1 minute read
STEVE KOWATS metals
kovachmetalsmith.com
What was your artistic path?
I have drawn since I was a child. I became a professional welder and metal fabricator at the age of 18, and with my newly acquired skills I began drawing on metal and cutting out the two-dimensional shapes with a cutting torch.
How did you arrive at your medium?
Being in the metal trades provided me access to various types and shapes of scrap metals. Whether aluminum, steel or copper, the materials have their own personality, and different limits, so you must keep your senses open to manipulate and work with them.
How does your process work?
One of two ways, usually. Either I see a metal object and think about how I can re-purpose it into an artwork, or I have an idea of a metal sculpture and see a metal object that will provide the shape or shapes I have in mind.
Once I nd the basic shape for a concept, I sometimes need to shape it further by heating it with a torch and using various hammers, anvils and other hand tools. I often add detail to my pieces by drawing shapes on construction paper, cutting them out to use as a pattern for tracing onto metal. I then cut out the detail shape drawn on the metal with a plasma torch or gas torch. Next, I sand and grind the piece or pieces and weld them on as detail on a sculpture. e welding process is not as simple as it may seem. ere are many welding processes requiring a variety of machines, electrodes, ller metals and skill levels — all dependent on metal type, thickness and shape. For instance, copper has very di erent chemical and mechanical properties than steel, and stainless steel has di erent characteristics than carbon steel. I often join dissimilar metals together in a sculpture. Most of these dissimilar metals cannot be welded together but can be joined by brazing or soldering.
Where do you get inspiration for your art?
Everywhere. From stories and legends, from nature, from music — basically just keeping my mind, eyes, ears and heart open. I believe art is everywhere. You can miss it if you’re not paying attention. Just don’t block it out and you will nd it in everything.
