Pike and Piranaha

[strada]

Decided to have a crack at some fish,so decided on a pike to start.
Made out off 1mm sheet.
I think it turned out ok.
Then came the piranaha.Both were finished in antiqueing fluid.(Thats strange stuff to use) then a coat of jade oil to finish.

 

[matt1978]

Well done looks great

 

[ChrisJ]

Looks Amazing well done I would love to be able to make stuffs like that

 

[Badger1bear]

Bl**dy excellent, I admire the talented metal artists on this forum wish I had the time to be creative

 

[andy m]

Excellent, I saw some stuff like that but on a bigger scale I mean a Gorilla and Horse at Malvern spring garden show last year. Not cheap.

 

[chunkolini]

Nice work, the fins on the piranha are particularly good with the tatty edges.
The mountings work well, they are a feature not stuck on extras. I hate the 'sculpture on a pole' thing.
Antiquing fluid? I have seen this for sale what does it do?

 

[strada]

Antiquing fluid? I have seen this for sale what does it do?

Drives you bloody mad,thats what it did to me anyway
I bought a bottle of brown and black from j penny ,mix it 10:1 with water or is it 1:10 ( might be why it drove me mad )
Anyway it gives a nice copper/brownish colour.Prep surface with pre treatment to get rid o grease etc...and apply with sponge,it starts to work straight away.Once its reached the desired colour rinse with water to stop the chemical reaction.
The camera hasnt really pick up the colours.
When the colour went to dark in places,i just give it a very light rub with emery.Still alot to learn with this stuff,like how to mix it right

 

[pondman]

Looking great Strada!!

Your really pushing on and creating some awesome stuff!! Do you do it in your spare time at work or home? look like a lot of fiddly detail, the best way

 

[pondman]

Really like the piranha, the face has a real character about it! I'm not sure why I like scary looking metal sculpture so much,

 

[strada]

Thanks for the kind words pondman.
Im currently making them in my spare time,which i have alot of due to redundacy.Just keeping my hand in so to speak.
Would love to do it for a living though,but not got the balls to try

 

[brightspark]

Thanks for the kind words pondman.
Im currently making them in my spare time,which i have alot of due to redundacy.Just keeping my hand in so to speak.
Would love to do it for a living though,but not got the balls to try

if your allready making them and u have the time your part way there get some sold on and see how it goes u cant loose . nice job by the way

 

[strada]

if your allready making them and u have the time your part way there get some sold on and see how it goes u cant loose . nice job by the way

Your right what you say,but my biggest worry would be having regular money coming in weekly/monthly.
Dont think there are that many people making a living out of it,or i might be wrong.Gonna end up in a factory again,that thought fills me with dread

 

[chunkolini]

Have a go at selling them, nothing to lose, who knows what might happen.
Selling art is a very difficult game, galleries generally charge extortionate commission.
Not being a proper 'artist' whatever that means will go against you in some people's eyes. Cobblers to them.
Try fleabay, I had a lucky break doing this when I started out. Some guy bought a couple of things then cleaned me out, bought me e Mig welder and fancy pants mountain bike and made me realise that this stuff can work.
On fleabay you will competing with underpriced tat and absolute garbage.
Never try and compete on price. Your work is good and worth paying for. You just have to be spotted by the right person.
Price it at what you think it is worth, and creep the price up.
I once made a mistake and put something up at 4x the price I meant and it sold.
Try sending photos off to angling mags?
Float around local galleries and talk to owners, some are rip off merchants, some love art.
Be cheeky and proactive, oh and try and keep a positive head on.
Give it a go.

 

[strada]

Thanks chunkolini,your post makes alot of sense and also means alot,
I have a few ideas just about getting some stuff displayed to start and if they sell so be it.Thinking of putting the fish on a aquarists site and offering to do fish of their choice.Im really chuffed with the comments from you and the rest of the guys on here,its a great confidence builder.Like you say its finding the right person or outlet to get started.

 

[chunkolini]

Barking up the right trees there.
People like this stuff and love commissioning work.
A maddening process but I really enjoy it. The best stuff is almost always someone else's idea.