A 65cm fitness ball is used as the form for each of the three holly berries. Wire mesh is carefully wrapped around the circumference of the ball, cut to length, and fastened with wire.
Gauze stripes are saturated in screened concrete and wrapped around the form in opposing directions.
After the sphere is completely coated with the saturated gauze it is left to cure. Several coats of screened concrete are applied to the shell to strengthen and texture it.
The pedestal is filled with concrete and reinforced with wire mesh. It will later be painted with white enamel paint.
Both the left and right sides of the leaves are joined together and fastened with screws.
Bracing for the leaves. The middle leaf is disassembled and removed for transport.
Several days of drying were required before each berry was coated with enamel paint. Concrete bases were formed in buckets cut to the appropriate height. when thoroughly dry, they were likewise painted in enamel paints.
A threaded metal pipe is inserted into the middle of the shell to later be used as an anchoring point for the berry. Styrofoam chunks are used to fill the wire shell.
The main base is a metal fan body with additional structural reinforcement added to carry the 300 lb weight of the sculpture. The top is a repurposed plastic table with internal supports added.
The left and right side leaves are symmetrical.
The leaves are painted with a base coat of deep green enamel.
The center support is a ceramic sink pedestal.
Using the cardboard templates the leaves are cut from aluminum stock. The right edge of the leaf is given a two inch lip to join it to its opposite half. All excess aluminum on the left side is rolled back to form the points and give the leaf girth.
The leaves are highlighted with buoyant streaks of red and yellow enamel paints.
The ball is deflated and an opening is cut into the wire to remove the ball.
All voids are filled with spray foam.
Cardboard templates are hand-drawn for the holly leaf patterns and then cut out.
Each leaf is braced and fastened to the base of the sculpture.
