 John and Kim have always loved art, taking classes together and exploring a variety of media together and individually. “Kim and I studied and painted in watercolor together, she has also done jewelry and mosaics. I joined her working in stained glass, and she joined me working with metals,” John said. John began working with metal about a decade ago. Looking at a collection of implements and tools, past their useful lives, he picked up a welding torch and started changing their appearance. Kim saw some yard art she liked better than John’s and said, “Can you do that?” He replied, “If I can buy a plasma cutter, yes.”A deal was struck. Kim began designing and John began cutting with his new toy (tool.) Although Kim still paints in acrylics and works occasionally in other media, John works exclusively in his metal shop. “I still use all the designs Kim created, and she is involved in special orders and challenging subjects, but I have added a few of my own creative ideas, too.” John said.The metal sculpting process is fairly simple. Combining found objects requires an ‘eye’ for the life in rusty old junk. “You see a wing here, a beak or a mouth there, you simply have to figure out what goes in between and how to hold it together,” said John.If you can’t find the piece you want, it can be created with the plasma cutter. The piece, or for that matter, an entire sculpture is first designed on paper. The image is then transferred to sheet metal and cut out with the plasma cutter. Hand tools are used to grind and finish the piece for use in the sculpture.Once a year, for the Sequim Arts Studio Tour during the Sequim Lavender Festival, Rickety Ranch opens its doors to the public. Those so inclined may adopt one of the rusty inhabitants. “Art is our avocation rather than vocation,” said John, “We realize that rusty metal is not what everyone wants in their yard or on their wall, but it’s fun to see that some people share the joy we get from creating it.” |
John and Kim have always loved art, taking classes together and exploring a variety of media together and individually. “Kim and I studied and painted in watercolor together, she has also done jewelry and mosaics. I joined her working in stained glass, and she joined me working with metals,” John said. John began working with metal about a decade ago. Looking at a collection of implements and tools, past their useful lives, he picked up a welding torch and started changing their appearance. Kim saw some yard art she liked better than John’s and said, “Can you do that?” He replied, “If I can buy a plasma cutter, yes.”A deal was struck. Kim began designing and John began cutting with his new toy (tool.) Although Kim still paints in acrylics and works occasionally in other media, John works exclusively in his metal shop. “I still use all the designs Kim created, and she is involved in special orders and challenging subjects, but I have added a few of my own creative ideas, too.” John said.The metal sculpting process is fairly simple. Combining found objects requires an ‘eye’ for the life in rusty old junk. “You see a wing here, a beak or a mouth there, you simply have to figure out what goes in between and how to hold it together,” said John.If you can’t find the piece you want, it can be created with the plasma cutter. The piece, or for that matter, an entire sculpture is first designed on paper. The image is then transferred to sheet metal and cut out with the plasma cutter. Hand tools are used to grind and finish the piece for use in the sculpture.Once a year, for the Sequim Arts Studio Tour during the Sequim Lavender Festival, Rickety Ranch opens its doors to the public. Those so inclined may adopt one of the rusty inhabitants. “Art is our avocation rather than vocation,” said John, “We realize that rusty metal is not what everyone wants in their yard or on their wall, but it’s fun to see that some people share the joy we get from creating it.”