|
Incorporating beauty into everyday life is a lofty goal of mine. So when I found an absolutely gorgeous granite remnant, the challenge was on.
And that’s how a 12”-wide piece of stone -- a mere sliver -- was made into a functional coffee table. Tom, my client, wanted a metal and glass coffee table.
We discussed shapes, dimensions, glass thickness, and overall look. I showed my sketches to several members of a local artist-blacksmith group, including Dana Flanders. Based upon valuable feedback, I refined the bracing and connections for stability. Collaboration was an essential component in this project. Admittedly, I’d designed a complex piece incorporating traditional joinery (rivets and tenons) and multiple curves. Guitar pick garlands from ‘Succulent Tree’ were repurposed in this wall hanging, providing color and depth to a previously bland space.
'Succulent Tree' was a 5-tiered feast of succulents, twinkle lights, mosses, and guitar pick garland!
As the Westin’s official holiday tree for 2016, 'Succulent Tree' was on view through the month of December 2016. I attended a blacksmithing conference last week!
Salt Lake City's local NBC-affiliate produced a news article and 3-minute video for which I and fellow blacksmiths were interviewed.... At the conference, I spent most of my time assisting in the ‘Railing Project’ tent, managed by John Barron, where a forged railing was created and permanently installed as part of the workshop. Prior to the conference, a request was made for rings for the railing. As per the ring specs, I forge-welded a 7” outside-diameter ring from 1/4” x 1” flat bar, then created an original design for the interior of the ring -- in my case, a ‘stylized butterfly’ design. The client wanted a wall piece which evoked flowing water. In initial discussions, words she used were ‘ripple,’ ‘wave,’ and ‘undulate.’ Specifically, she wanted the water to flow from top left to bottom right.
To execute the client’s vision, I decided upon three forged shapes, to be produced in multiples. When combined in a variety of ways with each other, they indicate a directional flow. These delightful clients wanted to spruce up the lighting by their front door. They liked the clean lines of a fixture I’d made and contacted me via e-mail.
The clients hail from Maryland and found me via a Google search. She typed in something like "light fixture by a door -- one side." A link appeared to my website, where I mused about a custom lighting piece I’d designed. The client had two words for what she wanted: “oceany” and “plant.” With those two words as my directive, I designed, executed, and installed a suite of bath fixtures as part of a client’s home renovation. I also created a unique paper towel holder for the kitchen (which you can read about HERE).
I forged steel bar and pipe into grassy stems, anemones, seaweed, and kelp using my 25-lb. Little Giant power hammer and two different sets of dies (drawing dies and art dies). This commissioned paper towel holder is nature’s form turned into whimsical function at its finest. An anemone holds the paper towel roll in place. A strategically positioned coral arm serves as de facto ‘backstop’ for tearing off a paper towel.
I was asked to make this common kitchen fixture as part of a client's home renovation. I thoroughly enjoyed turning a common kitchen fixture into a featured item. (I also created a suite of bath fixtures for this client which you can read about HERE). I forged steel bar and pipe using my 25-lb. Little Giant power hammer and two different sets of dies (drawing dies and art dies). The base is torch-cut 1/2" steel plate. I used my usual method of sealing with a clear lacquer after cleaning the metal with a wire wheel. I made this panel from scrap metal in my inventory. This screen serves as eye candy and as a nod of courtesy to neighbors and visitors so that, when rounding the corner to my house, the first thing they see isn't my scrap bin and metal supply. I like to keep an inventory of various steel sizes and types, but it’s not always the most attractive site (although I do try to keep the area tidy...).
The screen is intentionally two-sided so that it looks as good from the ‘back side’ as it does from the street (see the third photo). This ‘Scrap Screen’ panel measures 5’ tall x 8’ long x 1.5” deep. |
|
LAURAARMSTRONG.STUDIO
|
Copyright 2023 Laura Armstrong. All rights reserved.
|