LeBaron's Metalwork Sampler

At first glance it may seem that beam hewing, stonecutting and metalworking demand very different techniques and skills. In actuality, all three crafts have much in common. Each requires masterful use of widely varying tools as well as an understanding of the material upon which the work is done. A common link between them is that all three disciplines require, at times, heavy, hard-swinging labor and strenuous effort.

A light touch is needed to create strands of timothy hay in brass.

In contrast, another link is that at other times a light touch and great patience are essential. That is the pleasure of such work--to use great force to bring a project to a certain point and then, as it nears completion, to work with increasing focus on accuracy and detail. That is true whether the task at hand is beam joinery, the finishing of a fragile corner on a granite archstone or the engraving of intricate patterns on delicate metal art.

A wall piece of irises and hummingbird in steel and brass.

The final phase of any project, regardless of the discipline, requires great care, for the labor of hours or even days can be lost in a careless moment.

copper and steel grapevine wreath--This work demanded control of a variety of tools and techniques.

The photos on this page present a wide range of metalwork. The creation of these works involved the use of a variety of materials, tools and skills.

Hills in brass, copper and steel--This piece has an especially soft, burnished look.

I find the study of natural forms and attempts to reproduce them in a variety of metals to be especially satisfying. Each work illustrated here involved the solution of problems unique with respect to both metal and form.