Welded sculpture evolved as an art-form in the 1930s as artists began to adapt an industrial method for aesthetic purposes.This historical survey explores the plentiful and varied approaches to sculpture possible through welding and its companion processes. Many twentieth-century artists have produced a prestigious body of welded sculpture, often contributing to the development of this method by experimentation.With its strong European artistic roots, welded sculpture has transcended several 'isms' and trends, by-passing ephemeral styles and marketing mechanisms. This book presents a detailed examination of a technique, its artist exponents, and its associated social and political milieux over the last three quarters of the twentieth century. It records and comments on the history of welded art as it has occurred in our time, contributing to and expanding artistic parameters.Artists featured in this book include Pablo Picasso, László Moholy-Nagy, Harry Bertoia, Phillip King, Anthony Caro, Lynn Chadwick and Eduardo Paolozzi, to name but a few.

This extraordinary seven-part book covers the processes of creating 13 projects -- from pencils to vases to bicycles -- for all personalities, skill levels and interests. It is specifically designed for students, beginning welders, hobbyists, and do-it-yourselfers. Many of the plans have been built multiple times by students and others. The plans are easy to read and the projects are meant to motivate the reader to want to learn the welding and fabrication processes. All plans include a list of materials, dimensions, special notes as needed., plus any commentaries about special equipment that might be necessary to compete the projects.

In this generously illustrated guide, newly revised and updated, a well-known American sculptor shares his forty years of experience working with welded sculpture techniques. Nathan Cabot Hale begins with the basic assumption that it is necessary for a sculptor-welder to have the same professional skills as a good job-welder. To help readers gain those skills, he demonstrates both traditional and comparatively new welding methods step by step, including the oxyacetylene technique in modeling small-scale figurative sculpture. Mr. Hale first discusses the basic tools and techniques of welded sculpture, then addresses the construction of abstract and organic shapes and modeling solid figures. This is followed by detailed coverage of finishing techniques, arc welding, and welding large-scale commissioned works. He even dispenses helpful practical advice on the economics of fine art — exhibiting work, staying alive, searching out public and private support, and more. Over 80 helpful diagrams and more than 100 photographs accompany the text, demonstrating techniques and procedures and depicting works in progress as well as finished works. In a new chapter written specially for this edition, Mr. Hale shares the heartening artistic philosophy he has developed over his long and distinguished career. Sculptors at many levels of accomplishment will find his book instructive and inspiring.

With simple techniques targeted to a wide and general audience, this guide eliminates the intimidation from an all-too-often technical craft.