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Graham House - Guelph Ontario Although originally intended as a security grill, this project in the
end became an artistic feature for a 1960's bungalow in Guelph Ontario.
I followed the project on a series of blog postings, edited here into
an illustrated description of the project as it progressed.  Go on for the commentary |
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This is a smaller free standing post and hanger. The challenge here was to work inside a limited budget, and produce a support that would echo the lines of the existing sign without dominating it. One long piece of heavy tube runs from ground and folds over to support the sign. This main element is both strengthened and enhanced by the two lighter diameter pieces of tube. These are flared at the ends to repeat the flower theme of the sign and customer's business. Now installed in Bolton Ontario. |
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J & P Adventures - Paisley
This piece is a large sign hanger created for J & P Adventures, an outfitting store on the main street of Paisley, Ont. Several factors hand to be taken into account for this design. First, the customer had already commissioned the actual sign board, and some way to securely support it had to be devised. This without obscuring any of the surface, which as you can see was painted right up to the edge. Second was a limit on sign hangers by local by - law. Nothing could stick out from the face of a building more than five feet. For me, an important consideration was to use the proper scale for the hanger. Its lower edge was over 10 feet from the sidewalk. I decided to use looping curves suggestive of the 'white water' theme of this canoe rental business. The main spar was forged from 2 x 1/4" flat the the other elements of 1 1/2 x 3/16" stock. One of the features of the final piece was the use of 'air brushed' paint to further enhance the wave like shapes of the overall design. |
This piece, was started while I was still working at Blackcreek, and marked the first larger piece I finished at the new forge at Wareham (completed the first year we moved there). I wanted something that would mark the new business - but at the same time stay pretty subtle. Using a traditional 'picture' sign board struck me as ideal. The lines of the hanger are very Art Nouveau - a style that would dominate my later artistic work. The light frame still has securely held the 24" long anvil cut out through the worst winds (!!) thrown at it for over a dozen years. |
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Another large work was a large memorial cross which is now marking a grave in a small local graveyard outside of Belleville Ont. The finished object was in the form of a Celtic standing cross, about five feet tall, and 2 1/2 feet across. Unfortunately, I do not have a photograph of the finished installation.
Over the years I have made a fair number of decorative handles and hinge plates, including brackets and mounts for timber frame and log homes. Another object I have created that is often hard to find - are fireplace cranes. Past work has included modern styled pieces retrofitted to existing fire places and as strict historic reproductions for century homes.
