A couple more Butterfly sculptures left the shop. I really like the brightness of the eyes of these two.
Bad bugs
Well, here are the finished bugs. These are going to the gallery, where hopefully, they will find a new home. Each of these sculptures is approx. four feet tall. They are strongly welded to steel posts for display in the garden or in a container.
Lady Beetle: I used steel from old political signs for the legs and antennae. Some big washers and nuts add some texture to the bug.
Centipede: Cut from sheet steel, this creature is adorned with old bolts and washers. Spiky drill bits jut from its tail. A couple of vintage gears add a crest to its back.
Spider: Again, I used castoff steel from political signs for its legs. Nuts and bolts add some details. A wide gear is attached to the arachnid's back.
Wasp: Washers and bits of old pipe make for some bumpy texture. I used some leftover allen wrenches for the legs. No stinger on this insect.
Morning light
The sun was pouring into the shop this morning. I worked on a variety of sculptures, including four different bugs. I used found objects and cut steel to create these garden stakes. Lots of welding and wire brushing. I wish morning could last all day.
Today in the shop
Spent the day working on several pieces in the shop. Made some more Window Words and made some progress on a couple of Christmas gift orders. It was a solid, productive and inspiring day. One of those days where I don't even pay attention to the clock. Plus, I was able to use a variety of tools and techniques, which always adds to an interesting day of creating. The first photo shows several items recently cut with the plasma torch. The second photo, I was making steel rings using the inside of a big pipe section to form them.
Staying warm
During the past few years, I have been heating the shop with a couple of whimpy space heaters. You know, the kind you might have by your feet next to your favorite reading chair. Needless to say, that style of heater was pretty ineffective in the shop. I would hover next to the one on my bench, trying to thaw my fingers. This weekend, a friend let me borrow a real heater. Whoa. What a difference. This heater runs on diesel fuel and cranks out the warmth. Just a few minutes on and the shop feels terrific. Couple this with the forge running and I can pretty much work in shirt sleeves no matter what the temperature is outside.
Inside the snow globe
First good snow of the season and the changes around Fossil Gardens are amazing to see. A skull sculpture is adorned with a coating of white flakes and the Bottle Monster stands frozen against the winter sky. As night falls, the silhouettes of the sculptures are starkly defined against a white landscape. Enjoy!
Perfect pokers
The weather has turned cold enough that it is a joy to turn on the forge and get hammering. I cut some 3/8 inch square stock into bars that are approx. three feet long. I work the metal on the anvil and in the vise to make these pieces I call 'FireSticks'. These fire pokers are the perfect size for chimineas and outdoor fire pits. As a finishing touch, I add a piece of recycled glass to give it some color. These sculptures are all given given a traditional beeswax finish. The wax helps protect the metal from the elements.
Working with Words
Made a few more Window Words this weekend. These are going to the Gifted Hands gallery for the holiday season. They are definitely three words that reflect the season. Here is to wishing everyone a wonderful holiday season.
Butterfly migration
With all the work going on outside the shop, I haven't posted as much here as I would have liked. So, what has been going on? Well, I finished up several butterfly garden sculptures this week. Plus, I have been working on some cool balcony railings. Anyway, here is shot of the six butterflies cut out and ready for the next step in their metamorphisis.
Steel flamingo
Who says Flamingos are always pink? This funked-out garden stake shows off this well-known bird. I bet the neighborhood won't mind this version standing tall in your yard. On the other hand, the pink plastic ones have their charms, also.
A cool container garden
A friend of mine ask me to make the stucture for this neat container garden that portrays a balanced tower of flowers. Everything about this metal project is hidden, but it works. I used a four-foot piece of 1/2 inch round bar welded to a metal base. The base is the same diameter as the bottom pot, so it is not visible. I added a couple of stabilizer fins also. The pots are installed by sliding them over the rod. The drainage hole in each pot keeps them centered nicely. The last step is to add soil and plants.
Heavy duty fire grate
The last couple of days I have been making some components for an outdoor fireplace. The fireplace is massive, made of limestone blocks and slabs. The first thing out of the shop is this sturdy fire grate. It is made of 3/4 inch round bar. I heated the pieces in the forge and then bent them on the anvil or vise.
Here it is, ready for action. Where's a match?
A fence to hop over
Finally took some photos of a fence project I worked on a while ago. The fence surrounds a traditional English garden, complete with a fountain in the center. I used sections of older fencing I had in the shop. I cut down each section to about 24 inches tall. I then repositioned the steel rails, added some simple posts and finials, welded it together and there it is.
Rock' em, sock 'em robots!
Time to load up the SunBot. The SunBot will be part of an auction to help a colleague with some tough medical bills (Get Well Soon, Tim). I took a few shots of the robot in front of the shop. I also brought out the PressBot robot for company. These two steel hulks look like bodyguards. The SunBot stands about 4.5 feet tall. The PressBot is more than six feet tall. I don't want to even guess what they weigh. Heavy.
SunBot under construction
Been creating a new robot for an upcoming auction. This one is called a SunBot. I really like mixing steel types in sculptures like this. The SunBot is made from primarily from old printing press parts and other scrap steel found here at Fossil Forge. Originally, I sketched out an idea for this piece, but as usual during fabrication, I went down another creative path. So, it looks different from the first drawing, but in the end I like it more.
Spider in the garden
This large (4 feet by 4.5 feet) metal spider has a new home. It resides in the the perfect habitat, shaded by trees and brushed by hostas and other plants. And as a special treat, nudge the arachnid with your foot and watch it quiver and shimmy. This sculptures glass eyes and body ball will reflect the sun all day long.
Land of the Tiki Gods
Made a bunch of metal Tiki Gods the other day. They sure look cool all lined up together. Different colors of glass eyes make each stand apart. I placed these sculptures on 4-foot stakes to make sure they can be seen above the flowers. Let me know if you want some of these for your garden.
Setting up at Gifted Hands
Today was the day to set up a little display of work at Gifted Hands art gallery. Gifted Hands is shop that is exclusive to Kansas City-area artists. Their gallery sells a gamut of work, from painting, ceramics, glass, fabrics and metal. If you have a chance, check out their website or stop by the shop. It is located in Crown Center in downtown Kansas City, Mo. So, here is what I set up: 12 Window Word sculptures, Sunburst sculpture, Moon Comet sculpture and 9 different garden stakes. I also placed a couple of larger items, including a garden bird. I hope to bring in some more work next week.
Germs
A simple word sculpture for a biology teacher. Yep, she loves germs. I think the glass color is perfect.
Creating tikis for the garden
Just a quick glimpse of several tiki god garden stakes I am making. Need to finish the grinding, before I add eyes and the post to display them on.
