Hollow Branch Forms in Steel

A few entries back, I posted about some tree shelf brackets that I've been working on.  Here's how they turned out! 

I used a U shaped beam at the top.  The shelf should be routed to fit over the u shape, so that it looks like the tree is going right up into the shelf. 

The shelf brackets are large, about 30 inches high with a shelf support length of 12 inches.  Surprisingly enough, they are not very heavy.  I specifically designed them to be strong, but also to be lightweight.

Let me back up a little.  When the client first approached me about the project, I sure "sure!" jumping in headfirst like I usually do, without thinking about it enough.  I originally thought I would use branch textured bar stock.  Then I realized a few things.

1. I don't have a power hammer anymore, so it would be terribly difficult to for me to texture my own bar stock like I used to. 
   
2. Those would be heavy!  I'm trying to avoid heavy.
   
3. Propane is very expensive right now, so that means hot forging is very expensive for me.  I've been adapting my work to use much less propane.

So I started to re-think the process.  At first I thought I would use plain un-textured bar stock.  Still that would use lots of propane for forging and would be heavy.  Then I thought, well I'll just buy the bar stock.  That was a mistake.  That supposedly "branch textured" bar stock from King Metals is UGLY and doesn't look at all like a branch.  Finally I realized, I need to go back to the rough anticlastic technique that I've used in the past to make hollow twig/branch forms, in both large and small sizes.  I used to use it a lot for steel work, but I only have the pictures as slides, with no slide-scanner.  If you look back through my jewelry pages on flickr, you can see the technique on the twiggy copper bracelets and on many of my leaf stem pendant bails.

Basically, I cut asymmetrical long strips of metal.  Then I shape them over the step of my anvil into a tube shape.  To finish up, I close up the tube, letting the metal overlap and wrinkle at the edges.   I also hammer around the hollow tube form, to create more texture and form.  This creates a surprisingly strong and lightweight hollow form, that is very organic and convincing as a branch form.

I agonized over this for ages before I started!  I hadn't done it large scale in so long and I was worried that it might not work after all the effort I put into it.  But as you can see from the pictures above, it worked beautifully!

I was so pleased after I finished the brackets, that I even created a few small steel branch sculptures, and a candleholder, using the same technique.  Click on each photo for full details.

All in all, it's turned out to be a great example of how a challenging project can lead to exciting new directions, or exciting new takes on old directions.

Working to Use Less Propane

I am working with some different thicknesses and metals for my leaves, in order to reduce my use of propane.  My forge runs on propane.  As you might imagine, the cost of propane goes up as the cost of oil goes up.   This could be a huge strain on a business that runs on propane- but I'm flexible.  There are so many ways to work with metal!

Copper and Bronze Ginkgo Leaves.  I use propane to anneal them, but they don't need constant heat.
 
Wax as a final surface treatment really brings out the heat colors on copper.

 
These are steel yes, but a thinner steel.  I pay special attention to the edges and surfaces, to maintain the feeling of strength that I give to all of my work.  Look at the difference in surfaces.  The one on the left has been burnished back much more and highlighted with brass goldtones.  The one on the right keeps its true forged steel black.

And of course a few more pendants, another copper oak leaf and a forged steel maple leaf.

back to the studio now.  It's a welding day- for cattail railings and branchy shelf brackets.

Forged Steel Bamboo Art for the Wall

Here's the last installment of work going into the exhibit. Weather permitting, I'll be delivering the work on Monday.
These are all Forged Steel Bamboo Wallpieces, photographed laying on our bamboo floor. 
(I don't have a spot of my wall devoted to photography yet, so the heavier pieces lay on the floor.)

Approximately 21"h x 11"w

Approximately 38"h x 13"w

approximately 32"h x 24"w

Approximately 31"h x 12"w

Bamboo Leaf Art

Here's another piece going into the exhibit for the month of March. It's a forged steel bamboo leaf cluster, measuring approximately 10-1/2 by 9 inches at its maximum dimensions. This can be hung on the wall or displayed on a tabletop or shelf surface as sculpture.

So be patient. Everyone in this house has been exchanging viruses during the month of February slowing my work down considerably. I'll be working on railing commissions and jewelry for the next few months. In April, after this exhibit is done, I will have lots of art to list for sale in my Etsy shop. If you are interested in any particular pieces that you've seen here or on my flickr pages, you can contact me for more information or prices.

The Season of Love

It's the season for hearts - swirly whirly glorious girly hearts.
Does your beloved has a heart of steel?
Or is that you?

These are small Heart Art objects, available of course in my Etsy Shop. Click on each photo to go directly to the listing.

For the softer side...

These are not for sale. This is the kind of activity I do in the house for relaxation, when I can't work on metalwork. If you're looking for embroidered art hearts to buy, try this search.

I'm still here!

I'm still here! just not taking so many in-progress photos.  Here are a few leaves.  I prepped a lot for the show last weekend and am now listing the rest in my Etsy shop.

About that show last weekend...
Well, let's back up about 3 weekends.  I came back from a visit to my mom's house with a horrible cold.  That cold turned into a bad cough.  After 3 weeks of coughing, the NP said I had reactive airways and gave me an inhaler and some other symptom treatments, with instructions to call back if I didn't improve.  A week later, last Friday before the show, I came down with the throbbing headache and fatigue of a sinus infection.  So I called in, talked to the nurse and got a prescription for antibiotics.  I did the show anyway, a Holiday Faire at a local Waldorf school.  I did alright, although I'm not sure the customers appreciated my juicy coughs and tissues. 
On the way home in Saturday I was driving home in this ridiculous wet snow storm, still miserable with my sinus infection.  I thought for sure I'd get stuck somewhere.  I made it all the way home and 1/3 the way up the driveway before the truck's wheels started spinning.  So I parked it and walked up the drive.  Husband tried to move the truck further, but ended up driving it off the driveway, where it was really stuck.  Next day, we try to plow.  That wasn't snow.  That was a 3 inch slab of snow-ice.  All we could do was stab it with a big shovel and move snow-bergs around.   I called around and got a local guy to plow for us. It was fun to watch him.  He would back his truck up the driveway, awfully fast by the way, to crunch up the snow slabs.  Then he plowed the snow back down the driveway.  He also pulled our truck out of the yard and back onto the driveway.

I'm feeling much better and have been working for the most part, despite all sorts of distractions like snow days, kid sick days, me sick days...  Someday soon I'll have a studio update.

For now, see what my son drew on http://crayola.com

Both my kids really enjoy the site.  To get to the digi-color, click on the spinning palette under the "About Crayola" link in the left hand sidebar.  Check out the games too.  Little kids love 'em.

Exhibit in Hudson, Wisconsin

My work is on display at Hudson Hospital in Hudson, Wisconsin, very close to the Twin Cities in Minnesota. It will be up officially from Nov 14th until February 10th. There is a reception on Friday Nov 16th from 6pm to 8pm. I won't be able to come to the reception. (I can't spend that much money on gas twice in one week!)

My work is in the specialty clinic, on display with a ceramist's work. You can get to it through the main doors to the hospital. It's a beautifully designed hospital with art and handmade touches all over, even in the lighting fixtures.

There is work by other artists displayed in other parts of the hospital.

Let me know if you go.

Now back to the 4 things I've promised to get done immediately after I delivered that work.....

New line of Sculpture

I did a series of textured linear samples, for a potential project. Aren't they beautiful? squishy squashy flowing lines...

The samples did not work out for the project, but they did seem perfect for a new line of sculpture. I love working intuitively, collaging or assembling from my samples on hand.

Click on the individual photos for details with measurements.

Studio Progress Update

When things like household illness, kids end-of-school-year activities, appointments, and gardening are not distracting me, I am working on a few projects in the studio.

On the welding table
A big bird will eventually stand upon this branch. His legs are under the table right now.

I'm not sure what I will do with these- part of the sculpture or jewelry or objets d'art?

Under the forge

These are more segments for steel bamboo, the next thing to go on the welding table. Way behind the segments you'll see some hammered star shapes. I don't know what they will be. I got the star cut-outs from a friend's junk bin. I'm thinking of making something functional for my kids' rooms with them.