Images from Maronpot Studios

I would like to share some of my favorite projects from the last ten years. My metalsmithing experiences started at ECU in Greenville NC, where I had most of my formal training as an artist. After graduation the real education began! I have found that it takes an awful lot of courage to get by in the art business, as well as determination and talent. Without a doubt, the connections you make along the way will be the secret to your success. I would have given up on the idea of being a professional artist years ago if it wasn't for the unconditional support of my friends and family. In the interconnected and google indexed global community today, friends and family take on a whole new meaning. So lets share and share alike!

This hammered copper wall sculpture is one of my personal favorites. It was formed from a single sheet of 16 gauge copper using a process called repousse and chasing - more on that later. It is about 25 inches in diameter and relatively lightweight. The design was inspired by coral formations.

 
I will be posting a photo documentary on how this sculpture was created from start to finish. This piece was made using very simple tools - hammers, punches, a torch, and a towel.

This 4' tortoise sculpture was made from a single 4' x 8' copper sheet. It was hammer formed and welded out of 16 gauge material. The hollow sculpture was filled solid with a plaster and vermiculite mixture. It weighs 175 pounds. I have extensive documentation of the build. I will be sharing that later.

This honey bee wall sculpture is made of formed copper sheet metal and cast polyester resin. The honeycomb is about 30 inches wide and the honey bee is 8 inches long. I have pictures of this one in progress as well. The wings were the most challenging part of the project for me, but I was out of my comfort zone there, since they are not made of metal.

I like to make functional things from time to time as well! This large coffee table is made of steel, copper, brass, oak, and glass. The pitted steel rods in the left most panel (the roots, or sticks) were salvaged from an industrial site. They came pre-textured!

This is a close up with the glass top removed. The copper panel on the top was formed using the repousse and chasing techniques which I frequently employ. It was hammered free-form without the use of molds or dies. The texture on the brass plate in the bottom right was created by melting the surface with a torch.

This 36" geode sculpture is made of hammered copper and welded steel. The center design was formed from a single sheet of 16 gauge copper by way of repousse and chasing. The outer structure was made from the cut-off end of a heavy steel water tank. A piece of 1/8 inch thick steel was welded to the top, sandwiching in the formed copper sheet. The colors are the result of several patina experiments including gun blue, boiled linseed oil and rust.

This close up shot shows the repousse and chasing work on the copper panel. Repousse refers to moving the metal forward from the back of the design, and chasing is pushing the metal down from the front. I will be explaining more about that process later. The colors in the copper were created by carefully heating the metal with a torch.

This copper catfish sculpture was made from hammered and TIG welded 16 gauge metal. It is about 3.5 feet long. It was assembled in three major sections. The head is a modified cone shape and the body is two formed panels welded along the spine and belly. I have photos of this one in progress.

This piece is similar in design to the first one I posted. I made a series of 3 of these coral inspired wall sculptures, this was the first. I like these because the process of forming the metal was very direct and hands on. There were no complicated or expensive tools, just the sheet of metal and the artist. It is about 25" in diameter.

Lots more to come so stay tuned!
Visit my website to check out more metal artwork.
Feel free to leave comments or suggestions too!