Amber

'Amber' was my attempt to demonstrate how sculptural forged steel can be.

 I drew inspiration for 'Amber' from a picture I found in an awesome book on Italian ironwork called 'I Maestri Italiani Del Ferro Battuto' (OK I'm like 95% sure the photo was in here)

 

The picture was a very large (maybe 8'x12') restaurant installation by Italian sculptor/ blacksmith Toni Benetton (http://www.museotonibenetton.it/main.php?m=1&a=1).  The piece, done in the 1960's, caught my attention because of how 'stretched' the ironwork was.  This Italian master knew how to push the material to it's limits.  There's another smaller example of some exquisite lionheads in 'I Maestri Italiani Del Ferro Battuto' that show how malleable hot iron can be.

 

There are definitely many others who's work showcases the plasticity of hot iron. On a trip to the U.K. in 2007 these gates done by Giuseppe Lund outside Victoria Station caught my eye. Victoria Plaza, 111 Buckingham Palace Rd, London, UK:

Not by coincidence I was reading Giuseppe Lund's website http://metalgarden.ca/ and low and behold Lund apprenticed under Toni Benetton.  Alfred Habermann also has some very scupltural work to get excited about http://www.amazon.com/Alfred-Habermann-Blacksmith-Designer-Gestalter/dp/3931951081. 

The Inspiring work of Little Newsham Forge, UK

Back in 2006 I had this crazy idea of working overseas in an artist blacksmith shop in the outskirts of Dublin, Ireland.  While the job didn't work out, I did have an opportunity on that trip to visit the shops of a few working smiths in the U.K..   The shop and work of Brian Russell at Little Newsham forge definitely stood out http://www.littlenewshamforge.com/.  It is hard to single out one artist in particular when there are so many talented people that create custom architectural metalwork (a quick glance at the yearly publication of International Metal Design Annual http://www.artisanideas.com/category.jhtm?cid=2 clearly demonstrates this fact - not to mention countless other examples), however in my opinion, Brian Russell at Little Newsham Forge consistently produces custom work that is both a beautiful combination of form and function as well as an amalgam of traditional and contemporary methods and aesthetics. Brian undoubtably has the artist's eye - his work always seems to me to be in the right proportions.  Brian is also keen on incorporating the traditional techniques of the blacksmith throughout his work (techniques such as rivets, mortise and tenons, and forge welds).  This incredible work is produced in what appeared like a random collection of farm outbuildings.  It was a great pleasure to meet Brian (I think I even stayed for lunch) and spend some time talking about his work and getting his take on the world of creating in metal.

The Spirit of Knifemaking

The following are some links and references that I found useful and inspiring on the subject of knifemaking.  I found this knifemaker's story in Tasmania quite amazing and unique http://youtu.be/ME-1OoSNkuY.  In terms of technical how-to tips I found artist blacksmith's David Robertson's videos very detailed and thorough (for example this one on damascus http://youtu.be/ZFtcE9ZVUzQ or http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=piEtd3ecU08&feature=related- search around youtube this blacksmith has posted numerous information packed how-to videos on the subject of knife making.  I also found this tool making book from Alexander Weygers very useful, especially around the subject of heat treatment.  You should be able to find this book at your library - I believe it was widely published and had many copies made since it's inception in the 70's (http://www.amazon.ca/Complete-Modern-Blacksmith-Alexander-Weygers/dp/0898158966). I'm still learning how to get an awesome razor sharp edge.  This video from Global knives was quite informative http://youtu.be/ZFtcE9ZVUzQ.  However I'm looking forward to learning more in depth techniques when I attend a knife sharpening workshop tomorrow at Tosho Knife Arts https://toshoknifearts.com.

The 15km Knife

This is my first effort at knifemaking.  The concept for the knife was to keep all the inputs within a 15km radius of my home.  Recycled material was also a theme for the knife.  The steel is recycled high carbon spring steel from a truck coil spring.  See map for more details on various inputs.  Major thanks to Steve Bazay at Bazay Blacksmithing http://bazayblacksmithing.com/ for forge & foosball time, plus advice on this project .

 

 

 

 

 

 

Forged Daffodils

These forged daffodils were made for my grandma's memorial service in Mossley, U.K. One of my first (successful) projects in steel.  They were made with the helpful and kind supervision of blacksmith Bryan Hughes (R.I.P) at his shop in Westport, Ontario.

Why start a blog?

Since I first stepped into John Little's blacksmith shop http://johnlittleironwork.tripod.com/ in East Dover, Nova Scotia in the fall of 2001, and connected hammer to hot steel, I have been fascinated by the world of metalwork and specifically forged metalwork.  My goal for this blog is to share where I've been in the last 11 years years through photos and anecdotes and to share what I'm working on now and in the future.  It has been an adventure to say the least - and it's still going!