Hello from Texas

[Bettye]

I just found the forum and I am thrilled with it. I am particularly excited to see that several of the contribitors work in steel. After painting for almost 20 years I took some welding classes and set up shop a year ago. I knew how to stick the steel together but had to rely on books and the internet to learn to bend. It has taken a year to find a visual vocabulary. I showed my first piece of sculpture, a life sized horse, in a local show in February. It was purchased and donated to a new MHMR building in the historic part of town. I have pictures but haven't figured out how to import them yet. I will post them soon. I am currently working on two more horses and plan to have them hot-dip galvanized after fabrication. I would love to know if any one has experience with this process.
Looking forward to getting to know all of you. It is wonderful to be able to discuss sculpture. I live in very small farm and ranch town in West Central Texas, and so spend a lot of time explaining that the things I build don't do anything useful. And I occasionally weld tractors and pickup trucks for the old men who won't take no for an answer and insist on spitting tobacco juice on my shop floor.
Regards,
Bettye

[Araich]

Hey Bettye, welcome. Your desciption of small town Texas reminds me of a good friend of mine working on a farm 4hrs drive North/West of Sydney. Whenever I call him, it's even-odds whether he's welding a sculpture or a truck.
We'll be talking about David Smith and a cow will 'moo' in the background. Appropriate I guess.

I met a UK sculptor last year, Andrew Scott, who had made a large Clydesdale horse in rod, and had had it hot dipped... likely very different from what your doing, but I thought it may interest you.

Apparantly he has a website, but I couldn't see it just now. Someone will locate it no-doubt [hint].

[redrajah]

amazing horse! more here (http://www.axisartists.org.uk/all/ref8364.htm) .

cheers betty, looking forward to seeing your work.

[Aurora]

Welcome Bettye

It's a pleasure to have your voice added to the forum and I enjoyed your home description. I love metal work and look forward to seeing your work.

[RuBert]

Thanks for joining us Bettye,

I was just having a conversation today with a artist friend of mine working in New Bedford about the thrills and tribulations of working from a small community. The internet does give us a vehicle for connection and I appreciate your kind words about the forum.

[obseq]

Originally posted by Bettye
And I occasionally weld tractors and pickup trucks for the old men who won't take no for an answer and insist on spitting tobacco juice on my shop floor.
Regards,
Bettye


Great line Bettye :p

Looking forward to seeing more of your work along with your posts on the board!

[Bettye]

Thank you all for the kind welcome. I appreciate the photo and link to Andrew Scott's work. I still struggle with the craft aspect in my sculpture as my fabricating skills leave a lot to be desired. I have used a lot of 1/4" and 3/8" rod on my current pieces, so the photos of Scott's sculpture came at the perfect time. I know that a flourish of skill will not save a weak idea, but it seems just rude to not build my work well. And I mean rude to the sculpture. I think maybe I need to get out more.

[Araich]

No problem Bettye.
It took me a couple of days to find his business card (actually I chanced upon it), and thus website. Here it is http://www.scottassoc.demon.co.uk

http://www.scottassoc.demon.co.uk/horse/HO1.jpg