This guy is living my dream......

[RickM]

Wether I win the lottery or not I'd love to someday do some type of metal art for a living. Twenty Five years in the corporate world is getting old but affords me and my family a decent existence.

I ran into this gentleman last year when I sold him a whole house generator via Ebay. He was buying a piece of property somewhere in the hills of CA (San Luis Obispo) and needed power to build and power to augment his solar home when complete. Long story short, I've held the unit for a whaile so he could finish up the RE transaction and arrange for transportation.

During one of our discussion I mentioned to him that he may have to clean up the exhaust pipe a bit since the heat and rain have instigated some surface rust. His reply was "don't worry, I work with metal". Immediately I think he's familiar with a wire wheel and a can of rustoleum.....

Out of curiosity I checked out the website that hosts his Email. Boy was I off the mark.....this guy is nothing short of amazing. His whole plan came together for me once I viewed his website.

.......so here we are on the phone again and he's instructing me in the construction of a kiln and how to MIG weld Bronze.....need I say more?....lol.

For anyone who loves metal work this guy may be a source of inspiration. Check it out.... http://www.jndesign.net

"JN Design recently completed an intensive round of restoration and reproduction of these intricate and historic lanterns. Two large French style original brass lanterns, provided by the client, were created some time around the turn of the century. Also provided were two large cast iron sconce armatures believed to be of same period but Spanish origin.

... All of these were built using molds and sculpted parts following the motif of the originals. Each lantern had 64-72 parts which were cast, fabricated, machined, and intricately cut using abrasive water jet technology, mills, welders, glass working equipment, etc.

90% of the components were cast or fabricated in our studio. The original fixtures were completely dismantled, all parts cleaned, molded where feasible, and then put back together. In this case, one each of the original mounts and lanterns was more complete than the other. Missing and broken parts were replaced by bronze ones."

http://www.jndesign.net/nouveau_era_lantern_project.htm

[nostatic]

the central coast has pockets of guys/gals like him. I don't know how they manage to do it. Did they make a bunch of money then start doing it? Or do they have a couple of high-paying clients? It would be cool...but I can't really make anything but music/noise.

[BlueSkyJaunte]

Now THAT is art...

Nostatic: I have a friend who does AMAZING airbrush work with an Asian influence. He's got a few galleries carrying his stuff here and there. He sells stuff infrequently (though he recently had a good run and almost all of his originals are gone) but lives in a huge house in an upscale part of the Scottsdale area.

How does he do it? Rich wife.

[RickM]

Todd,

Jonathan told me that he started as a jewelry designer. I also see his wife designed collector dolls and accessories, some of which were sold on HSN. Quite the artistic couple.

He was quite encouraging in that he suggested I start doing the work on the side and build from there. A technique I've employed sucessfully in the past.
My sense is that his clientel is brought to him through partnerships with (interior?) designers and architects....apparently an elite bunch with a taste for one of a kind work. One customer purchased the molds from him to insure Jonathan wouldn't replicate for others.


Here's how he stumbled onto his first project: http://www.jndesign.net/about_us.htm

Pretty much he went from casting jewelry to casting a fountain that had to be heli-lifted for installation.


BTW, have you ever heard of a sax player by the name of Mark Rivera?

[RickM]

Oh, BTW, he was describing how a friend of his built a 40' long CNC water saw. It was used to cut the very intricate patterns into the latern. Gotta love the resourcefulness.

[M.D. Holloway]

That iron work is incredible!

Had a buddy yars ago who did antique furniture restoration - I mean the kind of tables, chairs, headboards that are 200 to 500+ years old. He was one of 7 to study at some private deal in Masschusetts. This guy would use wood planks that were of the era (they do exsist but are rare) and even the tools of the particular time but what amazed me was the stains and varnishes and waxes he made and used - he used the formulas of the time! Most of the the work he does goes to the Smithsonian.