As much as the furniture and the decorative items, the way a home is lit defines its character and the personality of the owner. Lamps and light fittings are available in all kinds of materials and metal lamps, chandeliers, sconces and other light fixtures are among the most common. While these may be just holders in which to fit light bulbs, using metal art lamps can add a distinctive touch of class and sophistication to the home. Metal art lamps are those where the functionality is married to design to produce a fitting or piece of furniture that stands alone as a complement to the decor of the house.
Until the introduction of the electric light bulb in the 1880s, all indoor lighting was provided by oil or wax fed lamps. Oil lamps have bee around since man first learned to work and shape metal. Since wood was affected by oil and could easily catch fire, and hewing a map out of stone was a time consuming process, metal lamps were the best option. Metal lamps soon progressed from merely a functional item to works of art. Intricate designs and scrolling allowed them to become decorative items that added to the appeal of a house. Ancient archeological sites are littered with intricately designed metal lamps. The advent of glass that ensconced the flame but allowed the light to pass allowed the metal artist even greater flexibility in creating what we call today metal art lamps.
There are two main types of art metal lamps. The first is the piece of metal sculpture which has a light fitting as an integral part of it. These are usually hand crafted either by individual artists or companies using the services of artists under contract to them. These are usually stand alone sculptures, and can be of any size, form the smallest table piece to a large free standing one. Since they are primarily sculptures, the main function of the light they emit is to enhance their appeal and the lighting of the surrounding area is secondary. You can choose from a wide range of one of a kind pieces by visiting art galleries, art stores, and looking on the internet. If you are not able to find the piece that is exactly what you are looking for, there is no need to compromise. An internet search will find a host of artists who will work with you to create the pieces you are looking for.
Large metal art lamps can be used as freestanding sculptures in a garden and will add to the after dark atmosphere with the presence.
The more common type of metal art lamp is the intricately designed indoor lighting fixture. They made be made from a variety of metals including wrought iron, stainless steel, brushed copper, bronze, aluminum, and even sterling silver and gold. A wide range of finishes and colors are available to either complement an existing décor or to use as a starting point where the metal art lamp and the light it emits are the focal points around which the rest of a room or a full house are designed.
By: Ivan Smith
Posts Tagged ‘Metal Art’
Metal Art Lamps
November 20th, 2009Plasma Metal Art
November 19th, 2009
Plasma cutting is a process by which a compressed gas is blown onto a metal surface. An electric arc is created which raises the gas to extremely high temperature – hot enough to cut through metal very quickly. The force of the gas is able to blow away any molten slag that may have collected on the cut surface, leaving a very clean edge. Since the compressed gas can be focused to a fine point, highly accurate cutting to create intricate shapes and designs can be done.
The origins of plasma cutting can be traced back to the days of World War II and the need to increase the speed and quality of aircraft production. Plasma welding was developed to cut the time taken for the fabrication of body parts and had the advantage of producing stronger joints than conventional welding techniques of the time.
In the 1960s this technology was improved by new method of increasing the gas temperature and more finely focusing the stream of gas to allow the plasma stream to be used to cut through metal like a knife, with great accuracy. For industrial applications, large plasma cutters are operated by computers to produce high precision cutting in large volume.
Artists use hand held plasma cutter for their work. These small yet powerful units can be wielded like a knife and can be used to cut through metal to produce intricate shapes and designs. Think of a sheet of metal as a blank canvas and the plasma cutter as the brush. Either by free hand or by using a stencil, the artist cuts through the sheet metal to create the design or art work he wants. Once the cutting is done, the artist can use the equipment to carve out delicate features or create etchings on the surface of his creation. Bending some of the surfaces can be done to add a three dimensional effect.
Since plasma cut sheet metal is thin and delicate by nature, it cannot be used under extreme conditions like large sculptures or as load bearing works of art. The main application is to use this technology to create mirror and picture frames, table top ornaments and other such decorative items. Unlike large pieces of metal art, those created by plasma cutting need to be protected from the elements and are meant for indoor use.
When buying plasma metal art, it needs to be kept in mind that the cost of the material used and the production process makes up only a minor part of the total cost. Except in the case of certain very expensive alloys, sheet metal in not very costly and the cost of using a small hand held plasma cutter is relatively cheap. The value of plasma art likes in the quality of the art – the concept and design, the quality of the production and the fineness of the detail incorporated into the work.
A search of the internet will reveal the vast variety of plasma metal art available – from the reasonably priced to the prohibitively expensive. Just about any kind of decorative metal art can be made by the plasma cutting process and if a buyer has something special in mind, finding an artist who will create what the client wants is not a problem.
By: Ivan Smith
Posted in Articles
Tags: Aircraft Production Blank Canvas Delicate Features Dimensional Effect Electric Arc Extreme Conditions Gas Temperature Industrial Applications Intricate Shapes Metal Art Metal Surface Plasma Cutter Plasma Cutters Plasma Cutting Plasma Stream Plasma Welding Sheet Metal Stencil Welding Techniques World War Ii
Metal Art Tools and Metal Art Working
October 28th, 2009
Most people associate a sculptor with a hammer and chisel. Yes, these are the basic tools of an artist working with stone or wood. When working with these materials the sculptor starts out with a large piece of lumber or stones and using these tools chips away at the material until everything that is not part of the work of art is removed.
Metal art is different because while excess material also needs to be removed, the creation also involves adding various pieces or materials to one another until the final art form takes shape. So while one is the process of removing the unwanted, the other is the art of joining and shaping.
Because of this the range of art metal tools is much wider, more complex and therefore more expensive than stonework tools. The tools the metal artist needs include:
Metal cutting tools:
· Chop saws are the basic tool. These simple saws are good enough for rough cutting of metal sheets into workable sizes.
· Band saws provide a more precision cut but since they use cutting fluid to continually remove filings and dust from the cutting area to allow for a cleaner cut, they are more expensive and messy. The artist will need a special work station to prevent the fluid from making a mess all over his studio.
· And finally there is the plasma cutter which uses pressured superheated gas to cut through metal. Since the flow of gas can be focused down to a very fine point, this allows for extremely precise cuts and is the best for the final cutting of metal. Because of the technology involved, they are very expensive and costs can go as high as $10,000.
Metal joining equipment:
This involves welding of which there are two types:
· MIG welding equipment is best used on metals like mild steel. A wire is melted and used to join two pieces of metal together.
· TIG welding actually fuses two metal pieces into one. This yype of welding is best for aluminum and stainless steel welding. A filler rod is sometimes used to fill up an open seam.
Metal forming equipment:
Metal forming involves heating metal till it reaches a molten shape and then pouring it into a mold in which it will cool and harden to take its new form. This equipment comprises of:
· A furnace or forge where the metal will be heated. Furnaces are of various types for specific applications and are fed by electricity, gas or natural fuels like wood and coal. These, depending on the size, may be expensive.
· The molds into which the molten metal is formed are usually made by first creating a form upon which a wax mold is made. The wax mold is then used to create the final mold which is normally made out of fine silica sand. While little equipment is needed here, the recurring raw material costs need to be kept in mind.
Preparation and finishing equipment:
· These consist of grinders and chipping tools to smoothen and remove any excess material for the finished surfaces.
· Buffers are needed to polish and create surface textures.
· And finally, if required, painting equipment that can range from a simple brush to spray painting.
By: Ivan Smith
