Metalsmith BenchTalk Past Favorites with Steve Shelby from Shelbyvision

This Thursday, January 23rd at 3 p.m. PDT, we'll be going back into the MetalSmith BenchTalk archives. We'll be re-airing one of our favoite chats from 2013 with metalsmith Steve Shelby from Shelbyvision, Artistry in Metal: metal sculpture and hollowware, metal art, and metal craft.
 
About Steve: I have been working with metal in one way or another for over 35 years. First, with jewelry, then as an employee of Fox Products Corp., where I worked for 23 years making the metal parts for the contrabassoons. During this time I learned a lot about making tools and jigs, and that with persistence almost any problem can be solved. 
 
My metal art is a synthesis of my love of nature and my love of working with metal.  I have made every effort to create honest designs, so that design and construction are thoroughly integrated. I'm not part of any "movement", and pretty much ignore what other artists are doing, which means that my designs have an originality mostly free from outside influence. My inspiration comes directly from nature.
 
My 3D computer art is something I got into in a big way as a hobby for a few years, but I have not done anything with it for a few years. It is very time-consuming, and I made the decision that the time would be better spent working on my metal art.
 
I live in rural Northeastern Indiana with my wife, Bobbie. We have four grown children. I have 20 acres of former worn-out farmland, most of which is being allowed to return to nature. I have a large pond for fishing and a smaller watergarden pond with water lilies, lotus, and goldfish. I like to take breaks from work and wander the grounds, observing the wildlife, sometimes taking pictures.
 
For more info, visit http://www.shelbyvision.com.