Kevin Stone working on a metal sculpture in his workshop.
Kevin Stone (he/him)
Metal Sculpture Artist
Tungsten Studio Limited (Self-employed)
Learn About My Career
I design and build metal sculptures.
I was born/grew up in: Victoria, BC
I now live in: Chilliwack, BC
I completed my training/education at: I went to Camosun College in BC and did a trades education.
From the start of the project, and depending on the client, there are meetings, interviewing the client to fully understand their vision. Corporate clients have a set procedure and usually have an idea of what they want. They are very specific in what they want to bring their vision to life. There are detailed contracts that must be reviewed. There is procedural information and critical path/deadlines for the development of the piece. This will include information on travel, shipping, and installation. Adding another layer is the paperwork and details for work that is being shipped out of Canada.
The project begins with sketches, ideas, and photographs. Once everything is approved, we begin with a wire frame and making templates out of paper to cover the frame. All pieces are hand cut, bent, shaped, hammered and welded. There is a lot of problem solving along the way. Countless hours, heart and soul go into a piece of art.
Working as a welder requires you to use a lot of STEM skills. You use trigonometry, geometry, measure weights, and need to understand metallurgy. With the large-scale projects I work on, I work with engineers. Safety is the top priority. The sculptures need to be safe to handle and transport. They are engineered to come apart and then be assembled on-site using cranes. Plus, I consider how they will handle the natural elements. For example, will salt impact it and cause it to rust? To make sure the structure is safe, I must consider wind direction and speed, shear forces and more. The sculpture is anchored into a concrete base that is designed to handle the weight of the project and balance of the piece. There are lots of calculations and engineering design required! Add to this the demands of running your own business. For example, understanding material costs, ordering, managing employees, leases, accounting, and taxes require both STEM and people skills.
This is not at all what I expected to be doing when I was in high school. I have always been an artist, and originally thought I might be a cartoonist. Some of my friends were working in the shipyards as welders and making good wages. They were always the ones that had the financial means to do things: travel, cars. I was in-between jobs and on EI. It happened that EI was sponsoring a trades course. I took the welding program and started working immediately after my first year. Having a steady hand, along with hand/eye coordination and my natural creativity helped me to excel in welding. Plus, I really enjoyed doing it!
I have done lots of welding work. I’ve been an iron worker and worked on skyscrapers, and bridges. Then went into shop work and worked for BC Ferries. Then I changed gears and got into the food, dairy and breweries industry working with stainless steel. One of the companies I was working for asked me to build a sculpture for them. I worked at the back of the shop, mostly using scraps.
That first metal sculpture was a 6-foot-tall gargoyle. The piece got some attention. Soon investors and companies and wealthy private clients were approaching me to do special commissioned projects for them. I also owned a hotrod shop, building and maintaining cars professionally along the way. This helped pay the bills when the commissioned artwork was slow. But eventually, art took over full time and I sold the hotrod business.
I love what I do – but it can be stressful and exhausting at times. Challenging myself and seeing the work through to completion requires perseverance. These large-scale sculptures can take a lot of time. For example, the Drogon was a 2 year project, and it’s not done till it’s done! There is no variation in work till the project is complete. There’s no time off and working on deadlines can be hard on you mentally and physically. Often you have to learn as you go and not be afraid to try something. I do a lot of problem solving to make the art come to life. It is all worth it when the project is done, installed and you can enjoy a bit in the “show off” factor at the end. I enjoy being able to promote my work and talk about it through traditional and social media outlets.
I have always approached art to be larger than life. It should inspire people to be creative, to think outside the box, to do things that they don’t think they can do. Sparking the imagination in someone when they see these pieces is what I aim to do. The art brings people joy, contemplation, inspiration, and conversation. Each piece is one of a kind and will be around for hundreds of years. Creating these legacy pieces and being able to tell stories through art is an amazing feeling.
My wife and I like to do long tour travel (12 – 15,000 km) trips on our Harleys. Being in nature and the open air is such an amazing experience. My work sells internationally, and we are fortunate to travel to be part of the installation process. It is great to experience new places.
I also try to be involved in my community. I work with a local high school and just recently worked with a YouTuber on developing some how-to videos. People have an interest and want to see how it is done and tools used to create metal art. These videos have lots of instructions on shaping and structure. I hope that these videos will also be a useful tool for a classroom setting. It would be great to be able to have in-class courses in shop with hands-on training.
Sometimes it takes courage to be creative and follow your passion. Don’t let other people say no or discourage you. Pursue what you want to. The journey is not always a straight line, so be prepared to get thrown off course, or change course as opportunities arise. All the learning along the way sets you up for success. For those specifically interested in the metal arts get into the metal shaping part of the automotive business and learn to shape metal!
What I do at work
From the start of the project, and depending on the client, there are meetings, interviewing the client to fully understand their vision. Corporate clients have a set procedure and usually have an idea of what they want. They are very specific in what they want to bring their vision to life. There are detailed contracts that must be reviewed. There is procedural information and critical path/deadlines for the development of the piece. This will include information on travel, shipping, and installation. Adding another layer is the paperwork and details for work that is being shipped out of Canada.
The project begins with sketches, ideas, and photographs. Once everything is approved, we begin with a wire frame and making templates out of paper to cover the frame. All pieces are hand cut, bent, shaped, hammered and welded. There is a lot of problem solving along the way. Countless hours, heart and soul go into a piece of art.
Working as a welder requires you to use a lot of STEM skills. You use trigonometry, geometry, measure weights, and need to understand metallurgy. With the large-scale projects I work on, I work with engineers. Safety is the top priority. The sculptures need to be safe to handle and transport. They are engineered to come apart and then be assembled on-site using cranes. Plus, I consider how they will handle the natural elements. For example, will salt impact it and cause it to rust? To make sure the structure is safe, I must consider wind direction and speed, shear forces and more. The sculpture is anchored into a concrete base that is designed to handle the weight of the project and balance of the piece. There are lots of calculations and engineering design required! Add to this the demands of running your own business. For example, understanding material costs, ordering, managing employees, leases, accounting, and taxes require both STEM and people skills.
My career path is
This is not at all what I expected to be doing when I was in high school. I have always been an artist, and originally thought I might be a cartoonist. Some of my friends were working in the shipyards as welders and making good wages. They were always the ones that had the financial means to do things: travel, cars. I was in-between jobs and on EI. It happened that EI was sponsoring a trades course. I took the welding program and started working immediately after my first year. Having a steady hand, along with hand/eye coordination and my natural creativity helped me to excel in welding. Plus, I really enjoyed doing it!
I have done lots of welding work. I’ve been an iron worker and worked on skyscrapers, and bridges. Then went into shop work and worked for BC Ferries. Then I changed gears and got into the food, dairy and breweries industry working with stainless steel. One of the companies I was working for asked me to build a sculpture for them. I worked at the back of the shop, mostly using scraps.
That first metal sculpture was a 6-foot-tall gargoyle. The piece got some attention. Soon investors and companies and wealthy private clients were approaching me to do special commissioned projects for them. I also owned a hotrod shop, building and maintaining cars professionally along the way. This helped pay the bills when the commissioned artwork was slow. But eventually, art took over full time and I sold the hotrod business.
I am motivated by
I love what I do – but it can be stressful and exhausting at times. Challenging myself and seeing the work through to completion requires perseverance. These large-scale sculptures can take a lot of time. For example, the Drogon was a 2 year project, and it’s not done till it’s done! There is no variation in work till the project is complete. There’s no time off and working on deadlines can be hard on you mentally and physically. Often you have to learn as you go and not be afraid to try something. I do a lot of problem solving to make the art come to life. It is all worth it when the project is done, installed and you can enjoy a bit in the “show off” factor at the end. I enjoy being able to promote my work and talk about it through traditional and social media outlets.
How I affect peoples’ lives
I have always approached art to be larger than life. It should inspire people to be creative, to think outside the box, to do things that they don’t think they can do. Sparking the imagination in someone when they see these pieces is what I aim to do. The art brings people joy, contemplation, inspiration, and conversation. Each piece is one of a kind and will be around for hundreds of years. Creating these legacy pieces and being able to tell stories through art is an amazing feeling.
Outside of work I
My wife and I like to do long tour travel (12 – 15,000 km) trips on our Harleys. Being in nature and the open air is such an amazing experience. My work sells internationally, and we are fortunate to travel to be part of the installation process. It is great to experience new places.
I also try to be involved in my community. I work with a local high school and just recently worked with a YouTuber on developing some how-to videos. People have an interest and want to see how it is done and tools used to create metal art. These videos have lots of instructions on shaping and structure. I hope that these videos will also be a useful tool for a classroom setting. It would be great to be able to have in-class courses in shop with hands-on training.
My advice to others
Sometimes it takes courage to be creative and follow your passion. Don’t let other people say no or discourage you. Pursue what you want to. The journey is not always a straight line, so be prepared to get thrown off course, or change course as opportunities arise. All the learning along the way sets you up for success. For those specifically interested in the metal arts get into the metal shaping part of the automotive business and learn to shape metal!
When I was a student I enjoyed:
- Art
When I was a student, I would describe myself as someone who:
- Enjoyed working with my hands
- Liked being given free range to explore my ideas
- Felt at home in the outside, natural environment
- Was really creative
- Wasn't sure what I wanted to do
- Learned best "by doing"
- Liked to design or build things
Partners
CWB Welding Foundation
Let’s Talk Science appreciates the support of CWB Welding Foundation in connecting us with this individual.
The CWB Welding Foundation is a registered charity that works with partners to support and sustain the need for skilled welding and technology professionals and contribute to Canada’s economic prosperity. By creating a gateway to the skilled trades and welding-related professions, the CWB Foundation forges partnerships between industry, labour, education and government to enable the exploration, building and advancement of successful and exciting careers. The CWB Foundation offers education-based hands-on and virtual programs and initiatives and provides financial and technical program supports that reduce barriers affecting vital groups; elementary, secondary, and post-secondary students and educators, Indigenous peoples, women and the underrepresented. We encourage awareness and provide programs supporting access to career exploration regardless of identity factors, social and financial status and lived experiences, including gender, age, ethnicity, language, literacy, culture, income and geographical location.
Website: www.cwbweldingfoundation.org
Related Topics
Explore More Career Profiles
-
Brianna Lummerding
Career Profiles
Agronomic Innovation Manager
I look after all things related to soil management for a group of retailers. -
Li Tan (he/him)
Career Profiles
Molecular Lead
I coordinate the day-to-day operations in the DNA Extraction Lab. -
Tyler Morhart (video)
Career Profiles
Scientist, Beamline Responsible - SyLMAND
I am responsible for the SyLMAND beamline at the Canadian Light Source synchrotron facility. -
Li Tan (Video)
Career Profiles
Molecular Lead
I coordinate the day-to-day operations in the DNA Extraction Lab. -
Rashell Featherstone (she/her)
Career Profiles
Senior Program Associate
I coordinate projects for the development of new products at STEMCELL. -
Kira Hoffman (she/her)
Career Profiles
Postdoctoral Researcher/Fire Ecologist
I am a researcher at both a university and a not-for profit organization where I am gaining experience to become a senior researcher. -
Zoë Ehlert (Video)
Career Profiles
Manager, Marker Assisted Breeding
I lead a team that develops canola crops by breeding plants with traits we are looking for. -
Daniel Meister
Career Profiles
Master's Student, Kinesiology
-
Zoë Ehlert
Career Profiles
Manager, Marker Assisted Breeding
I lead a team that develops canola crops by breeding plants with traits we are looking for. -
Jennifer Baltzer (she/her)
Career Profiles
Professor and Canada Research Chair in Forests and Global Change
I work at a university, teaching students and conducting research on the impact of climate change on forests in Canada and around the world. -
Caitlyn Lyons (she/her)
Career Profiles
Ph.D. Candidate
I am working towards my PhD and studying the forests in the Northwest Territories. -
Joann Whalen
Career Profiles
Professor at the Faculty of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences,
I teach advanced courses on how to manage soils to produce healthy, nutritious food and maintain healthy ecosystem functions.