Synopses & Reviews
In this generously illustrated guide, newly revised and updated, a well-known American sculptor shares his forty years of experience working with welded sculpture techniques. Nathan Cabot Hale begins with the basic assumption that it is necessary for a sculptor-welder to have the same professional skills as a good job-welder. To help readers gain those skills, he demonstrates both traditional and comparatively new welding methods step by step, including the oxyacetylene technique in modeling small-scale figurative sculpture.
Mr. Hale first discusses the basic tools and techniques of welded sculpture, then addresses the construction of abstract and organic shapes and modeling solid figures. This is followed by detailed coverage of finishing techniques, arc welding, and welding large-scale commissioned works. He even dispenses helpful practical advice on the economics of fine art—exhibiting work, staying alive, searching out public and private support, and more.
Over 80 helpful diagrams and more than 100 photographs accompany the text, demonstrating techniques and procedures and depicting works in progress as well as finished works. In a new chapter written specially for this edition, Mr. Hale shares the heartening artistic philosophy he has developed over his long and distinguished career. Sculptors at many levels of accomplishment will find his book instructive and inspiring.
Unabridged Dover (1994) republication of Welded Sculpture, published by Watson-Guptill Publications, New York, 1968.
Synopsis
Profusely illustrated guide, newly revised, offers detailed coverage of basic tools and techniques of welded sculpture. Abstract shapes, modeling solid figures, arc welding, large-scale welding, and more. 196 illustrations.
Description
Includes bibliographical references (p. 201) and index.
Table of Contents
1 BASIC TOOLS OF WELDED SCULPTURE
Origin of tools
Basic tools
The nature of oxygen and acetylene
Regulators
Welding torch and tips
Cutting attachment and tips
Eyes and hands
Working clothes
Basic hand tools
Metal
Basic shop
Later additions
American Welding Society Safety Rules
2 BASIC WELDING TECHNIQUE
Setting up your equipment
Lighting the torch
Flame and heat control
Running the bead: exercise one
Running the bead: exercise two
Seams and joints
Pipe welds
Compound joints
Cutting metal
Welding various metals
Melting points and flux for various metals
3 CONSTRUCTING ABSTRACT SHAPES
Five categories of abstract shapes
States of form
Constructing geometric shapes
Constructing a cube
Constructing a tetrahedron
Coordinate planes
Constructing a globe
Constructing an angular free form
4 CONSTRUCTING ORGANIC SHAPES
Constructing an egg
Constructing a tree form
Constructing an onion
Constructing a clam
Fish form
A final note on the pitfalls of geometry
5 MODELING SOLID FIGURES
Tools
Armature
"Men, women, and children"
Filling in the volume
Modeling the torso: front plane
Back plane
Body contour
Head and neck
Position and movement
Arms
Hands
Positioning the arms
Feet
Bases
6 FINISHING THE SCULPTURE
Buyer's view
Cleaning bronze and nickel silver
Texture
Patinas
Cleaning and preparing steel
Basing with wood or stone
7 WELDED STEEL SCULPTURE WITH THE ELECTRIC ARC
Different types of arc welding
Clothing
Technique
Advantages of arc welding for the sculpture
Where the arc cannot be used
Making shapes
Found object sculpture
Geometrical sculpture
Finishing arc welded work
"The arc welding, shop"
8 WELDING LARGE SCALE COMMISSIONED WORKS
Clients
The design problem
Making preliminary designs
Client vs. artist
Making a sketch in metal
Estimating the costs of the commission
The contract
Making the scale model
Enlarging to full scale
Full scale armature
Installation
Ideas and beliefs build the cultural shell
9 SOME NOTES ON THE ECONOMICS OF FINE ARTS
Keeping yourself alive
Public and private support
The business of art
Exhibiting your work
10 GALLERY OF SCULPTOR-WELDERS
11 BEYOND THE CYCLE OF LIFE
BIBLIOGRAPHY
INDEX