Darrell Wakelam
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darrellwakelam.bsky.social
Darrell Wakelam
@darrellwakelam.bsky.social
1.9K followers 980 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
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Darrell Wakelam @darrellwakelam.bsky.social · Nov 2
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
At this time of year I always go back through the last 12 months of photos, editing and filing them away for reference. It's also a way of reminding myself just how much I've done.
Here's a few favourites which you might remember from 2025. 😁👍 www.darrellwakelam.com
#edusky #UKEd
Artwork created during this year's projects . . . a tiger, 'space' themed artwork, a 3D model of a school, 3D ice creams Artwork created during this year's projects . . . a racoon mask, a Tudor building, a volcano, the very hungry caterpillar, a seahorse, a tree growing books. Artwork created during this year's projects . . . an ammonite, a clockwork knight, a tree, Harry Potter, the mad March hare, a pirate.
December 27, 2025 at 11:28 AM
Reposted by Darrell Wakelam
darrellwakelam.bsky.social
Work in schools is done now until January . . . and the cardboard reindeer is up on display. Thanks to everyone here who has shared, ‘liked’, commented, and made me smile this year.
Wishing you a relaxing Christmas. 🙂 D
#edusky #UKEd
December 18, 2025 at 12:44 PM
darrellwakelam.bsky.social
I'm still being inspired by all things Egyptian at the moment. As well as the other 'heads' I've been making, I'm also taking inspiration from ancient artwork for this cat sculpture. This is all made from recycled cardboard tubes. 😀
www.darrellwakelam.com #edusky #UKEd
A model I'm making based on Egyptian cat sculptures. The model is part finished and built entirely from recycled cardboard tubes.
December 19, 2025 at 8:00 PM
Reposted by Darrell Wakelam
darrellwakelam.bsky.social
It's a rainy, wild evening down here in the South West, so I'm hibernating and making a tiny Christmas cottage. 😁🎄
www.darrellwakelam.com #edusky #UKEd #UKTeaching
A model of a Christmas Cottage made from recycled cardboard tubes, small enough to fit in my hand.
December 17, 2025 at 9:00 PM
Reposted by Darrell Wakelam
darrellwakelam.bsky.social
Looking for a last minute gift for someone creative? Someone who works with kids, or likes to get arty with their own? Then this might be just what you're looking for . . . my book 'Art Shaped' has over 150 five-star reviews on Amazon.
It's here . . .
www.amazon.co.uk/Art-Shaped-s...
#edusky
Quotes from people who've bought my book Art Shaped Feedback from Educators, Artists, Parents, and Homeschoolers. Quotes from satisfied customers. Examples of reviews of my book Art Shaped from Amazon.co.uk
December 14, 2025 at 11:40 AM
darrellwakelam.bsky.social
Work in schools is done now until January . . . and the cardboard reindeer is up on display. Thanks to everyone here who has shared, ‘liked’, commented, and made me smile this year.
Wishing you a relaxing Christmas. 🙂 D
#edusky #UKEd
December 18, 2025 at 12:44 PM
darrellwakelam.bsky.social
It's a rainy, wild evening down here in the South West, so I'm hibernating and making a tiny Christmas cottage. 😁🎄
www.darrellwakelam.com #edusky #UKEd #UKTeaching
A model of a Christmas Cottage made from recycled cardboard tubes, small enough to fit in my hand.
December 17, 2025 at 9:00 PM
darrellwakelam.bsky.social
My latest project 'Paper Plate Robin' is perfect for Christmas, but also an idea you could use all year round. The making video, photos, and instructions are the latest post on the 'news' link on the website www.darrellwakelam.com
(Intellectual property of D. Wakelam)
#edusky #UKEd #UKTeaching
A robin, made entirely from one paper plate, glued together and painted, by me.
December 14, 2025 at 3:39 PM
darrellwakelam.bsky.social
Looking for a last minute gift for someone creative? Someone who works with kids, or likes to get arty with their own? Then this might be just what you're looking for . . . my book 'Art Shaped' has over 150 five-star reviews on Amazon.
It's here . . .
www.amazon.co.uk/Art-Shaped-s...
#edusky
Quotes from people who've bought my book Art Shaped Feedback from Educators, Artists, Parents, and Homeschoolers. Quotes from satisfied customers. Examples of reviews of my book Art Shaped from Amazon.co.uk
December 14, 2025 at 11:40 AM
Reposted by Darrell Wakelam
darrellwakelam.bsky.social
Hi, I'm Darrell, I create 3D art projects with, and for kids mainly using cardboard. My book 'Art Shaped' has twice been top of Amazon's 'craft book' chart, and has over 150 five-star recommendations from parents, teachers, and homeschoolers! 🙂 It's here ...
www.amazon.co.uk/Art-Shaped-s...
A photo of me making a simple mask, plus a whole bank of photos of cardboard masks created using some of the techniques I use and share in my book 'Art Shaped' (pictured) "Most craft ideas take a mountain of materials and combine them to make just one thing. I wanted to create a book where you could take one material, and make a thousand things."
December 11, 2025 at 1:03 PM
darrellwakelam.bsky.social
I've been repairing some old artwork today, including this very old friend, recently rescued from my loft. This lion used to be on display in my old studio, here it is in a 'film' photo from about 1997 😅 This lion is older than some of you are. 😮
www.darrellwakelam.com #edusky
An old lion mask of mine made entirely from scrap cardboard. An old photo of my art studio many years ago with this lion mask on display. The photo is pre-digital and from around 1997/98
December 6, 2025 at 5:40 PM
darrellwakelam.bsky.social
I had a bit of time today to add to the last of the Ancient Egyptian faces I'm making. I'm learning a lot from looking at the style and sophistication of their beautiful designs.
* Recycled tubes and a spoon.
www.darrellwakelam.com #edusky
An ancient Egyptian face that I'm currently making. One of four, based on the god-heads used to decorate the canopic jars, the containers for the organs removed from the pharaoh's body.
December 4, 2025 at 8:22 PM
darrellwakelam.bsky.social
The kids from The Taunton School are very proud of their finished Harry Potter sculpture. 😮
Over 60 pupils from Years 5 - 8 have worked in teams to create this artwork in just two days. You can see how much effort they have put in. 🙂
www.darrellwakelam.com #edusky
Life-size sculpture of Harry Potter, built from cardboard and recycled materials by the pupils from The Taunton School in Somerset. Life-size sculpture of Harry Potter, built from cardboard and recycled materials by the pupils from The Taunton School in Somerset.
December 2, 2025 at 5:30 PM
darrellwakelam.bsky.social
I just hit 10K followers on Instagram. 👍
I’ve made a real effort in the last few months as engagement on Twitter dropped. I’ve done this solely using the work I create, no click bait, no plagiarism, and no gimmicks, well, give or take the odd ‘baboon’ 😅
If you're there, come and find me.
#edusky
a screen-shot of my Instagram profile
November 30, 2025 at 9:20 AM
Reposted by Darrell Wakelam
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
I've been over at Evercreech Primary in Somerset this week helping the Year 3 + 4 kids to make a display highlighting 'British Values'. Never easy to express creatively, so we made a massive cake. 😆👍
www.darrellwakelam.com #edusky
A large sculpture created by Year 3 and 4 children to promote 'British Values' as part of a school display. I decided to do this in the form of a large cake, divided into pieces for each of the values, and decorated with famous British landmarks and symbols. On top of the cake are St. Paul's, Big Ben, The Gherkin, Tower Bridge, The Tower of London, The London Eye, a Crown, a Guardsman, a Union Jack, and a row of London Buses.
November 28, 2025 at 5:39 PM
darrellwakelam.bsky.social
I had a fabulous day today at West Moors Middle School, working with groups from Year 5, 6, 7 and 8. We took inspiration from the work of Keith Haring, creating our own 'human pyramid' as part of a teamwork display. 😎
www.darrellwakelam.com #edusky #KeithHaring
Artwork created by pupils from Years 5, 6, 7 and 8 from West Moors Middle School. The image is a relief sculpture of a 'human pyramid' with stylised figures in the style of artist Keith Haring standing on each other's shoulders. The figures are simple and cartoon-like, and very brightly coloured.
November 26, 2025 at 7:32 PM
darrellwakelam.bsky.social
Today meant a quick 'zoom' up to Elton Primary in Bury to help Year 5 + 6 with some 'rocket making'.
I look forward to seeing how they get on. 🚀
If you'd like a virtual visit, drop me a message. Virtual Darrell is more knowledgeable and less grumpy than real Darrell. 😆
www.darrellwakelam.com #edusky
A photo of me holding a model rocket which I made during today's 'zoom' workshop to the Year 5/6 children from Elton Primary School in Bury.
November 25, 2025 at 3:17 PM
darrellwakelam.bsky.social
The Reception and Year 1 children from Sherborne Abbey Primary had some hungry visitors today. 😁 The children made and painted these in just 4 hours. 😮
www.darrellwakelam.com #edusky
Three 'hungry' insects, made from cardboard, straws, tissue paper and paint in just four hours.
November 24, 2025 at 6:59 PM
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