sessions working on this large scale display piece. A 'knowledge' tree, with the school's four 'values' as its roots. 😁
www.darrellwakelam.com #edusky
A 'knowledge tree' made by the 60 Year three children from Old Church Primary School in Wednesbury. Their tree is full of books and the roots carry the four school 'values, Respect, resilience, relationships, and responsibility.
November 13, 2025 at 7:26 PM
darrellwakelam.bsky.social
Here's a small selection of the poppies made by children for Remembrance Day using one of my simple cardboard projects. Both methods just use recycled, paper-based materials, allowing them to be recycled too (no plastic)
Both videos are on my YouTube channel. (my name)
www.darrellwakelam.com #edusky
Poppies made for Remembrance Day by children using one of my making ideas. Poppies made for Remembrance Day by children using one of my making ideas. The two different poppy making activities I have on my YouTube channel (my name)
November 9, 2025 at 9:20 AM
darrellwakelam.bsky.social
After last year's success, I'm doing more online Christmas workshops this year. So, if you want to do some festive making with your class, get in touch.
You choose what we make, I'll show you the skills, then off you go!
One-hour sessions am/pm
15th - 19th December 🙂
www.darrellwakelam.com #edusky
Photos of just a few of my Christmas art projects, reindeer, snowmen, Christmas trees, robins, and Father Christmas.
November 8, 2025 at 9:37 AM
darrellwakelam.bsky.social
I've been over to St. Mary's at Bradford Abbas for a couple of days, helping to create a 'whole school' display piece based on their school motto 'Roots to grow, wings to fly.' The kids were fantastic. 🤩
www.darrellwakelam.com #edusky
A large display piece created by the whole school, the image shows the school itself, set in the beautiful surroundings, incorporating a tree with roots under the school, and a flock of birds coming out of the tree's branches.
November 5, 2025 at 5:33 PM
darrellwakelam.bsky.social
I'm currently making the four god-heads from the Ancient Egyptian 'canopic jars' (the jars that contained the removed organs) Here's two of them, the falcon-headed Qebehsenuef, and the baboon-headed Hapi.
Recycled tubes and wooden spoons.
www.darrellwakelam.com #edusky
A small model of the head of a baboon, based on ancient Egyptian artwork. A small model of the head of a Falcon, based on ancient Egyptian artwork.
November 4, 2025 at 9:13 PM
darrellwakelam.bsky.social
At my workshop last week at Weymouth library, the kids chose to make one of three sea creatures. The library asked me (for a small fee) to finish off my examples for them to display, so I have. 🤩
I hope they like them.
*All based on ideas from my book Art Shaped. 😁
www.darrellwakelam.com #edusky
My relief sculptures of three different sea creatures, a fish, a seahorse, and a starfish, all made from recycled cardboard.
November 3, 2025 at 8:22 PM
darrellwakelam.bsky.social
Are you after the perfect Christmas gift for your creative loved one? 🤔 Do they like making things?
Well this might be the perfect little surprise. 😮😁
'Art Shaped' is my best-selling guide to 3D making, with over 150 five-star reviews 🤩
It's here ⬇️
www.amazon.co.uk/Art-Shaped-s...
#edusky
A little advert for my best-selling book 'Art Shaped'
November 2, 2025 at 9:00 AM
darrellwakelam.bsky.social
I've just seen this on Amazon . . . . surely I should be getting some sort of sponsorship deal by now? 😂😂😂 👀👀👀
www.darrellwakelam.com #edusky
A screen shot from Amazon showing my book 'Art Shaped' alongside a photo of a pack of masking tape rolls under the heading 'frequently bought together'
November 1, 2025 at 11:32 AM
darrellwakelam.bsky.social
It's funny sometimes how artistically, one thing can subconsciously inspire another. I've been making some Ancient Egyptian work lately, obviously studying lots of images. To me, that appears to have impacted these faces I'm making, like the 'style' has seeped in.
I like them.
#edusky
two small cardboard faces, built from recycled cardboard tubes attached to wooden spoons
November 1, 2025 at 9:35 AM
darrellwakelam.bsky.social
If you're looking for some cheap Halloween craft ideas, all three of these are on the website. All you need is some glue and a bit of tape . . . one paper plate, one cardboard tube, one egg box. 🤩
Here's the link www.darrellwakelam.com/news
Photos of my 'egg box monsters' made from just one recycled egg box. Photos of my 'Cardboard Tube Lanterns', made from just one recycled cardboard tube. Photos of my 'Paper Plate Ghosts', made from one paper plate.
October 31, 2025 at 8:23 AM
darrellwakelam.bsky.social
I painted one of my 'egg box monsters' today . . . hopefully it isn't too scary? 😁😮
You can find the making instructions for these on my website here . . . www.darrellwakelam.com/news/egg-box...
#Halloween #edusky
October 30, 2025 at 3:43 PM
darrellwakelam.bsky.social
Half-term offers me some time to make what I want to make, rather than just 'work' stuff. Here's a couple of faces that are currently on the desk.
Recycled tubes and two spoons.
www.darrellwakelm.com #sculpture #edusky
Two small 3D faces made from recycled cardboard tubes and attached to wooden spoons.
October 30, 2025 at 10:27 AM
darrellwakelam.bsky.social
'Egg Box Monsters' are now up on the website, I've included extra info, photos, and the full video here . . . www.darrellwakelam.com/news/egg-box...
#edusky #halloween
I share ideas you can use with children, but please don't revamp, or re-record without permission. Ideas are intellectual property.
A selection of spooky monsters made from egg boxes.
October 28, 2025 at 9:04 AM
darrellwakelam.bsky.social
Introducing ‘Egg Box Monsters’ . . . just in time for half-term and Halloween.
One egg box, no leftovers, totally recyclable. What I call ‘Pure Making’.
Full instructions are on the website here . . . www.darrellwakelam.com/news/egg-box...
#edusky #halloween
October 27, 2025 at 4:16 PM
darrellwakelam.bsky.social
I made a flying visit to Unity Academy in Kidderminster on Friday, and this tree was the result. All of the kids here are currently out of mainstream Ed, but art can be a way in. Out of about 30 kids all but 2 took part, and worked hard throughout the sessions. 🙂
www.darrellwakelam.com #edusky
A large-scale relief sculpture of a tree created by the students attending Unity Academy in Kidderminster. I intentionally encouraged the students to choose colours that weren't realistic, so the tree has golds, reds and purples, while the sky is a fiery orange and the landscape a cool turquoise.
October 26, 2025 at 10:03 PM