Direct Metal Sculpture
Create amazing garden art from metal! Take home your very own sculpture to make your garden beautiful.
Students will create plywood templates from their own designs (the tutor will have designs to use also), which are used to plasma cut steel shapes.
Cut metal shapes such as flowers, plant leaves, birds, butterflies, scrolls and many others.
Assemble the parts using tack welding, to form your artwork. Then we will do some heating, hammering and bending to ‘give it life’!
PLEASE NOTE: This is not a Blacksmithing course per se, but it will form an integral part of the Sculpture process.
Students will be required to plasma cut steel, grind shapes and edges, hot forge steel, weld components to form Artworks of their choice. Sparks will fly and hot metal will need to be manipulated. A tolerance for the heat of the processes in January needs to be considered.
Students will safely learn the processes of plasma cutting, basic forging of hot steel, grinding and wire brushing with power tools, MIG welding components, use of drill press and brazing some non-ferrous metal.
Students will need to purchase all additional steel sections to fabricate their Art Deco style frame and sculptural infill. ‘Flower’ components will be included in the student fee payable to the tutor.
This course is strictly age 18+ due to safety with equipment and restrictions on forges, anvils , oxy LPG gear and plasma cutter.
AGE: Suitable for ages 18 to adult
SKILL LEVEL: Intermediate - Suited to those who have some experience, but are looking to learn new techniques and explore more complex projects.
SCHEDULE: Full Days - Monday 13 to Friday 17 January 2025 - 9:00 am to 4:00 pm
VENUE: Bellingen High School
Create amazing garden art from metal! Take home your very own sculpture to make your garden beautiful.
Students will create plywood templates from their own designs (the tutor will have designs to use also), which are used to plasma cut steel shapes.
Cut metal shapes such as flowers, plant leaves, birds, butterflies, scrolls and many others.
Assemble the parts using tack welding, to form your artwork. Then we will do some heating, hammering and bending to ‘give it life’!
PLEASE NOTE: This is not a Blacksmithing course per se, but it will form an integral part of the Sculpture process.
Students will be required to plasma cut steel, grind shapes and edges, hot forge steel, weld components to form Artworks of their choice. Sparks will fly and hot metal will need to be manipulated. A tolerance for the heat of the processes in January needs to be considered.
Students will safely learn the processes of plasma cutting, basic forging of hot steel, grinding and wire brushing with power tools, MIG welding components, use of drill press and brazing some non-ferrous metal.
Students will need to purchase all additional steel sections to fabricate their Art Deco style frame and sculptural infill. ‘Flower’ components will be included in the student fee payable to the tutor.
This course is strictly age 18+ due to safety with equipment and restrictions on forges, anvils , oxy LPG gear and plasma cutter.
AGE: Suitable for ages 18 to adult
SKILL LEVEL: Intermediate - Suited to those who have some experience, but are looking to learn new techniques and explore more complex projects.
SCHEDULE: Full Days - Monday 13 to Friday 17 January 2025 - 9:00 am to 4:00 pm
VENUE: Bellingen High School
Create amazing garden art from metal! Take home your very own sculpture to make your garden beautiful.
Students will create plywood templates from their own designs (the tutor will have designs to use also), which are used to plasma cut steel shapes.
Cut metal shapes such as flowers, plant leaves, birds, butterflies, scrolls and many others.
Assemble the parts using tack welding, to form your artwork. Then we will do some heating, hammering and bending to ‘give it life’!
PLEASE NOTE: This is not a Blacksmithing course per se, but it will form an integral part of the Sculpture process.
Students will be required to plasma cut steel, grind shapes and edges, hot forge steel, weld components to form Artworks of their choice. Sparks will fly and hot metal will need to be manipulated. A tolerance for the heat of the processes in January needs to be considered.
Students will safely learn the processes of plasma cutting, basic forging of hot steel, grinding and wire brushing with power tools, MIG welding components, use of drill press and brazing some non-ferrous metal.
Students will need to purchase all additional steel sections to fabricate their Art Deco style frame and sculptural infill. ‘Flower’ components will be included in the student fee payable to the tutor.
This course is strictly age 18+ due to safety with equipment and restrictions on forges, anvils , oxy LPG gear and plasma cutter.
AGE: Suitable for ages 18 to adult
SKILL LEVEL: Intermediate - Suited to those who have some experience, but are looking to learn new techniques and explore more complex projects.
SCHEDULE: Full Days - Monday 13 to Friday 17 January 2025 - 9:00 am to 4:00 pm
VENUE: Bellingen High School
course info
Please read all course information below before purchasing tickets for this event.
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During the week you will make a forged poppy or sunflower, Art Deco style frame with sculptural infill and bird (if time permits).
Participants will choose either a poppy or sunflower to make. Using a laser cut steel template, they will forge texture and life into the petals, centre and stem. Then they will shape components prior to welding together and finish with paint, or treat to rust.
Skills gained on day 1 will allow students to embark on a more ambitious, larger project - A fabricated Art Deco style frame with sculptural infill of their own design. Examples will be provided.
Remaining time will be spent on an elegant, free standing garden sculpture such as a bird in flight.
Participants in this course will gain skills in metal design and constructions, and will complete at least two metal sculptures. -
Students will need to provide their own Work Health Safety equipment.
Full cover, close fitting cotton clothing ( jeans and long sleeve shirt) and gloves are essential in the Metalwork environment, especially when welding, cutting and forging.
Safety glasses to be worn at all times.
Earmuffs and aprons will be available in the room.
Shoes or boots with leather uppers are also essential.
A full list of optional tools and equipment will be emailed to students prior to the course.
This class has an extra materials cost of $60, which is payable directly to the tutor.
Once you book your ticket, the tutor will be in touch to arrange payment.
Cost of $60 includes:
LPG and Oxygen Gas used in Furnaces and Heating Torches
Grinding /abrasive discs and linishing belts
Welding and cutting electrodes
Paint
Wear and tear on tutors equipment
Additional steel bar and sheet will need to be purchased by students from tutor.
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Some metalwork experience is beneficial, but not essential.
“Great teacher. I learned so much. Wonderful group of students.”
YOUR COURSE TUTOR
Colin Dray
Colin studied Geology at Sydney University in the 1970’s, and went on to teach Earth and Environmental Science, Industrial Arts and Metalwork at Bellingen High School.
He became fascinated with Blacksmithing and Metal Design in the early 90’s and joined the Artist Blacksmiths Association of NSW. He has continued as an active and enthusiastic member of the group, helping to promote the growth of modern blacksmithing, by attending several Conferences and Festivals in Europe and the US, and by encouraging international smiths to visit and teach Masterclasses in Australia.
He gained trade qualifications in Metals and Engineering (Industrial Blacksmithing and Welding) putting these skills to use in Artistic Blacksmithing, regularly exhibiting forged sculptures in local and regional art galleries.
He contributed sculptural pieces as part of an exhibition entitled ‘Fe26 – Discovery’ held at the Glasshouse Gallery in 2019, which dealt with the interactions and experiences that occurred between Europeans and Indigenous people when John Oxley first entered the Hastings River valley 200 years earlier.
Colin participated with an Australian team in the World Blacksmithing Championships in Stia, ITALY, in 2017, competing against teams from over 20 countries, where they won a silver medal for their sculpture “Dreaming”.
After retiring from School teaching, he has maintained his passion for the Craft of Blacksmithing and continues to forge functional and sculptural ironwork in his workshop in the forest of the beautiful Bellinger Valley. Recently he has been involved in large scale collaborative public sculptures with overseas metal artists.
