Its good to get out of your comfort zone sometimes, and try something new. Or adapt something old to a new medium. After helping out in the metal shop on a few projects, I decided to try my hand at some plasma cutting – and see if I could get some tangle designs to work with steel.
One of the challenges with steel – is unlike pen and paper – if you have a closed loop like an “O” – the middle falls out because it isn’t connected to anything. So you have to rethink how you draw to ensure that everything is connected. Keeko had been on my mind, and I thought it would be a simple one to try. I did have to make a few corrections in my mock up of how to do the “e” and “o” to make sure they didn’t fall out.
I immediately found a way to take this metal art and make it into a message board!
This one is finished in a rusted/distressed sort of effect.
Aquafleur is a bit tougher to express, without the string I was afraid the shapes woud not look anchored, but I was so wrong! It is bent on the bottom to make a little stand instead of to hang on the wall.
I made this one a little stand to sit on my desk.o much I had to do another one. I wondered how the swirl of a snail’s shell might hold up –
And in my last one for the weekend, I wanted to see how the swirl of a snail’s tail held up! It turned out so cute! And the finish ended up so beautiful – rustic yet a little more sophisticated. The application of the chemicals for the finish is clearly its own artistic skill.
This is also a rustic type finish, but done a little darker than keeko. I love the effect.
Close up of the finish.
Close up of the finish.
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Typically it is appropriate to knock all these little nubbs off – they are left from where the cutter melts the metal, but I left them on the back because I like that is a reminder that this piece is unique.
Taking some time to play was so fun! I can’t wait to see what comes next as I set to explore and expand my skills.
Happy Tangling!
Kellie