Metal Art Techniques!

Interesting Ways To Create Art With Metal!

Creating art with metal is a very interesting activity as it is not a traditional activity for most artists. Creating art with metal is not as difficult as some would like to believe because there are various techniques that artists use for creating something amazing.

These techniques are a specialty that artists take the time to hone because there is a considerable demand for art made from metal. If you are interested in becoming a more original artist, here are some techniques that you may be interested in learning. 

Plasma Cutting:

While many people consider plasma cutting as an activity for welders who repair cars, planes, and other heavy duty machinery, plasma cutting can easily be utilized as a vehicle for creating art. Plasma cutters can easily cut through most metal alloys.

They cut so precisely, that they are capable of fashioning perfect circles with the right accessories. 

Creating metal art with a plasma cutter allows you a limitless amount of ideas that you can cut and form various shapes and designs. Here is how:

For plasma cutting beginners, it is recommended that you work with thin metal alloys because these are the easiest to cut. A nice type of metal to work on is sheet steel, which is very thin and easy to work with.

Have a design ready on a sheet of paper or cardboard. Next, use the paper or cardboard as the guide that you will cut your metal on.

Place the template on top of the metal that you plan to use. Next, use your plasma cutter to cut around the edges of your template. If you use the cutter at a 15 degree angle to cut, this should allow you to cut as precisely as possible. 

Cutting Torch:

Another creative manner of creating art with metal is by using a cutting torch. A cutting torch utilizes Oxyfuel, which consists of Acetylene and Oxygen. Cutting torches are a requirement for most car repair and maintenance shops because they have many uses aside from cutting steel. 

They are used for pre-heating and post-heating for various welding procedures, as well as for removing excess material from existing parts in an automobile. For creating art, the cutting torch is a very useful tool to utilize. Here is how:

A cutting torch is useful for creating art sculptures. An example of its usefulness is when artists must create holes in the middle of existing sculptures.

Cutting torches are also very useful for when you want to combine existing sculptures together. Cutting torches are capable of melting the metal into a liquid state, which is ideal for meshing various metal alloys together. When cooled, these alloys combine together and stay in that combined state forever. The only way to separate the alloys once more is to use a cutting torch.

Stamping Dies and CNC Machines:

The process of stamping dies through CNC machines is most ideal for working with sheet metal. Many of your household kitchen tools such as strainers, cooking pots, and pot covers are created through stamping dies.

People who stamp dies are individuals who mold metal alloys through the use of several machines including CNC machines. A stamp die is a precision tool that is utilized to shape sheet metal into various shapes and designs. It has two types of operations: cutting and forming.

This is why the stamping die is an ideal metal cutting tool for creating art. Individuals who have created art designs from stamping dies have been able to shape sheet metal into jewelry and accessories. With stamping dies, you can even mold sheet metal into various shapes with precise dimensions.

Metal Art Techniques For Texturing and Adding Color To Your Artwork Created From Metal!

Now that you have molded your metal alloy of choice into a unique shape or design, the next step in your artistic journey will be to color or create texture and dimension to your creation. There are numerous options by which you can do this. These options are the following:

• Dimension. This simple technique will instantly add more to your artwork with very little work. The simplest method for adding dimension is to place your main artwork another piece of sheetmetal as a backing with space between it and the sheet metal using small bit of metal to prop it up. This gives it a 3d effect. 
  

• Painting. Painting metal to further customize your metal artwork is a very easy task. You must buy high quality paint suitable for painting metal. Buying high quality paint ensures that it will not only paint your steel artwork but it will provide a glossy finish that will last a very long time. An example of a well painted sculpture can be found in this stylish metal camel that has enameling together with paint.
  
• Enameling. Another manner by which you can customize your metal sculpture or mold is through enameling, which is fusing glass with metal. When glass is crushed to powder form, this can be used to decorate steel heating achieved by the use of a blow torch or a furnace. The result of enameling metal can produce very stylish designs or patterns that allow the molds or sculptures to come alive. An example of this can be seen in this beautiful pendant just below. 
  
• Embossing. For artists who want their sculptures to contain words or phrases, they must know how to emboss steel. Embossing is another way that artists can express themselves and it can be achieved through two activities. The first is by using male and female roller dies and through foil stamping. An example of embossing metal can be found in this fine door hanger below. 
  
• Etching. Etching metal is a very popular activity for many artists. This purpose of this activity is to design on metal surfaces by using strong acid to melt the surface. Etching is also another way that artists can add words on their metal artworks. An example of a metal art piece with etching can be found below.
  
• Polishing. For most metal artworks to look good, artists must polish their masterpieces. Polishing is a process that cleans metal surfaces by removing oxidation and other elements that cause rust. It also enhances the surface by making it look more shiny and luminous. For artists looking to sell their artworks for profit, they must ensure that they polish their metal masterpieces so it looks more professional and enticing to the naked eye. An example of a well-polished artwork can be found below.