KR2013 – Page 2 – K.R.'s Metal Art Forms

May 30, 2013March 18, 2023

Cat Boat Weathervane “Lottie Cates”

Status: In a Private Collection – Similar Reproduction Available. (Please contact me to commission a similar piece.)

Application: Indoor/Outdoor

Signed: KR2013

The Cat Boat weathervane was a commission for a private collection modeled after a Fenwick Williams 21′ Cat Boat named “Lottie Cates.” This piece was commissioned by the client to be a special gift modeled after the actual boat that was hand-built by the recipient and named after his grandmother. A wonderful gift and fitting tribute to his craftsmanship and the memory of his grandmother.

This three-dimensional piece was hand formed from 18 gauge copper sheet metal but, unlike most copper artwork that is soldered or brazed together, this piece was T.I.G. welded together, to ensure solid construction and set it apart from other works. The piece measures 12″ long, by 18″ tall, by 4″ wide. The base for this project was hand-formed from new and re-purposed stainless steel and stainless steel tubing, with hand cut directional lettering. The base measures 12″ x 12″ and with the weathervane atop it, it has an overall height of 30.”

Copper is a traditional and classic medium for weathervanes, with wonderful weathering attributes and a durability that lasts forever. Copper pieces react differently to their environments. Seaside homes and homes in the general vicinity of the ocean can expect their copper pieces to obtain a wonderful green patina, while pieces more inland and away from the ocean’s salt air can expect their pieces to obtain a typical brown copper tone. If, however, you live inland but would like the green patina, an accelerated weathering process can be attained prior to delivery.

A personalized copper weathervane can make a wonderful family heirloom that will last for generations and sit atop the family home wherever it may be!

Cat Boat Weathervane “Lottie Cates”

November 4, 2012April 21, 2017

Trout Weathervane

Status: In a Private Collection – Similar Reproduction Available. (Please contact me for pricing.)

Application: Indoor/Outdoor

Signed: KR2012

The Trout Weathervane is my inaugural weathervane and it has received positive reviews from everyone who has seen it. It is hand formed from 16-gauge T-304 stainless steel sheet metal that has been T.I.G. welded together. The trout measures 30″ long, by 11″ tall, by 3″ wide, and the base is 23″ by 23″ wide. With the trout mounted on the base the overall piece is approximately 20″ tall.

The three-dimensional trout has been hammer formed to bring it to life and ground to give the scales their shimmer and shape. The trout and base are entirely constructed from stainless steel to avoid the corrosive effects of salt water and seaside air and to maintain their luster indefinitely. The one-of-a-kind, stainless steel directional letters of the base are hand made to appear as though they are blowing in the wind, adding a nice touch to this unique piece.

Stainless steel is a unique and wonderful alternative to copper and looks impressive atop any home!

Trout Weathervane

“Trout Weathervane”

Trout Weathervane

“Trout Weathervane”

Trout Weathervane

November 4, 2012November 21, 2017

Bar Harbor 31

Status: In a Private Collection – Similar Reproduction Available. (Please contact me to commission a similar piece.)

Application: Indoor/Outdoor

Signed: KR2012

The Bar Harbor 31 weathervane was a commission for a private collection, modeled after the Herreshoff Bar Harbor 31, wooden sloop sailboat that was built during the early 1900’s. There were 13 of these boats built and only 5 are known to exist today.

This piece was hand formed from 16 oz. copper sheet metal but, unlike most copper artwork that is soldered or brazed together, this piece was T.I.G. welded together, to ensure solid construction and set it apart from other works. The piece measures 15″ long, by 20″ tall, by 3″ wide. The base for this project was already on the client’s home. The three-dimensional piece was hammer formed by hand.

A personalized copper weathervane can make a wonderful family heirloom that will last for generations and sit atop the family home wherever it may be!

“Bar Harbor 31”

November 4, 2012November 21, 2017

Comedy-Drama Theater Masks

Status: In Private Collections, Similar Reproductions Available. (Please contact me to make a similar piece.)

Application: Indoor/Outdoor

Signed: KR2012, KR2013, KR2014, KR2015, KR2016

This wall hanging is a rendition of the old “Comedy-Drama” theater masks and it would make a great addition to any theater or thespian’s home. To date, several sets of various sizes have been commissioned, to include a much larger version in the set commissioned: “Dos Cabezas Grande.”

The history of the “Comedy-Drama” theater masks can be traced back to the 5th Century B.C. in Ancient Greece, where theater was a big part of their culture and ancient actors wore similar masks often made from clay, wood or cloth. These Comedy-Drama masks, however, are hand-formed from T-304 16 Gauge stainless steel, 3/16″ stainless steel rods and puddles of molten stainless steel used to replicate the tears of joy and tragedy. This piece can be made to just about any size. The piece made for the Coronado Playhouse measures 18” in height, 24″ in width and 2” in depth. The piece is welded together using the Tungsten Inert Gas (TIG) welding process. Similar pieces can be made and personalized with many effects, to include more details, different materials (like copper), and other adornments and facial expressions that you might want.

The Comedy-Drama Theater Masks and similar wall hangings are suitable for indoor or outdoor use. Here are a few examples of masks that have been created.

Comedy-Drama Theater Masks – College of Saint Scholastica

Comedy-Tragedy Theater Masks – Coronado Playhouse

Comedy-Tragedy Theater Masks – Tears of Pain

Comedy-Tragedy Theater Masks – Tears of Joy

Comedy-Tragedy Theater Masks

November 4, 2012November 21, 2017

Small Catboat

Status: In Private Collections – Similar Reproduction Available. (Please contact me to commission a similar piece.)

Application: Indoor/Outdoor

Signed: KR2012, KR2013, KR2014

Inspired by one of my first sculptures, the Large Cat Boat, the Small Cat Boat began as a commission for a private collection and it has become popular in the boating/Cat Boat community. Several have been made and each has been uniquely personalized to represent a particular owner’s Cat Boat or to commemorate a Cat Boat owner. Modeled after the Marshall 18′ Sanderling Cat Boat, a popular sail boat among many in the New England area, these small sculptures are great for the office, home and/or garden.

The Small Cat Boats are hand formed from 14 gauge T-304 stainless steel sheet metal and 3/8″ stainless steel rods, and they are welded together using the Tungsten Inert Gas (T.I.G.) welding process to ensure solid construction. The pieces can be made from stainless steel, copper or mild steel and built to any size, large or small. Typically the pieces shown here measure 12″ long, by 17″ tall, by 6″ wide.

Stainless steel is a resilient material that holds its polish or texture and handles most environmental conditions with ease. Should copper be chosen, copper has wonderful weathering attributes and a durability that lasts forever, however, copper pieces react differently to their environments. Seaside homes and homes in the general vicinity of the ocean can expect their copper pieces to obtain a wonderful green patina, while pieces more inland and away from the ocean’s salt air can expect their pieces to obtain a typical brown copper tone. If, however, you live inland but would like the green patina, an accelerated weathering process can be attained prior to delivery.

A personalized Small Cat Boat can make a wonderful gift!

“Small Cat Boat”

November 2, 2012November 21, 2017

“Bird on a Wave”

Status: In a Private Collection. (Please contact me to commission a similar piece.)

Application: Indoor/Outdoor

Signed: KR2012

“Bird on a Wave” is an abstract piece that I created to represent a bird flying just above a wave. It’s made out of 1/8″ Corten Steel© and 14 gauge T-304 stainless steel, and the whole assembly was T.I.G. Welded together using 309L stainless steel. It stands about 58″ tall and the bird’s wings span about 19″ across. The piece swivels on a base that is 18 1/2″ deep by 9″ wide and through the center of the wave I placed a stainless steel prism that can be turned towards the sun to highlight an object, and to represent the sun shining through the wave.

The piece is equally suitable for indoor or outdoor applications. If left outdoors, the Corten steel will weather to a rust color but the welds along the edges will remain silver and the bird and prism will remain shiny, giving its look a wonderful contrast, yet allowing it to blend nicely with natural colors. The base is filled with concrete to give it stability in the home or in unfavorable weather conditions. And the piece is connected to the base by a heavy duty, sealed, automotive, front wheel bearing, that is sure to last indefinitely.

The piece has many angles that can be enjoyed and the swivel base allows you to easily enjoy any angle or adjust the prism to the sun.

The piece is currently available and looking for a home!

“Bird on a Wave”

The Sun Shining Through

The Prism Effect

The Ability to Swivel

The Back Side

November 2, 2012November 21, 2017

“Sun Basin”

Status: In a Private Collection. (Please contact me to commission a similar piece.)

Application: Indoor/Outdoor

Signed: KR2012

“Sun Basin” was a commission I received to create a garden reflection pool for a private collection. The piece is made of 14 gauge T-304 stainless steel, with 3/8″ solid stainless steel round bar welded along its scalloped edge. It measures 4′-6″ in diameter.

The piece was hammer formed by hand and the scalloped edge was created by a press form that I made and adapted to my log splitter (that I also made). A video of the “scalloping” can be seen below.

In the center of the piece I left the hammer marks from the forming process and I heated the center to give it the golden brown color it has. Depending on your preference, the center can appear as the center of a sunflower or the turbulent and “heated” surface of the sun. From the edge of the heated and hammered center I ground in a pattern of petals (or “rays”) that flow nicely up to the scalloped edge, and from certain angles the pattern also gives a “vortex” appearance, as seen below. Along the edge of the solid stainless steel round-bar that is welded along the circumference, I left the weld untouched but lightly polished, which allows the weld’s beads to present themselves as clouds passing by.

The piece rests upon three rocks that were found locally and it contributes nicely to the tranquility of the garden. To sample the tranquility of the piece, please enjoy the video below.

“Sun Basin”

“Vortex” Effect

The tranquility of “Sun Basin:”

Video of forming the scalloped edged (the video is loud):

November 2, 2012November 21, 2017

“Out of the Box”

Status: In a Private Collection. (Please contact me to commission a similar piece.)

Signed: KR2012

“Out of the Box” was a commission I received for a private collection that was inspired by input from both the owner and myself, and I have promised the owner I will not recreate it. The sculpture stands 7′ 4″ on its own and almost 8′ tall on its concrete base. It’s made out of 1/8″ Corten Steel© and 14 gauge T-304 stainless steel, and the whole assembly was T.I.G. Welded together using 309L stainless steel.

The largest box measures 18″ and each box gets progressively smaller by 3″ increments, down to the smallest 9″ box. I created the inner stainless steel structure in a three dimensional “square-bar” configuration to give the appearance that the boxes are made of solid bars of stainless steel, covered in Corten steel. Each of the openings on the boxes are one-half the width of the box, leaving the “bars” to be one-quarter the width. So, for example, the 12″ box has a 6″ opening leaving each of the “bars” to be 3″ in width.

The piece has many angles that can be enjoyed and each angle changes with the position of the sun. One of my favorite angles captures the stainless steel inside each of the boxes, in a way that make the stainless appear “diamond like.”

I love the combination of the Corten and stainless steels and the contrasts they present. I love the way the project turned out and I enjoyed building it!

Out of the Box

The “Diamond Effect”

South Side View

North Side View

East or West Side View

From the Ground Towards the Sun

August 21, 2012November 21, 2017

“Large Catboat”

Status: In a Private Collection. (Please contact me to commission a similar piece.)

Application: Indoor/Outdoor

Signed: KR2012

The “Large Cat Boat” was my inaugural sculpture and “kick-off” for my metal art endeavor. Although I’ve been doing custom metal fabrication for more than 20 years, I had yet to try my hand at T.I.G. welding or working with stainless steel and, true to my form, I decided to start my metal art endeavor… oh ya, and then learn how to T.I.G weld and work with stainless steel! Fortunately, I was able to successfully accomplish both and the end result was a nice donation for our local Community Boating Center that was auctioned off at their annual Opening of the Bay Celebration.

The sculpture is modeled after an 18’ Marshall Sanderling Cape Cod Catboat and is designed to present itself nicely in either an indoor or outdoor settings. Its hand-formed from 16 gauge T304 stainless steel and T.I.G. welded together. Its dimensions are: 46” Tall, 18” Wide and 32” long and the stainless steel will maintain a beautiful shine in all climates and will require little maintenance to enjoy for decades to come.

The Cat Boat was auction off and is now a part of a private collection.