Sculptures 2025

This has been an exciting year for me, highlighted by my return to Mudgee, where I had four new sculptures accepted into the exhibition. I also entered five works into Artisans in the Garden, marking my first experience exhibiting at the Sydney Botanic Gardens, which was thrilling. Since both exhibitions had overlapping deadlines, I needed to complete all the works well in advance of the submission dates.

Additionally, I have ventured into working with new materials. The first is traditional lost-wax bronze casting, and the second is a new series that combines metal and stone.

Skeleton Gum Leaf

Each metal ring is crafted from steel tubing and hammered into a unique form. The sculpture's design was inspired by a leaf I found while walking in my neighbourhood. What I love about this sculpture is that, as an experiment, I used colour-change automotive paint. Depending on the angle of light, the colours change to purple, pink, bronze, and green. It is tough to photograph the colours to convey their true spectacular effect, but I hope the video below will help.

Ghost of a Gum

Each metal ring has been cut from a steel tube and hammered into a unique form. I had a general idea of the trunk and branches, but the final shape only emerged once I saw how the different rings stacked and welded together. (mild steel, stainless steel, gloss black automotive paint coated with a two-part epoxy resin)

Scribbly Gum Orb

I have been experimenting with some 6mm solid bar to create some interesting shapes (doodles). I curved these short lengths using my disc plough, and then began welding them together. I continued adding pieces until I had a complete sphere. (Mild steel rod finished with gold fleck powder coating)

Sticky Rock #1

Rocks and metal often form under intense heat and pressure, which can cause rocks to melt and take on a consistency and appearance similar to chewing gum. Although this project is still at an experimental stage, I plan to create a series of works using various types of rock, as well as stainless steel and silicon bronze. I am excited to see how this series develops.

The first piece turned out differently from what I had originally envisioned, but I am very pleased with the final result. It features splashes and drips of stainless steel, and the wavy stainless steel joining the two pieces has a hammered finish. I also carefully heated the bottom edge to create a subtle color gradient, which varies in appearance depending on the light—ranging from a light champagne to a deep golden brown.

Infinity

This is my first experience with the traditional lost-wax process. I'm still getting to grips with all the possibilities this method offers, and I want to explore it further. Playing with warm, gooey, sticky wax to create an initial form was both challenging and rewarding. Since all my work is handmade, this messy approach aligns well with my ethos. The beauty of working with wax is that if something turns out poorly or you don’t like it, you can either try to fix it or simply return it to the melting pot for reuse later. After my piece returned from the foundry, I applied a patina using heat and a sulphide solution to darken the bronze, especially at the base, as my intention was always to highly polish the top.

Coloured Gum Leaf

I enjoy experimenting with different materials, and I recently drew inspiration from a gum leaf I found in my neighbourhood to create a piece using TIG welding with silicon bronze welding rods. The leaf has a lot of character, featuring irregular bits missing and a curled, crinkled shape. As with many of my works, I love to explore contrasts, such as rough versus smooth or shiny versus matte. In this project, I polished the leaf tip. During the welding process, I was captivated by the beautiful colours produced by the heat. Ultimately, I heated the tip until I achieved stunning rainbow hues. Since bronze can tarnish over time, a standard method to prevent this is to rub wax into the warmed metal. Ironically, while this process helps to prevent tarnishing, it also dulls the vibrant rainbow colours. As a result, the colours are still visible, but much more subdued than immediately after the final heating.

My metal sculptures are truly remarkable pieces of art, showcasing an exceptional blend of creativity and craftsmanship. Each sculpture reflects a bold, dynamic design that captures attention and evokes emotion. The intricate details and flawless welding highlight the skill and precision behind every creation. Durable and elegantly finished, these sculptures stand as timeless statements that enhance any space with a modern yet enduring aesthetic. Their unique forms and polished surfaces make them not only visually stunning but also a testament to innovative metal artistry.