Mountain Lion

MOUNTAIN LION

My winter project is completed.  The lion is made from one quarter inch rod.  660 feet.  Appx weight 120 pounds.  A lot of cold days spend outside my comfort zone!! Ha ha.

I made a preview model of the face and teeth out of clay on Christmas Day.  (Family gatherings are also outside my comfort zone!) He was completed the end of March.  If I didn't have to go to work it wouldn't take so long.

Head and mouth finished after preview in clay.

You can see the rod here.  The legs are at different stages.  The legs in the front are close to completion.  One in the back is blocked in and the other one is just bones!

Copper Bird Feeder

This copper bird feeder was recently finished.  It features a round tower with wrapping ivy vines, a bay window and a stone tower on the left side.  This has the same whimsical feel as the birdhouse in the previous post.  Also notice the feeder is being field tested.  Success.

 

And a view from the back that show the ivy and round stone tower.  The copper ivy is a nice addition with the ivy growing on the oak tree in the background,

 

A close-up of the round tower and ivy.

 

For my sculpture friends, here us a picture entitled, How did they do that?  This shows the stones being formed in the flat and the beginning of the window.  This will be hammered and rolled into a round tower and trimmed and brazed to the main structure.

 

 

Tim Summerville,  copper sculptor

timsummerville.com

 

 

 

Copper Birdhouse

 

 

Copper Birdhouse

Here is a recently completed birdhouse.  The base measures 6" x 6" and is 20" tall.  It was formed using no sharp corners.  All the design elements were formed by rolling the edges with a hammer.  This gives the piece a fairytale look similar to one that could be found deep in a dark forest.  Almost no layout lines were drawn and few measurements were used giving this sculpture a dream-like quality. 

This piece of art was made during the coldest part of winter and was a nice way to pass the days.  In  other words, I am caught up in my projects.  This gives me time to experiment.

This copper cottage features a flowering vine that is complete with one of my hummingbirds and a window with diamond grid.

 

 

Side View

This view shows the cottage window. This birdhouse will be installed on the front entrance of our house.  I presently have a sculpture of a heron and hawk and this will be a nice addition.

 

Please Enjoy,

Tim Summerville timsummerville.com

 

 

 

Copper Robin Weathervane

Yard Size Weathervane

Here is the beginning of a small size weathervane suitable for a backyard paradise.  The two halves are taking shape with one just a little farther along.

You can see the rough hammer marks necessary to create the shapes.  Extra copper will be trimmed and edges turned inward prior to brazing the body of the robin.

 

The Finished Vane

 

 

A temporary wooden block supports the vane in the picture. 

The robin sits on a natural branch with a vine wrapping around and through the elements of the vane.

This twisted vine has leaves and a freeform shape which adds a whimsical look.

 

The overall length of this vane is 26" or so I think.  There were no mechanical drawings prior to forming the copper.  This one was a gift so I had complete freedom in the design and I enjoyed starting with an idea of the bird and adding the branch and vines at a whim.

 

Tim Summerville

217-722-0827

Visit my website timsummerville.com

Copper Heron Standing is Finished

I would like to share a picture of the Standing Heron after it was finished and installed by the new owner.

The sculpture seems very much at home overlooking the pond.

During construction a stainless rod was added inside the support leg.  Then a threaded coupling was welded to the end of this rod at the bottom.
For the installation the new owner attached a long threaded rod to the coupling and then this was pushed deep in the ground.  

Visit my Website.
timsummerville.com

Standing Heron

Standing Heron

 

Standing Heron

I am working the knee of a standing heron.  I thought about making the bent leg in two halves, but decided if I brazed the lower section with the upper section of the leg I would have more control of the pose.  This seems to work nicely.  How about this, a copper heron with an artificial knee.

 

 

Close-up of the Knee

Temporary wires hold the pieces in place while adjusting the position of the leg.  This allows me to place the leg in a pose in relationship to the rest of the body.  In the straight leg there is a stainless steel rod that goes through leg and is anchored into the body.  This greatly increases the load bearing qualities of the copper leg.

 

Tim Summerville,  copper artist

timsummerville.com

 

 



 

Wild Caught Salmon - Finished

Wild Caught Salmon

Hi, Here are the finished pictures of the recent copper sculpture named "Wild Caught Salmon".  The wingspan is 5 ft. and is really heavy.  It is made from 20 oz copper sheet and is freehand hammered using no forms or purchased patterns.  If the wings were outstretched the measurement would be

6 1/2 ft.  The eagle is bolted to a natural distressed piece of hardwood that has been stained to compliment the copper.

 

Close-up

This eagle has just caught his lunch, "wild caught" and has landed on a piece of wood.  The body of this 12" salmon is slumped over and is being dragged over the perch.

 

 

Portrait

It is never finished until you stop and pose for your portrait and this is no exception.

 

 

 

I am including this pic for a sense of scale.  It is easy to say that the sculpture is heavy and is 5 ft wide but this tells the whole story.  Today when I was loading it in my truck someone stopped to get a better look.  Of course this ended with a quick tour and a preview of what is being hammered now.

Tomorrow the sculpture will be on display for our local arts week.

 

Now you are part of our local arts week.

Thanks Tim Summerville

timsummerville.com

 









Wild Caught Salmon #2

Wild Caught Salmon

There is a current picture of the full-size eagle that I am working on.  This sculpture is 5ft. wide and is quite heavy.  It is made from 20 oz. copper sheet with stainless steel frame inside the body and wings.  This has been considerably more work than I originally thought because the amount of copper sheet multiplies as the size increases.

 

As I look at this picture, I find plenty of humor.  Here is a "headless" artist that created a "headless" sculpture.  There's hope that soon the eagle will have a head, but not so much hope for the artist.

Who says that art isn't fun.

 

 

Close-Up of Eagle's Catch

Introducing Izzy, our Black Laborador dog.  It's hard to get an outdoor picture without her in the picture and this is no exception.  She alway is so interested on what I am doing.  On the right is the eagle's feet.  I especially like how the tail of the salmon is slumped over the mount.

 



 

 





More information as this sculpture is completed.  I have the wooden platform glued-up and ready to be cut into a 24" round base.  I have big hopes for this one.

 

 Tim Summerville and Izzy the dog

timsummerville.com

Wild Caught Salmon

 

Wild Caught Salmon

 

Hello on a Friday.  This is a quick blog to let you know what is current and still warm.

 

This is a special Friday edition.

 

Your boss has CERTIFIED that it is OK to waste work time on Friday afternoon looking at this blog.  Corporate realized that on Friday afternoon you need some personal time that is not listed on your timecard.  Just in case your employer did not get the e-mail...you might want to switch screens if anyone walks by your cubicle.

 

The full-size eagle is landing on one foot, body centered, talons gripping the wood branch.  The other foot is grasping a 12" salmon while the tail is raking over the branch.  The 12" salmon gives the viewer a sense of scale of this large eagle.  In other words "wow".

 

 Enjoy your weekend,

Tim Summerville

timsummerville.com

Eagle with Mouse

Eagle with Mouse

 This is the last of the eagle series.  This eagle has a 30" wingspan with talons gripping an antler that has been shed and is lying on the forest floor.  Most deer antlers that have been shed provide a meal for small rodents.  A mouse is using the antler as a quick hiding place.  I can only imagine the end to this story.   

 

A View from Behind

 

 

And the Side View

This is a nice picture showing the slowing action of the landing eagle.  The wings form a canopy and act as a brake to slow the eagle for landing.

 

I have always said, "The act of building something is greater than the ownership of it".  However I not sure now.  I really like this sculpture, but this one too, went to the gallery.



 

Tim Summerville, copper artist

timsummerville.com

 

 

 

 



Copper Eagle with Trout

Copper Eagle with Trout

This is the next in the eagle series.  This features the eagle's first movement of his wings just after catching the trout.  The wingspan of this eagle is 30" and is supported by a heavy walnut base. 

 

 

The Set-up

Each toe is made separate and brazed to the leg.  To begin with just a small tack braze holds each one to the leg.  The grip of the talons creates an indentation in the soft flesh of the trout.  The area around the base of the toes will be filled in with copper brazing filler rod.

 

 

 

Close up of the eagle feet during construction



The  leg is cut into strips near the end.  Then the toes are tack brazed to these strips.  The secret of this is to allow the feet to be adjusted and twisted to make a believable sculpture. 

 

Hopefully this will give some insight on the great mystery of "How". 

Tim Summerville    timsummerville.com

 

Golden Eagle Finished

 

Here are the finished photos of the Golden Eagle sculpture mounted on a distressed maple support attached to a base of burl maple.

Please enjoy.
Tim Summerville, copper artist    timsummerville.com

Golden Eagle Legs

Copper Eagle with a Clay Leg

To help visualize the beginning of the legs, feet and talons, a quick mock-up was made from clay and stuck to the copper body.  Could this be a new career path-plastic surgery?  Anyway this idea really helps because it forces you to think in completed forms and not just abstract thoughts.

 

 Mounted on Base

The first leg is centered under the body showing that it is using full strength of the one leg to launch from a twisted position.  Nature is not symmetrical.

I learned a lesson...keep your hands away from the hot flame of the torch and let metal cool before touching.  Yeppp I did that.      Tim Summerville   timsummerville.com

 

Starting the Golden Eagle

The Beginning of the Body

This is the very humble start of the Golden Eagle body.  Basically starting with an oversize piece of annealed copper sheet with a centerline drawn with a marker.  As this progresses the base of the wings will be added.  This will include the muscles that control the wings.  This is new to me and think this will be more accurate to include the muscles on the body and not on the ends of the wings.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Forming the Wing Muscles

The wing muscles are formed and the top of the body are fitted and tacked.  The opening shown is where the neck and head are joined to the body.  Hopefully all the copper will transition smoothly to the next.  If not....copper scrap is running $2.40 per pound.  This looks rather unconventional but it will work.  If this doesn't work there might be a long pause between blogs.

 

This eagle will have a wingspan of about 24" and even now I would like to have one myself.

 

                     Tim Summerville, copper artist      timsummerville.com

 

Mallard Finished

 

Mallard Finished

Please enjoy these nice large photos of the finished mallard duck.  The sculpture has been waxed and well illuminated. 

 

I learned one thing from this piece, "If it looks like a duck, walks like a duck and quacks like a duck, then it is probably a duck".                        Thanks,   Tim Summerville       timsummerville.com



Mallard Wing and Leg Detail

Primary Flight Feathers

The primary flight feathers are ready to be shaped to fit in the wing.  This is something new that I am trying, my thinking is that with individual feathers more curvature can be formed.  During flight these feathers show more deflection during the downstroke of the wing.  As the process of making the wing continues we will see if this works (actually I already know because the wing and mallard is done).

 

 

 

Starting the Leg

To help with the size, shape and placement of the leg, a paper mock-up was created.  This really helps because I can preview the finished copper.  There is probably a "mallard with a paper leg" joke but nothing comes to mind.  During the creative process sometimes we tend to get too serious.

 





This photo shows the underside of the wing completed.  There is hidded support metal inside the wing to strengthen it for mounting this bird outside in high winds.

 

All metals are silver\gray color...except gold and copper.    Tim Summerville

 timsummerville.com

Mallard Wings

First Wings

The mallard face is finished and the two body halves are joined.  When joining the halves together I start with the head, making sure the eyes are directly opposite when view from above.  In the past I have made this mistake and the position of the eyes were wrong...bad mistake, really bad mistake.  The head is relative small and there is little adjustment but the remaing body is larger and can be "tweaked" if needed. 

The tail feathers were drawn on paper, then transfered to copper, hammered into shape and then brazed on the mallard body.

Extra copper is left at the end of wing during the hammering process.  This extra copper is trimmed to fit around the mallard body  All wings are first created as a straight wing and then hammered to form a wing that is curved.  A flying bird's wing actually flexes during flight and this must be included to add realism to the copper.  This sounds like Bird Wing University.

                           Make Something out of Nothing, and Good Luck,  Tim Summerville

                                   Check out my Website:   timsummerville.com

Beginning the Copper Mallard

 

Beginning the Copper Mallard 

I have started a full sized hammered copper sculpture of a mallard duck.  This will be auctioned at the annual meeting of Ducks Unlinited.  It is my sincere hope there will be plenty of interest once this mallard is completed.  A photo album will accompany the mallard duck and will be given to the successful bidder.

This photo shows the very beginning of forming the body.  As the copper moves ridges of copper develop.  This are worked down, creating a more rounded body.

Copper has been trimmed close to shape around the body areas and extra copper is shown around the neck and head.  More refining will be necessary before the two halves are ready to be brazed together.

I think this will be a really nice sculpture and I would like one for myself.  It's amazing how the artist can identify with the artwork after hours of researching and planning.  Adding to this is watching the piece develop as each phase is completed.

Visit my website   timsummerville.com

Hummingbird scupture

Two Hummingbirds with Hollyhocks

The two hummingbirds with hollyhocks is finished and was delivered the their new home.  This picture is compliments of the owners and it is always nice to see the scuplture in its environment.

Hummingbirds Feeding

  Using this picture as a reference, this commission will create a copper sculpture of two hummingbirds feeding on the full blossoms of the Hollyhock stalks.

Work is proceeding nicely.  The two buds and three flowers are finished and being brazed the the tapered copper stem.  For effect I suspended a hummingbird in place while the clamp holds the lower flower.

 Plans are to make some lower leaves and mount this on a wooden base, making a nice table top sculpture.

Create Something...Visit my website.    timsummerville.com