Mixed Metal Art by Granite

About Granite

Granite was born in the Northeastern United States but spent his formative years in the Midwest, where he was deeply immersed in the regional field of aircraft production. He pursued a degree in Aerospace Engineering, which led to a successful career in the industry. Today, he lives and works in Kansas, continuing his contributions to aerospace engineering.

Despite his technical training, Granite always had a strong connection to the Arts, a passion fostered by his mother who introduced him to oil painting at a young age. This artistic inclination persisted throughout his education, as he took numerous Art courses to fulfil elective requirements for his engineering degree. For many years after graduation, he dedicated himself solely to oil painting, finding solace and expression through the medium.

Granite's transition from painting to sculpture happened by chance. A surplus of railroad spikes from a construction project sparked his creativity and led to his first sculptures. This serendipitous encounter with discarded materials marked the beginning of a new artistic journey. Granite found a way to repurpose these spikes, using them as the primary medium for his sculptures, supplemented occasionally by other scrap metals.

Railroad spikes, designed to secure tracks for safe and reliable train travel, often end up discarded and left to rust. Granite saw potential in these abandoned materials, transforming them into art pieces that not only reclaimed their use but also prevented environmental degradation. His work with railroad spikes distinguishes him within the realm of found metal sculpture, despite the material's inherent challenges. The rigid shape of railroad spikes limits their manipulability, posing a challenge for creating realistic forms. However, Granite's engineering background provided him with the technical skills to push the boundaries of what could be achieved with these materials. Over the years, he has honed his techniques, achieving a remarkable level of realism in his sculptures that sets his work apart.

Granite's journey from aerospace engineering to Art embodies a fusion of technical precision and creative exploration, resulting in unique sculptures that breathe new life into discarded materials. His work not only showcases his artistic talent but also reflects a commitment to sustainability and environmental consciousness.

The Process of Creating Recycled Metal Sculptures

Idea to Medium - Every sculpture begins with an idea, whether it’s the artist’s vision or a client's request. This concept undergoes varying levels of planning, from detailed sketches to simple photographs or even no physical references. While marble, clay, and metal all follow this principle, my approach to metal sculptures typically involves minimal detailed sketches. I rely mainly on photographs as initial references, using them to check completed work as the sculpture takes shape.

Mixed Metal Sculpting - Using mixed metals can involve brand new, recycled, or found objects, either individually or in combinations. New metal, such as sheet metal, must be fully manipulated into the desired form—a topic for another discussion. Recycled or found metal pieces are often chosen because they already resemble parts of the intended sculpture. For instance, creating a lobster sculpture required finding recycled metal objects that could serve as its body, claws, and tail. The perfect segment for the lobster’s abdomen, found in an architectural reclamation shop, turned out to be an antique roller coaster wheel cut in half.

Railroad Spikes as Medium - Railroad spikes can be used in their original form or manipulated by cutting to the desired shape. For my HAND Sculptures, almost all spikes are altered. The heads of the spikes are cut off and repositioned to form knuckles, and the shanks are shortened for the fingers. Despite these modifications, it remains evident that the sculptures are crafted from railroad spikes. This approach not only highlights the inherent beauty of the material but also repurposes it in a creative and environmentally conscious manner.