Slipper Tree

This sculpture began with an odd piece of Maple firewood.The bark is crudely removed. The feet are (recycled)springs from an early snowmobile. They will be dress up to match the organic theme.They provide much movement and yet are stable.The plant is made from mild sheet steel(.032"). The leaves are stretched into a stump with a three pound sledge. I shrunk the edges back to a consistent line with a one pounder.Hit placement was my priority , and using the fewest hits. The leaves aren't typical orchid structures, but it was consistent with my "pick what I like and use that" theme.
The plant has a (recycled)pipe welded in the center to receive the flower's stem.
The stem is made using (recycled) metal from a parlor chair pulled from a swamp. The bud is (recycled) pipe. The flowers are copper sheet, mostly scrap flashing.
Again the copper was worked using the least hits. The sepals were placed in a stump bowl and hit to create the tucks. The edges of the tucks received a reverse curve. The patina was made using heat from an OA torch with the # OOO tip. The flowers are screwed together to maintain the patina. I think I will give the steel a light coat of BLO. There a few details that need to be addressed.This one was fun...

Iron Black Iris

This sculpture is made using the steel from a mower deck on a lawn tractor. I cut the deck up with a Sawzall and then cut the shapes using a throat less Beverly shear. I flattened the metal and then cold shaped the components using a stump and a hammer(around three pound). I heated the petal edges with an OA torch and shaped the ruffles while hot. This is new for me as I almost exclusively shape iron cold.I loved the colors and texture the heat produced, so I used this method to give the rest of the sculpture this look.The heat got rid of paint and safety stickers too.Its an interior sculpture still as the leaves will pool water at the stem.Each petal on the iris flower has a unique and pleasant sound when struck. I think this characteristic illustrates why they cut the slits in spherical bells, it produces a tuning fork effect. Over all I am pleased and will try to use thicker steel for a few more sculptures.

Wedding Roses

My son and his fiancee asked me to make two roses for their wedding ceremony. The rose flowers are made from an old 1 1/2" copper fire protection line.The stems are from discarded metal rods used to stretch painting canvas in a turn of the century home near Detroit.The leaves are a heavy gauge steel from a wood stove. The stand is from an old parlor chair. The branch stems are from a political poster and a spring from an old ottoman. The flower petals are held using a NEW stainless screw and nut. The roses are joined near the root. There are pickers and bumps and missing leaves, scars, rust and dis-colorization from deposits on the copper. The beauty is suppose to come from the union of all the components,like a good marriage.
Pappa Frank

Orchid Plant

Here's the latest addition to my Farmers Market Series. The plant is mild steel leaves, roots ,stem,and old blossom and stand. The blossom is copper, brass and stainless steel. I learned that perpendicular scratches to the stem's length enhanced the colors that occurred from the welding heat affected zone.All the materials,except a screw and a nut,and weldment are reused(by accident).

Farmers Market Series

I started a new project creating copper flowers. I call this the Farmers Market Series.The flowere are constructed from copper, stainless steel, brass and steel. Shown are several of flowers displayed using a new stand. The stand base is a car brake rotor.The leaves are made using a heavy steel sheet.

Horse Head Progress

This sculpture is progressing as weather allows. In recent days I've added his ears and some of his mane.

Horse Head as of 3-10-10

Its been a true flow experience working on this sculpture. All bending and fitting, but the therapeutic value is astounding.

Horse Sculpture

This sculpture is made using rebar. It is presently five feet tall.It is a work in progress.