Spears Posted December 1, 2009 Share Posted December 1, 2009 Here is an art piece I did recently. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
beth Posted December 1, 2009 Share Posted December 1, 2009 thats wicked spears! - how did you make the spikey bit in the middle? it looks really good:) what are you going to do with it? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fe-Wood Posted December 2, 2009 Share Posted December 2, 2009 Very cool!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
teenylittlemetalguy Posted December 2, 2009 Share Posted December 2, 2009 impressive!:) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Don A Posted December 2, 2009 Share Posted December 2, 2009 Really good work. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ArtWerkz Posted December 2, 2009 Share Posted December 2, 2009 Very impressive, I like Beth would like know how the centre of the flower was made. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
divermike Posted December 2, 2009 Share Posted December 2, 2009 The center is brilliant! I'm thinking an old worn out drill wire brush spread out, right?? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pkrankow Posted December 2, 2009 Share Posted December 2, 2009 If you enlarge the pics it looks like it is notched sheet metal that had been shaped, then wrapped or coiled around the metal the beak is attached. I could be wrong. It is impressive looking regardless. Phil Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
beth Posted December 2, 2009 Share Posted December 2, 2009 yeah i thought it looked like notched sheet, but couldnt really see.... come on spears - we need it from the horses mouth....;) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Spears Posted December 2, 2009 Author Share Posted December 2, 2009 Thank you everyone for your compliments. I'm a bit modern day fine art compared to traditional methods. I love to look at what these blacksmiths do with techniques like forge welding, but processes like that are limited with much of the stuff I do. So if your very strict on processing methods, please forgive me because the added value from obedience to time periods won't be found in my art. I have taken awards for some of my work, (not this piece) but these are art exhibitions, not blacksmith competitions. The people who jury art competitions won't hold respect for anything except looks. You don't see a lot of hammered steel. Making something from steel is just downright tough to do. Regardless of how you fabricate it. Well anyway, back to the important question. The middle of the flower is like Phil said, sheet metal. How I went about this piece is take a strip let's say 1/2" wide length depending. Cut a zig zag pattern (perfect or staggard anyway you like) along one edge. Wind it around in a circle until you get to the diameter of the disk you plan to weld it to. Stick a long leg of an insect or in this case the beak of a hummer through the pattern and weld. Make sure the assembly is as rigid with tack welds as you want it. Shape it against the convex part of a sheet metal candle holding dish you might make a candle stick holder out of before all the tacks are finished. Tack weld the dish/disk to the back of spiked assembly and sand smooth to your liking. You can curl the little points with needle nose pliers to your liking. You now have a fine art flower middle to place inside a pedal array of your choice. What kind of flower? Who cares? Its art right? As long as it is something you might see in a book or museum, let the eye of the beholder figure it out. Actually, as long as your spouse likes this stuff around the house, keep on hammering! Spears Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
divermike Posted December 2, 2009 Share Posted December 2, 2009 wow! I was wayyyyy off, well done! I will take that idea and run with it, thanks for sharing. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MRobb Posted February 10, 2010 Share Posted February 10, 2010 VERY cool!! Consider the hummingbird stolen (borrowed). I just hope I do half as good. Thanks for posting. Mitch Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
welder19 Posted February 10, 2010 Share Posted February 10, 2010 That is very cool!!! Thanks for sharing it with us. welder19 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tzonoqua Posted February 10, 2010 Share Posted February 10, 2010 It's lovely! And, I understand your sentiments regarding "traditional" techniques, for me also the final outcome is more important than the process. Having said that, the more traditional techniques do look good and sometimes can enhance and broaden the elements of design that you can incorporate into your work. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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