Making pieces for corn stalks for the sculptures
One project was for 3 sculptures for a family to memorialize their Grandfather using found objects from his farm and forged pieces. Here are some photographs of the process. The actual sculptures were a challenge to photograph, so I don’t have photos of them.
This month, I worked on an outside traditional railing for a family home in K.C. All of the pieces were heated in either the coal or gas forge. The process went smoothly, and I enjoyed doing another traditional railing. Here are some process pictures and pictures of the finished and installed railing.
Drawing of larger railing on the table
Making twist detail
scroll work shaping the lambs tongue
Grinding all surfaces smooth
Installation
Installation
Cargill Farm --windmill reflection in the pond that is the work of the KS Pond Society
Murals in the barn by artist Connie Ernatt
Dustin and Lisa Sypher in front of the fence
The Downing Children’s Garden is opening on July 2, 2011. Here is a sneek preview of just some of what the garden has in store for kids and adults alike. It is such an amazing garden with so many surprising elements. What an incredible job Botanica, the Board, the designers from Azur Ground, the artists, Simpson & Associates Construction Co, the volunteers, and everyone involved did!
This fall (2010), I was commissioned to made a Spanish-style table for a couple in Wichita, KS. This table presented certain challenges, but the overall flow of the project went smoothly.
Riveted Spanish-Style Table
Riveted metal spanish-style table close up of table
"Sketches in Iron"
"Owl Cat" forged steel
These are some recent sculptes I forged and shaped out of metal. Most of them, and many other pieces, are currently for sale.
Small Blue Heron looking toward the Large Blue Heron
Late this summer, I was commissioned to make two Blue Heron Sculptures for a couple in Topeka, Kansas for their garden which sits on the cove of a lake. It is one of the most beautiful gardens we’ve seen, and the landscape designer and the couple made this project memorable and enjoyable. I am thankful to have had the chance to work with them.
Keepin' an Eye Out for the Kitties
Bull Dog Chicken
Bull Dog Chicken
I was able to find some time over the last six months to make a few sculptures. The bull horned sculpture is called Bull Dog Chicken and is not one Iwould ever want to sell. The bird who is looking around is a sculpture that is called Keeping an Eye Out for the Kitties. The title is a play on words. They are both metal and have been hand-forged, welded and fabricated to also resemble the subtle landscape of where I live here in Kansas. I try to make them both figurative and landscape pieces.
One of the panels
details
vine and leaf work
decorative panel
Wheels and vine work
One of the main panels
"Flowers" from found farm implements
vine and leaf work panel
details
The six sections are complete and here are some pictures that we took in the shop. The Downing Children’s Garden will be open on July 2, 2011. The fence will have these six 6′ sections that will be installed with stone posts between them. All of the farm implements are pre-1940′s, and all of the metal used for vines, etc. is also recycled from the farm. I wanted the vines themselves to resemble flowers as they flowed in the wheels, and they create spaces smaller than 4″ that meet code for public spaces. It was a great project to be a part of, and I feel honored to have been asked by the family who commissioned this fence for the Cargill Farm in the Downing Children’s Garden at Botanica, The Wichita Gardens. I am excited to see it installed with established flower beds in the farm section of the garden where children can harvest vegetables amongst other fun activities. Thank you to everyone who is a part of it for your help and support.
Hammering with the power hammer
Hammering in the vein details
shaping the leaf in the stump
Finished leaf
Here are some pictures of the steps involved in making leaves.
putting the wheels into place
This is the third section that has been made for the Downing Children’s Garden commission. The emphasis is on the wheels that were used on the family’s farm.
Main wheel of third section
after the linseed oil was applied