Jack cutting apart bed box springs to use as steel welding rods for his newest steel sculpture, which Jack calls, appropriately, "Bedsprings."
This configuration permits Jack easier access to three different sizes of steel wire for welding the sculpture.
This is the wire stick figure for the Longhorn sculpture. Jack begins the artistic creation of every welded steel sculpture by forming a wire stick figure of the subject.
Jack begins to add welded pieces of wire to the stick figure in strategic locations. This is done to define the rough shape of the sculpture and serve as the basic framework of structual support, much like the bones of an animal's skeleton provides support.
The beginnings of a skull, neck and hooves are visible through the addition of many more small pieces of wire welded into place on the structural frame.
Even at this early stage, with Jack in the process of making a welded steel sculpture, the identifiable form of a Texas Longhorn takes shape.
Closer look at torso of subject from above with head to left, tail to right. Notice that the precision of the welds at this point is not critical, so long as there is a firm attachment at each end of the joining wire.
The hide of the Longhorn, here its face, is formed by melting steel wire to flatten and fill in the gaps of the previously welded support wires. This is the stage at which the precision of the artistic application is critical, for now the artist is forming the exterior surface of the sculpture.
In this closeup image of the face, the cross stitch pattern of small wire is visible. The mottled steel hide is formed over and within that cross stiched surface. Here, Jack is modeling in molten steel, utilizing gravity and the pressure of the gas flame to manipulate the molten steel much like one would manipulte molten wax with a hot tool.
In this closeup image, wire is seen wrapped around the frame of the horn to give it mass and contour.
Note detail of wire used to form body shaped lattice. Caps are placed over the sharp tip of each horn to reduce risk of accidental injury.
This image shows the gradual closure of spaces which existed between previously attached pieces of wire as the contours of the body are established.
Steel Sculpture of Longhorn Bull
Making Longhorn Bull Sculpture While Recycling Bed Springs
Left shoulder. The support wires are placed very close to each other and the "hide of mottled steel" covers the support wire.
Left hind quarter. The support wires are placed very close to each other and the "hide of mottled steel" covers the support wire.
Jack uses gravity and pressure from the flame to flow the covering layer of steel into position.
Bull sculpture is fully covered. Horns and hooves will now be finished out and a wood base will be added to complete this project.
Welded Steel Sculpture of Texas Longhorn Bull