Intro to Metal Art
This amazing metal art is designed by Pam Baker, of North Vancouver, B.C. Canada and created by Roz Stanton of Pemberton, B.C. Canada. Please read the biographies for more information on these artists.
The Native Art is cut from 16 gauge steel and either burnished or rusted to create the unique effects. They come in small, medium, or large and can be cut to custom sizes on request. Some of the pieces, such as the eagle and salmon, can be slightly manipulated to allow them to stand or have a 3D look on the wall. They can also be used in conjunction with other art, metal or wood to allow an artist to create their own unique pieces. There is no limit to what someone can do with them.
After they are cut and finished a light coat of varathane seals them. This is not a waterproof seal but helps to keep the rust from coming off on your hands. The rusted pieces can go outside and will continue to rust creating their own distressed look. The burnished ones are best indoors, if they are exposed to the elements they will start to rust and eventually lose their shiny finish. You can get a permanent seal or change the colour by having them powder coated, or painted.
Look for more details under each category.
Burnished
These pieces both front and back are cut from 16 gauge steel. They come in three sizes, and can be cut in custom sizes. The steel is study enough to enhance the fine detail of the design but flexible enough to allow some manipulation to create a 3D effect. Some of the designs can only be hung flat on the wall, others like the bear, wolf and raven can hang or stand. Check the thumbnail pictures to show the versatility of each piece.
The single pieces can be hung by the smallest nails tucked into the corners of small cuts. The two part, cut front with a solid back, will come with a magnet that can be screwed to the wall and the solid metal back simply attaches to the magnet. The cut art also attaches to the solid back with very small magnets. If you want to detach the two pieces put a soft cloth between the two surfaces and lever against the cloth. Watch the video to clarify.
BE CAREFUL NOT TO DRAG THE MAGNET ON THE METAL, IT WILL SCRATCH.
Rusted
Once cut the metal is cleaned with a degreaser and then sprayed with a solution that consists of three organic acids, vinegar being the harshest. During the course of an hour the metal will start to rust. The acids react with the metal content in the steel giving it a rusted patina look. There are many variables in this colouring process, ore content, humidity, temperature. Consequently there is no way to predict or reproduce the final colour. I call this the charm of the technique.
After both sides are rusted we spray it with a thin coat of clear sealer. This will NOT stop the rusting process if the art is outside in the elements but it will stop the rust from getting on your hands. If we know the art will probably hang in a home then we give it a couple of extra coats of sealer on the back. You can also use small rubber bumpers to hold it away from the wall.
Each piece is unique and has its own character.
Torched
Same process as above except once the steel has been burnished we use a torch to heat the metal and watch as the colour appears. Again this is not an exact science and no two pieces will turn out the same.
Once we have the desired colour we let the metal cool and spray it with a clear sealer.
It has the same outdoor characteristics as the burnished steel, moisture and the elements will eventually cause the steel to rust and eventually you will have a completely different piece of metal art.
