Making Art With Fire
There is magic in using fire to make steel pliable and work it into forms not possible without it.
Simple tools; a forge, hammer, anvil, tongs and other tools made by the smith are the beginning. The possibilities are endless.
The Search for Imperfection.
Forging metal is not the same as machining or fabrication
A blacksmith is not bound by precise measurements, perfect alignment, close tolerances. With practice & confidence metal is forged; observing how the metal mass moves, marks left by the hammer & vision for the final forging. There are opportunities for happenstance and artistic inspiration during the forging progress to effect the overall aesthetics and final design of a forging.