Above: Bill
at work, 1980; just beginning the first Dragon and the first collaboration
with Rebecca.
This is the finished
Dragon, my metal sculpture with Rebecca's stained glass belly
scales and other accents. Go to "About Bill & Rebecca"
to see more unique collaborations like this.
My Fabricated Metal
Sculpture Technique:
I use oxygen/acetylene welder
with an in line liquid fluxer . . . I bend and weld carbon steel
rod, and braze each joint for strength. On larger pieces, using
heavier steel rod, I may do the initial structural welding with
a wire feed MIG welder. I also have a TIG welder for welding Stainless
Steel, Aluminum and Bronze castings. I braze with silicon bronze,
same material as used in the castings, and brass and nickel silver
for color. I build a framework of welded and brazed steel rod
similar to airframe construction of an plane, only free form and
fluid in the shape of the subject matter. At first the framework
can be bent and twisted, but as I tie the cross sections together
with the lateral stringers the form becomes very rigid and strong.
Then I cut out pieces of copper sheet and braze them over this
steel framework, forming the solid body of the sculpture. I have
done many Birds of Prey, Marine and Aquatic Birds, Whales, Sea
Turtles and Fish in this medium, as well as some African Mammals,
Dinosaurs, and even Insects, (Insects were many times life size).
In the case of Birds in flight the individual primary feathers
are cut out of copper sheet, brazed to a piece of steel rod (feather
shaft) and then welded to the wing. Fur and feather texture on
the body is done with short pieces of overlapping steel rod. Beaks,
horns, hooves, teeth, fins, baleen etc. etc. are done with steel
rod and filled with one of the brazing mediums. Whales, large
terrestrial Mammals, Dinosaurs and some Fish are done with a smooth
skin of copper sheet brazed over the framework.
Other subjects may be handled
differently, depending on what I want to show; For example, I
have done some large Whales with bones (also fabricated steel)
on the inside, and a welded steel "Cage" exterior (the
steel framework mentioned earlier), so that you can look thru
the body of the whale and see the skeleton within. No copper on
a piece like this, it looks light and airy, yet shows in a unique
way the Whale's anatomy. I have done several of these, mostly
for museums. I have done life-size free standing Pelicans, Herons
and Anhinga among others. I have built Eagles, Hawks, Pelicans,
Herons, Magnificent Frigate bird, and most recently Raven and
Magpies in flight. I have also done a Coelacanth as a wall hanging,
so that it is only finished on one side. This piece is 5 ft in
length and shows much of the internal skeletal structure as well
as the surface features. This Coelacanth, shown under "About
Bill", went over a large stone and adobe fireplace in a home
in Malibu. I am open to any subject matter that you might have
in mind. In fact I would prefer to do pieces that I have not done
before.
Any of there pieces can be scaled
up, done with heavier, more durable materials. They may be powder
coated for color and to withstand the weather; or they may be
chemically treated and allowed to weather naturally. Steel may
be treated with phosphoric acid, which produces a protective,
rust inhibiting iron phosphate coating. Copper may be left to
eventually develop it's own rich green and copper brown patina.
Can I build something COOL for You??
Bill & Rebecca Hunt - 119
Bierstadt Ct - Livermore - CO - 80536 - 970-484-0894
E-Mail: bill@huntstudios.com - Web: http://huntstudios.com
Working
on a Humpback Whale skeleton Circa 1981; Fabricated Mild Steel
welding rod, filled in with Nickel Silver brazing rod. Bending
and shaping the steel rod with my hands, then Using an Oxy-Acetylene
torch to weld the steel pieces together and braze with the fill
rod. Note the reference material in the background.
This unusual sculpture shows the Skeleton of the Sperm
Whale inside while defining the external anatomy as well. The
sculpture is built entirely of Steel welding rod, brazed at the
jpints for strength. It is accurate with correct proportions,
scaled to 1/12 or one inch to one foot. The Sculpture is 60 inches
long, reflecting the 60 foot length of a mature Bull Sperm Whale.
Completed in 1980, this is one of three large whales commissioned
by the Cabrillo Marine Aquarium in San Pedro, CA.
"THE
CHASE" - Cheetah & Thompson Gazell 
AFRICAN ELEPHANT - Both pieces done in 1981
This Giraffe was fabricated with a Steel
rod framework as with previous pieces. Then patches of sheet Copper
were brazed to the Steel framework with the Nickel Silver brazing
rod, creating the typical patchwork pattern seen on Giraffes.
The Acacia tree was fabricated the same way, with the green foliage
again made out of sheet Copper. The foliage was exposed to a little
Sea Water and allowed to go green naturally. The Giraffe stands
24 inches high, the Acacia tree about 28 inches. Mounted on a
Redwood root burl base. Work was done in 1984
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© 1997 Bill & Rebecca
Hunt |
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all rights reserved |
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Bill Hunt still does a limited number of fabricated metal
sculptures each year. These one of a kind pieces are made from
copper sheet and brass welding rod. The 3 foot + long sculpture
above is of the Coelocanth fish,
considered by many to be a living fossil. The sculpture at left
is of the dinosaur, Triceratops.
Fabricated metal pieces are done on a commission basis only and
prices vary. Call or write for more information.
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