Q: What do you make these out of?
A: Multiple materials go into each piece. Mainly recycled, cold-rolled, American steel, with accents stainless steel, bronze, and other rescued antique metals. For large flowers, the rods are made of a variety of materials, but for the small, petalless flowers and animals such as butterflies and dragonflies, they are generally made of stainless steel.
Q: How long does it take to finish a piece?
A: Very long. Metal sculpting is very labor-intensive, and requires a lot of hammering.
Q: How are these made?
A: I predominantly use a technique called "White Smithing". White Smithing is the ancient technique used to form and shape plate armor in the medieval and renaissance periods. The metal is worked cold, causing the material to blanch, hence "White Smithing". Heating and reheating the metal blackens the metal, which is why this technique is likewise called "Black Smithing".
The color is accomplished by heat tempering the metal until it's crystal size changes to produce the desired color. As the color is determined by the size of the crystal, and not a pigment, the colors cannot fade over time.
The pieces are textured with various grinding effects. After the piece is grinded, shaped, textured, and then colored, it is sealed under a catalyzing polymer.
If you'd like to see for yourself, check back frequently, as I will be posting a video of the process sometime soon.
Q: The one I bought doesn't look like the photos. Why?
A: All the pieces are unique. If you don't like your particular piece you can send it back and I will gladly e-mail you pictures of various options available at the studio so you can pick one that you like.
Q: What kind of warranty is on the artwork?
A: All pieces carry a 3-year warranty. This warranty covers weather. This warranty does not cover gunshots, tractors, or drops off tall buildings.