One of my favorite pieces

jackddavis · #1 12-12-2001, 11:57 AM

This critter is 2' long and 20" leg span. One of my favorites and fun to do. Unfortunately it was sold

. One of the most difficult things an artist has to do is part with the thing that he/she has poured heart and sole into. It did put food on the table though

diane555 · #2 12-12-2001, 03:14 PM

I spent years playing with these critters as a kid (yeh, I was an odd kid LOL) !!!

This is absolutely fabulous Jack! A smaller version would be great to put on the coffee table... Yep, that is the problem with art, ya wanna eat..sometimes ya gotta sell it eh? I don't think I could give up a mantid though. So, this piece is regular steel and heated to create the subtle colors in it? Heat forged or cold? (Trying to learn the lingo here) I am sure the owners of it are very happy with it. Good work Jack

Di

Rose Queen · #3 12-12-2001, 03:51 PM

I can see why it was one of your favorites and so hard to part with! The "oil slick" coloration is really effective. Bravo, Jack!

jackddavis · #4 12-12-2001, 04:06 PM

Yes, Di. It is all steel. Abdomen is forged hot in two halves and welded together then ground smooth. Long neck section is 5/8" round stock (solid). Head is solid with everything that doesn't look like a head ground away. Eyes are weld metal ground to shape. Wings are 1/8" sheet with veins ground in with die grinder. Four hind legs are four different sizes of round stock welded at the knees. Front legs are flat bar, cut to shape. Colors are, again, accomplished with heat from a torch. Clear coated.

It was really hard to part with this one. It was a real conversation piece. Shipped 3000 miles away to VA.

Jan-Michael · #5 12-12-2001, 05:34 PM

mine too... Kewl !!!!!!

mebucko · #6 12-13-2001, 01:50 PM

Jack, that's one heck of a good reproduction! I have to say that I (normally) don't like critters that are made for the garden, or patio, but you've definitely changed my mind on that! I love this, and I saw it on your site yesterday (yes, I finally got it working with Internet Explorer) and I thought that out of everything, this was my favorite. I also can't go the look of a gazing ball, not my taste, there again though, you changed my mind on the piece you made for your wife. Although it's not a 'gazing ball' per se', it has an arty look, that's not a tacky look. Well done, you're one of the (very) few metal sculpture artists that I 'really' like their work.
I also loved the spider web, not only was it intricate, you got that web look down, you did some homework.

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