Third Thursday's in Lee's Summit

It was a beautiful evening to hang out in downtown Lee's Summit. Every third Thursday of the month, stores, galleries and restaurants stay open late and offer some cool diversions – from music to visual art. A big thank you to Mary and her friends at Green Beauty. She let me set up a few sculptures outside her store. The downtown area is nearly complete with new streetscaping, sidewalks and lights. If you get a chance, you should visit. This first shot shows the four large sculptures I have been hauling around the past couple of weeks. I also brought a few smaller items.

 

Evening turned to night. It was great to see folks out enjoying downtown, just strolling along. I was next to The Peanut, which offered a steady stream of people coming and going from the bar and grill. At the end of the night, I moved the sculptures into Green Beauty. I'm starting to wish I had put wheels on the robot's feet. He seems to get heavier each time I him. I hope to set up again, maybe this fall, or in the spring.

Stairway to somewhere

Work continues on the steel stair sculpture I am making. This is a large structure that needs to stand up to kids, weather and a dog. Square steel tube does most of the support. It stands a little over 30 inches high and is almost six feet long. The piece will attach to the back of the house and to the wooden deck surface. When finished, it will showcase a cool railing, plant hooks and other forms of sculpture. Stay tuned.

 

 

Outside art

Last Thursday, we had an outdoor art fair and cookout to support the United Way. I set up a simple display with a few pieces to show and sell. The tables offered everything from jewelry to handmade purses. Thanks to everyone who stopped by. Here are a couple photos from the day.

 

 

First Friday fun

Had a chance to show a few pieces at last night's First Friday event here in Kansas City. Here are some shots of the sculptures. The first is called 'PressBot'. This piece stands more than six feet tall and weighs, well, a lot more than I had planned. It is a struggle to move it around. The sculpture is made from old press parts. The frame is two-inch square tube.

 

The 'bot has a Cyclops eye that spins. Just to keep watch on you. 

 

This next piece is called 'Radiator'. It is made from salvaged steel, slag glass and a vintage automobile radiator cap. I keep wondering...wouldn't this look cool with a light shining up from below, illuminating the glass? The piece stands about four feet tall.

Had to make another spider and bird. Here they are. The spider is much larger than the last. Plus, because it balances on only four of its eight legs, it trembles when nudged. The bird is part of a larger project. Eventually, it will be perched in a steel nest atop a chimney. I want it to attract looks, not lightning.

 

 

Saying goodbye

This past weekend was time to hand-off the sculptures I have been working on. Sometimes it is bittersweet to pass on a piece that has been part of the studio, even if only for a few days. The first few photos are of a garden bird designed around a vintage tractor seat. The bird is made from a mix of cast-off and reused steel. The tail feathers are hand-forged, pounded flat with the texture of the hammer for detail. Large blue glass eyes add some color. The creature stands more than four feet tall.

I also finished the large spider sculpture. It is now at its new home, with six green glass eyes keeping a watch on things.

And finally, here is the top of a finished bottle tree flower. This is made from an old farm plow-thingy, several hand-forged tendrils and a glass center. The flower head spins. All of this is attached to a six-foot tall flower stem that holds 24 colorful bottles.

Spiders and gates

Continuing to work on the spider sculpture. This piece will be free-standing. I am using 3/8 inch round rod for the legs. The body profile is made from 1/2 inch square bar. The spider will have six shiny green glass eyes to watch over the garden. I used a huge old washer to attach the spindly legs to the body. That is capped with a steel dome for a cleaner look. Next up the teeth and eyes.

 

Here are a couple shots of a just finished gate. The piece is welded up, but needs to be cleaned and ground. The gate frame is 1.5 inch square tube. The interior design is mostly 1/2 round bar. All this makes for a sturdy (heavy) entry that will do its job. The gate swings on simple post hinges. I will post some pics of the gate and fence here soon.

 

The latch is horseshoe-style, using steel balls for hefty knobs. When latched, it rests on steel tongues attached to an adjoining post.

 

Today in the shop

Yeah, I know it looks kinda like a backwards 'B', but this is the start of a spider sculpture. This will be a free-standing piece that will incorporated glass and a variety of steel. What is shown in the profile of the body. I also finished a small metal cross for a neighbor whose dog was hit by a car. I think it will look peaceful in their garden. I'll try to post a pic here soon.

 

I picked up some cool pieces of scrap lately. Lots of great stuff here. Some of it will be used in the BottleBot sculpture I am planning to put out in Fossil Gardens.

 

A time to shine

I was asked to make a grave marker in the style of a Window Word. This word is attached to a sturdy stake to keep it steady. Shining is a beautiful word to work with. I added a chunk of deep honey-colored glass to let this artwork glisten in all seasons.

Here's a shot of several Bed Bug garden sculptures under construction. Lots of butterflies and one grumpy bug.

What's going on...

Well, work around the shop is going steady. I have several projects underway, including the one's I am finishing from the Garden Tour. It has been raining nonstop since Wednesday, so it has been easy to focus on work and not the garden. But, amidst all the wet skies I thought I'd post a couple pics from early in the week when the sun was shining. The Bottle Monster is completely surrounded by purple coneflowers, bluestem and asters. Just wait until September, when the yellow of the asters and goldenrod burst forth.

 

I attached a Moon Comet to the fence also. The side of the shop provides a crisp backdrop.

 

Dan's Cross

Here are a couple finished shots of the cross. I dropped it off on Father's Day.

 

 

Flowers and vines

Out in the garden, here at Fossil Forge, the plants are in control. Here's a shot of some kind of vine that has climbed one of the Bottle Tree Flowers. I think its a nice contrast of leaves and steel.

 

 

Cross under construction

Today I worked to put the finish on a steel cross that will be given as a gift. I used 1-inch channel steel for the main sections. Those were split and heated so I could scroll the ends. I used some cast pieces for the ornament around the piece. A couple spheres of green glass give it some color. The piece is about 25 inches wide by 40 inches tall.

 

 

Thank you

The Garden Tour wrapped up on Sunday afternoon. I met lots of friendly folks and appreciate their support. The day was mostly overcast, but warm and incredibly humid. I've posted a view of the Bailey's garden (where I was set up at) below. An intense storm swept through the neighborhood on Saturday night. Lots of tree limbs and other plant damage. I have to give big-time credit to the Bailey's, who were out early with chainsaws and rakes getting their garden cleaned up for the tour.

Here's a shot of my shady spot. I just hoped for a breeze. Sitting next to my chair is a mini-water garden in a barrel.

A warm and wonderful day

The first day of the garden tour went well. Thanks to all the kind folks that stopped by to say hello and pick up an original sculpture. The garden where I set up at is a sprawling park-like setting, complete with a pretty stream and pond. Also, the garden owners have sprinkled a variety of cool sculpture throughout the grounds. So, all in all it was a great atmosphere. Here are a couple views of the display.

The day ended with quite a strong storm that shook loose not only the heat and humidity but also a few tree limbs and power lines. Here's looking forward to tomorrow.

The Eleventh Hour

Wrapping up a solid few days of pounding steel, cutting metal and welding. I definitely have the burn marks to show for it. It has been a perfect week, weather-wise, to be working. So, here's a breakdown of what I'm bringing to the garden tour...Window Words, FireSticks, Sunbursts, Moon Comets, Garden Bugs, Garden Jellies and Dizzy Lizards, plus a few other surprises. The shop sure gets cluttered, filling up with metal stuff. Here's a few pieces that are seasoning on the table.

 

I built a small display to hang and prop art stuff on. Here's a shot of a several items hanging, ready to go. It comes apart so I can transport it easily.

 

You'll have to come to the tour to see everything. Check out the tour website here. Have a great weekend!

Here we go...

It's going to be a crazy week in the shop. I am creating several pieces for a garden show I am taking part in next weekend. Been pounding out a few Firesticks and Window Words. Next up are several Garden Bug stakes and such. I look forward to a week off where I can work and laze around. This photo shows three Firesticks finished. I have them clamped to the table so the the glass ornaments will dry correctly in their settings.

 

Here's a look at some drawings I have done for the garden stakes. I use a Sharpie marker to draw directly onto the sheet steel. I use a plasma cutter to cut 'em out.

Just because it is such a beautiful day here at Fossil Forge, I thought I'd toss in a couple other shots of art in the garden. Here is a rattlesnake sculpture on the fence. And the other photo shows the Bottle Flowers and Bottle Monster. We have had so much rain lately...that the yard and garden are as lush and vibrant as ever.

 

 

Monster released!

I poured the footings for the sculpture a couple of days ago. Last evening, it was time to bring the bottle beast outside. The piece stands on three steel and concrete bases. The whole installation went pretty smooth. Here are a couple shots from this morning - a cool and cloudy sky.

 

Flying away

Finished the butterfly sculpture and placed it out in the garden here at Fossil Forge. You cannot go wrong with a mixture of beautiful skies, lush plants and cool metal bugs. Here are three views of the butterfly. Look in the gallery section of the site to see another one.

I like this view, but the powerlines are a bit annoying.

Emerging butterfly

Been working on a butterfly garden sculpture as a gift for someone who, well, likes butterflies. This piece is a mixture of cast-off and new steel. I sorta designed it as I went. Here are some progress shots. Sorry, about the cluttered backgrounds...the shop has been real busy lately. OK, this first shot shows the wings, body and head parts before I attached them. This part of the process is where I really see how the shapes work together.

After some assembly, the piece is held in a vise so I can figure out how the rest of the insect will come together.

Here's a close-up of the bug's eye sockets, head and antennae.

Now, here's a close-up of the eyes completed.

I trimmed down the length of the body and added some details.

Finally, I attached the butterfly to a flower base. All of this rests on a stake that can be driven into the ground. A little bit of polishing with a wire brush and some clean-up of the welds and this sculpture is ready to go.

Out in the garden

Well, its time to put the sculpture out in the garden. Today, I attached the feet that will eventually be welded to the plate mounts. I picked up some concrete mix to fill the three holes for the Bottle Monster to rest on. Here's the spot at Fossil Gardens where it will reside, right next to the pond.

 

This area is a mix of asters, poppies, bluestem and Indian grasses. Later in the year, coneflowers and black-eyed Susan will take over. All these prairie plants will create a nest-like setting for the Monster.

 

The head of the Monster will reach over the path to graze on nearby Bottle Flowers (above). Over time, this portion of the garden will really look cool...clustered with creatures and plants, both metal and real.  Here is a look at the simple, but sturdy way the feet are assembled (below). This small foot will be bolted to a metal plate (below) which is secured in the concrete footing. I am making the Monster moveable, just in case I need to rearrange the garden in the future.