The Green Zone
When I was starting into this adventure, I made a commitment to myself that I would strive to be as eco-friendly as possible. I don’t consider myself to be a tree-hugger, but in reality, being green is not all that difficult, and it’s a lot like just being responsible. It just takes some thought and a little effort.
I create my patterns using plastic. All plastic waste, except for shavings, is recycled. All water used in the clean-up process is reused in the yard. All paper used in the pattern making process is recycled. I don’t use any harsh chemicals in my patinas. Approximately 95% of all waste that is created as a by-product of my work is recycled. Cast iron itself is made primarily from recycled materials.
In exchange for all of this environmental consciousness, Mother Nature rewards me with, well.... rust. My pieces are completed, fully assembled, coated with pickle juice to accelerate rust growth (how is that for repurposing?) then left in the back yard and allowed to continue rusting. Usually they are kept wet by Mother Nature (not a big challenge in the Northwest). Failing that, I turn a sprinkler on them, and water both them and the grass. I get rust and the grass gets a drink! The resulting rust gives the iron a natural patina as well as warmth and depth.
To finish the works, I coat them in linseed oil (aka Flaxseed oil). After the linseed has partially dried, I toss the whole casting on a semi-custom BBQ and give it a good roasting. I like my castings cooked to between medium and very well. Just like seasoning a fry pan, the heat bakes the linseed into the pores of the metal. The linseed also burnishes as it bakes. The resulting finish varies from a caramel brown to dark chocolate; just like my steaks. This is a very simple and natural way to get a warm patina, without the use of any harsh chemicals.
I believe that being green, or being responsible if you will, echoes the beliefs and lifestyle of those who carved these petroglyph figures into stone. The indigenous peoples of North America were responsible with the few things that were given them. They had little, but they made the most of it. In that spirit, I try to do the same with my art.
