A couple weeks ago I stopped into Foster/White Gallery to pick up a piece of art that I was shipping to Wayne Art Center for Craftforms 2011. The pieces for the Stone Series are going to be in their January group show and while I was there Jessica asked me if I could make some big free-standing pieces for the show.

“How big?” I asked.

“Oh, about this big,” she said holding her hand about 4 feet off the ground.

“Hmmm . . .” I replied.

I’ve been thinking about working bigger for about a year but have been limited by my materials. The peltex I use just won’t hold up to gravity at that size without being held up by something else, like, say, the wall. I’ve been thinking about taking a welding class to learn how to make steel frameworks for pieces. But getting a piece or two done for January does not include learning how to weld.

So, I called my friend Steve Anderson. Steve is a great guy, one of those gentle giants who can turn hard steel into graceful shapes. We met and I brought him two maquettes, each about 18 inches tall.

“This one will be four and a half feet tall and that one will be six feet tall. Can you do that? How much? How long will it take you?”

Once I heard details from Steve it was back to the gallery to find out if they think they can sell the pieces if we raise my prices to cover the welding. So far, so good.

It’s exciting to be embarking on this new journey of discovery. And with a short deadline during the holidays, of course, just to make it extra exciting. But it keeps me going back to the studio. It’s good to shake things up now and then.