Frequently Asked Questions

• The vibrant colors in your stainless-steel sculptures are so beautiful! How are these colors created?
• Do your sculptures rust?
• I want to keep the sculpture I purchase from you in good condition. What do I need to do?
• I want to purchase a sculpture from you. How can I find out what your art is valued at?
• Do you create art on commission?

The vibrant colors in your stainless-steel sculptures are so beautiful! How are these colors created?  {Back to FAQ list}

I learned this distinctive technique from renowned metal sculptor Gary Caldwell. The colors you see in the stainless steel sculptures are created by the natural chemistry of stainless steel reacting to extreme heat. After the metal is ground, sanded, and polished, I create the beautiful colors you see by carefully directing a flame set to many extreme temperatures.

Do your sculptures rust?  {Back to FAQ list}

Because of the intrinsic nature of stainless steel, my sculptures are highly resistant to rust and weathering. The burnt edges might show minimal rust (if any) over time, but the colored parts will not fade, rust, or weather.

*Note: One exception however, is salty air near beaches and oceans. Salty air can unfortunately cause some weathering and rust even on stainless steel. The weathering seems minimal, however, and so far all of my beach customers are still very happy with their sculptures years later.

I want to keep the sculpture I purchase from you in good condition. What do I need to do?  {Back to FAQ list}

• Stainless Steel Sculptures:

Since these sculptures are made out of stainless steel, they do not need to be sprayed with anything to remain protected from discoloration.

• To clean pollen or dust off a piece of my art, spray it with window cleaner and then wipe it with a soft rag.
• If edges rust and you want to remove that rust, carefully and gently use a stainless steel wire brush to remove the rust from those edge areas. Be careful not to use a wired brush on colored areas – doing this will remove the coloring.

I want to purchase a sculpture from you. How can I find out what your art is valued at?  {Back to FAQ list}

If you are interested in purchasing art from my website, email me and I will send you a price list. My email address appears on the bottom of this webpage.

Do you create art on commission?  {Back to FAQ list}

Yes, I do. If you are interested in having me create a special piece of art for you on commission, be aware that commissioning art is very different from purchasing completed art. People who get the most enjoyment from art they commission keep several general factors in mind:

• Make sure your ideas and design match the style of the artist you are commissioning.

  Based on this, when you consider commissioning me to create art for you, look over my website to determine whether the art you envision matches my artwork style.

• Be comfortable with the knowledge that your design will transform into something new. By definition, an artist creates unique art; if you have something very specific in mind, you might be happier working with a general fabricator.

  This is true of my commissioned sculptures. While I work with customers to understand the design they have in mind, the final piece reflects my own unique interpretation.

• Be aware that is very time consuming for an artist to create new artwork based on someone else’s ideas, so you will pay more for commissioned art than art designed and completed solely by the artist.

  For this reason, I do not take on commissions for less than $800.