Metal Art - Get Creative With Metal

The allure of creating something beautiful out of something discarded attracts many amateur and professional artisans to the craft of metal art.  Windmills made from tin cans, artificial bonsai trees made from steel wire, and even angels made out of old car engine parts are just a few of the artistic possibilities.  Many hobbyists would refer to this sort of art as scrap metal art, junk art, or even recycling art.  Whatever you call it, and whatever your skill level, this form of artistic expression can be engaged in by simply combining an inspired idea, some raw materials, and a handful of techniques for manipulating the metals.  Amazing jewelry, wall hangings, sculptures, and other imaginative renderings are all possible with just some basic know-how.
 
Metal Options
 
For a new entrant into this pastime, a trip to the local junk yard will likely yield more than enough raw materials.  Look for items that are easy to tote back to your home, that are rust-free, and preferably clean.  The thinner and softer the metal, the easier it will be to manipulate.  Just about any type of metal will work - copper, brass, steel, aluminum, iron, and most certainly gold and silver. Many artisans enjoy mixing wood into their creative work to add a more earthy feel.  It's easy to accumulate more raw materials than are necessary for the project, so it's best to go hunting for materials with a clear idea of the end product.   The color of the metal is not important at this stage.  Special paint can be applied and baked on later. 
 
Metal Manipulation Techniques
 
This craft's most skilled artisans often command the ability to weld and to cut metal using a professional torch.  While a novice may not have the ambition to learn such skills, there are a few easy techniques such as using a soldering tool or a metal grinder that can be mastered in an afternoon. Most newcomers rely simply on hand-shaping their items and by adding a few nuts and bolts here and there.  Metal casting is an advanced, and slightly risky, technique that is popular within this art form.  With metal casting, the hobbyist creates a mold from a material known as green sand, heats the chosen metal in a furnace, and then pours the liquid metal into the cast.  The outcome is a perfectly cast work of art.  Many hobbyists are attracted to this ancient metallurgical technique purely for the exhilaration of working with liquefied metal. 

Source : Ezinearticles