Here's a movement sculpture for the garden. She moves in the slightest breeze. The first spring I used for the body was way too soft to carry the head and arms and she was more inclined to touch her toes than sway as intended. I cut that spring out and found a beefier one, trimmed to length to have the best flex.

The legs are a pair of bolt cutters, the head is made of gearbox bits and the arms are a long U-bolt. Fingers are piano pegs. The skirt is made from keys from a cash register, and her top is a pair of stainless coil things from a power line.

I've done a few of these of various sizes and find it's best if you keep the left leg vertical and left arm in line with it. The others roughly at right angles. Seems to balance that way. 

For anything with a spring movement you need a firm base - either heavy or anchored down. This was a big lump of something from the scrap - nuts welded underneath hold the bolts which can be adjusted for length on an uneven surface. Any movement in the base is not good. It's heavy but detachable for ease of shifting her around.

Anyway, she's a happy girl for the garden. She's moving in the last picture. Would look better amongst the flowers than in my shed.

Very cool and inspirational Aus. I can picture her out in the garden dancing in the breeze. Awesome. 

The last time I had a drink I think I woke up next to her sister or maybe mother!  This one is more attractive anyways.  Good Job.

 

nice job!

How happy!  Makes me smile.

Easy on the eyes :-)

Tip toe through the tulips...thanks ausfire.

That would make Scrooge smile while handing you money!

Frosty The Lucky.

She's got pride of place in my exhibition which opens Saturday.  People just can't resist giving her arms a tweek to make her wave. I'll feel a bit sad if she sells.

She's sold already. I called in today to add a few labels before we open tonight and noticed the sold tag on her.  I'm not sure I like the idea of people being allowed to buy exhibits before the opening night. Doesn't seem fair.

5 minutes ago, ausfire said:

She's sold already. I called in today to add a few labels before we open tonight and noticed the sold tag on her.  I'm not sure I like the idea of people being allowed to buy exhibits before the opening night. Doesn't seem fair.

yeah thats strange , understandable tho" it's an awesome piece. they cant take her till the end of the exhibit can they?

 

3 hours ago, Daswulf said:

yeah thats strange , understandable tho" it's an awesome piece. they cant take her till the end of the exhibit can they?

 

No, she has to stay there for the month.

I'll email you the catalogue so you have an idea of what's there.

Love it! great work

Ok. Ever since I saw this I've been inspired to make one. since a junk pair of bolt cutters showed up at my doorstep I was on it. finished it up tonight and am calling it Ballerina. gave her a little butterfly for inspiration. sorry for the horrible picture. I am still working on my photography. Thanks for the inspiration Aus!

 

Nice work, Das. I'm pleased to see you put the bend in the spring. Her arms and hands look elegant. It's good how the boltcutter handles look like ballerina shoes.  Is the spring soft enough to make her sway gently or does she vibrate? Looks like a motorcycle shock spring to me.

Glad my dancing girl could inspire you!

You have been very inspirational. Thank you. 

The spring is just a touch tougher then I would have liked but she does sway more then vibrate.  The hands are the ends of 3 different sized nails with the bolts that held the jaws on the bolt cutters as the wrist portion. Then I heated each hand in the forge and bent the fingers. 

Wow just wow, someday I'll venture into larger pieces such as this. Simple awesome Aus.

Dad yours is great too! You both inspire and drive my imagination. I've got a few springs, maybe I should give it a go!

Das, you could take some of the temper out of the spring to soften it up. That may get it to sway easier.

20 minutes ago, BIGGUNDOCTOR said:

Das, you could take some of the temper out of the spring to soften it up. That may get it to sway easier.

I heated it up a bit ( dull red) to bend it. Not sure if more heat would loosen it up much more. But it's a great suggestion. 

CT, thanks. Aus and his work have been and continue to be very inspirational and helpful to me and I'm honored if I can pass that along.