Sculptor Creates Mind-blowing Animals From Old Farm Equipment
My God this guy's fantastic! He's from the Dakota and Sioux Indian lands of South Dakota. Where the bison once roamed in the hundreds of thousands.
It's ranch country now. He takes old rusty tools and parts of machinery that were used to raise the crops and feed the country, cuts gears and discs, welds shovels and chains, shocks, and rusty sheet metal.
The basics are taken from scrap piles and machinery but then he sometimes adds eye-catching modern pieces or items. The results are magnificent works of art. Many are life sized, some are twice life size. All are stunning.
This photo shows the size!
Check out all the stuff he put on the shoulder of this Texas Longhorn steer:
I think horses are his favorite, here he is with a great one. I like the way he dug a furrow to make it look like he was actually plowing!
Look at all the forks he used in the neck and that big spoon for the nose!
Do you see the two horses welded into this one?
Here he's building that big plow horse:
Hill City, South Dakota purchased this next one for their city, she's called Iron Horse. Cowboys rolling by with their horse trailers say their horses actually whinny when they see Iron Horse!
This bison was installed in France this year:
Mr. Moose is going to New Hampshire to be installed:
Hugh Glass
One of the most amazing stories of survival is that of the famous frontiersman, explorer, trapper and Indian fighter Hugh Glass. He was attacked by a grizzly bear just 12 miles South of where this sculptor lives in South Dakota..
Glass fought off the grizzly with his knife and his bare hands and the bear was killed but Glass was so badly mauled that his friends thought he was beyond saving.
So they took his knife, gun, and belongings and left him for dead. But he didn't die. He couldn't walk so he mostly drug himself and crawled 200 miles through the wilderness back to civilization.
The movie The Revenant is based on his story of survival and revenge on those who left him for dead. This sculpture was commissioned for the Hugh Glass Park where you can hear the tale of Glass's amazing trek and adventures.
South Dakota is where the largest T. Rex was uncovered so the artist decided to build one but he invited the paleontologist who unearthed her to consult with him on proportions, stance, and things like that.
The paleontologist brought with him some of the tools they used in the excavation so they were also welded into the sculpture. She was bought by Ripley’s Believe It or Not! in San Francisco, California.
He also does birds:
And Rhinos:
And this thing:
Shoot, this man can build anything. His name is John Lopez:
Out of all the sculptors I've seen..I think he's my favorite.
How he incorporates all the different parts and tools to create perfectly proportioned sculptures is just astounding. You can read more about his work on his site here.
“I collect the iron from local ranchers and farmers I knew as a kid. My family and friends are more than happy to help out… I get my ideas from my life, the ranch, our history here, the animals around our area.” source
I'd dearly love to have one of those bison but I reckon it's the kind of deal where if you have to ask how much they are..you cain't afford it!
Thanks so much for stopping by folks, God bless you all!
-jonboy
Texas
Wow those are amazing - and thanks for another totally engrossing post
You might like this:
https://www.steampunkoamaru.co.nz
Oh, very creative and skillfully done indeed, thanks so much frot!
These are pretty cool. There's a guy here in my State that does similar...Uses bits and pieces from all over to create his work...Pretty amazing...Here's a couple images. Different to yours, but similar I guess.
Yes sir, very similar! Wow, these artists are just amazing. Incredible. That helmet is excellent and he built it with so many small pieces. Thanks for sharing these!
So many creative people out there...This piece I sent is pretty cool though huh?Same as the ones in your post. Imagine the mind of the person that sees it then has the ability to bring it to life.
I know, and the proportions are so perfect! Does that guy do animals too?
Hey, I just saw Australia on the news tonight! Smoke from the wildfires are choking Sydney and then that vocano eruption in NZ!
I think he does yes...All sorts of things really.
Yes, my sister lives in Sydney. Her work sent everyone home yesterday, smoke was choking them. The wildfires we have hear are pretty bad. No real good ones anywhere though I guess.
Several Aussies died in that volcano too...Many burner badly too. Kinda sucks.
I don't think of Australia or NZ when I think of volcano activity! Some serious stuff and I know the wildfires and drought have been going on for years.
I just saw an article yesterday about three 12 yr old kids who were caught starting a bunch of wildfires down there.
Yes, we have some serious issues. I think with people in the States they have so much going on around them they don't think outside of the country too much. Something happening in little old Australia doesn't take priority maybe. It's just how it is. 275 million of you guys up there so a lot going on.
Yes, kids start the fires, even firefighters sometimes, looking for a fire to fight. It happened a few weeks ago.
Yes sir I saw that too, where a firefigher was charged with setting fires. I agree. We're 330 million bytheway. What is Australia?
Would be so impressive to actually see these sculptures janton. They are amazing and yes "My God" is a most appropriate term to use.
Well I am a little biased because of the many bison and horses that he does, two of my favorite animals and besides he's a cowboy. lol...but still, anything he does is just spectacular in my opinion and I'm so glad you like them too!
Such imagination and creativity! These are all great!
Howdy Melinda! I agree, I think they're fantastic but then I love bison and horse statues already so I'm a little prejudiced.
Hey, @janton.
Pretty amazing. They must take weeks or months to put together. He's got to fit them together like a jigsaw puzzle without the benefit of each piece having been cut from the same board.
So, he's got to see not only the finished product, but how to get there with the pieces he's given. That's talent, and there's a vibrance and vitality to it all, too.
Howdy sir glen! I agree, I'm so glad you are very impressed with his work also. I know how to weld things but getting the proportions perfect and with so many cool elements is a special gift! How are things going with you?
Oh, plugging along. :)
This has the makings of a light work week, so maybe I'll be able to do a little more here with a little more free time, which I will then probably regret when the paycheck arrives.
Last month was kind of like that, so we'll have to see. Not having a lot to do every Wednesday like it was before a couple of places on the coast had machines removed is not helpful.
Oh, I'm sorry to hear about the lightening of your schedule. Maybe they'll have new places to fill those empty spots in at some point. Do you guys get a few days off for Christmas or is it busier than ever for the machines since more crowds of people are out?
I know we will have Christmas Day off, but work the day before and after. It falls on another short week, though, which is good, since I won't have to do too much to make up for it.
I don't know what things will be like since this is the first Christmas, but there has been a general uptick in machine usage after the weather turned to cold and rainy, so I would anticipate that to continue throughout the winter into the middle of spring. Right now, it's mostly the weekends when school is out that things tend to get busy, but I imagine Christmas break will see an increase during the two weeks off, too, although it's also possible that parents will want to hold onto their money for gifts.
We shall see.
Very interesting. I bet it is very busy on the Christmas break which is good for business but one day off isn't much, good thing it's a short week.
Astounding, can't imagine how much work goes into each of these.
Howdy sir feengen! I agree, the skill level is off the charts, I think it's a true gift. I see you are from Chile, I'm so sorry to see so much unrest going on there and hope that positive things will come out of it.
Most definitely, it's a necessary process as people have been largely abused by the government. Thanks for your good wishes!
I hope they can force some good changes then!
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Wow.. this is magnificent. .
Howdy aneio! I agree, I think it's spectacular.
You continue to amaze with your unique finds.
Howdy sunlit7! Thank you, actually Mrs. J. found this one while she was going through her facebook page. She never posts anything but she likes the variety of things people post so anyway she says Wow look at this! lol.
Stunning - I will not know where to start. Love the steampunk type of art.
Howdy today anneke! I agree, I'm so impressed with this guy..but then I'm a little prejudiced because he's a cowboy and horses and bison are two of my favorite animals.
Ooh I do like them too........ the horses and the cowboys haha