……. and Maintenance
Every piece from my shop has been heated to forging temperature and shaped on the anvil. Hammer blows give a meaningful texture to the metal that flat black paint obscures.
surface detail - texture created by ball peen hammer
Unless specifically requested by a client, my work is finished with clear exterior lacquer and waxed or simply brushed with linseed oil and baked. Baked oil or lacquer & wax resist rust better than most paint jobs and show off the patina of hand wrought metal. The finish can be refreshed by wiping with a lightly oiled cloth from time to time.
If a piece is in a room where extremes of temperature are common, water vapor will condense on the cold metal in the warm-up phase of the cycle. Items exposed to rapid temperature shifts or extremes benefit from an annual wipe down with a bit of furniture polish (car wax or mink oil will also do the trick).
Most of my exterior sculptures are untreated. Rust is a natural colour that works well in a garden setting. Where rust is not desirable, other exterior finish options are available.