A visitor after the cutting was finished!
THE PROCESS IS A BIT MORE COMPLICATED BUT YOU GET THE IDEA.
These were some large fish created from a piece of steel that had seasoned (rusted) for a while.
Beginning with a sheet of steel, the patterns are drawn out using a soapstone (like chalk).
I try to make all the pieces fit together like a puzzle to get the most cut from one piece.
The cut pieces ready to be ground.
BIG BARE FISH !
Grinded (not a word) and welded either onto stands or ready to hang… and, clear coated to seal “the seasoning”.
The painting happens in three steps:
1. the white under coat “sketch”
2. the color is added (seen here)
3. the outline is added
Between each of the steps a sealant is added, as well as after step #3.
FINISHED! (not Finnish) A Fanciful Flounder.
A close-up view of a top fin with a great array of “Gail’s Glyphs”
MAKING METAL
The cutting process is a bit more complicated than what we see above. The metal in these photos was REALLY rusted. The rustier the metal, the harder it is to cut. So, I cut some really big fish from this particular piece. Because the “cutting” process is just sped up oxidation, the rust (slow oxidation) interferes with controlling this chemical process. CUTTING is, in fact, a misnomer. The oxy-acetylene torch mixes 2 gases to react with the iron in the steel to create the kerf, or cut. It’s a fast rust !
UNFINISHED CATFISH
This is an unfinished Catfish from the “big cut”.
FINISHED CATFISH
This is the big Cat Fish finished. Painted with enamel paint in a palette of jewel tones.
THREE AMIGOS
These are three large anthropomorphic figures that were cut from the big rusted piece. As of yet, they’re unfinished. I’ve got some neat ideas for these guys though.
TWO CATS
Two cats cut from the big sheet. These two were not only ground, but polished to the bare metal.
CAT1
One of the two cats finished with some coastal elements:
– bone fishes
– star fish
– water (zig zags)
– palm leaves
– flowers
There are crosses and a compass as well… He’ll never be lost.
Zen Cat
Zen Cat !
The other cat finished. He features the following design elements:
– lotus blooms
– bamboo
– cardinals
– dragonflies and more.
I’ll make a post featuring the two cats and the elements that make up their designs
This is one of my favorite pieces I have ever created.
BIG BLUE is a polished steel piece that measures about 18″ across the diagonal. Painted with enamel paint and featuring many of the “glyphs” inspired by life on the coast.
To request more info on this piece, use the form below.
