Phoenix rises from the ashes!

Earlier this year I was asked to do a commission and transform some rusted farm machinery that was wasting away under a grand old tree into a sculpture with the theme of Divesting. The machinery was originally used on the same property for cultivation in an Avocado plantation some years ago.

The property was being sub-divided to sell and also housed an old shed with loads of rusty bits and pieces, I was asked to have a rummage to see if anything else I might need add to the piece before the property sold. Not being one to offend, I happily rummaged...

Here is the farm machinery part - majorly heavy as, I might add!

I am presuming these were the discs to plow the fields...

After living with the machinery for a bit and changing it at different angles, it wasn't long before I saw a Phoenix, it was clear as ever, even fitting in with the theme Divesting. Ofcourse the plow discs the wings!!! Again one of those spontaneous happenings that are meant to be, and a day out from bringing the pieces home I found the brazier (below) at an op shop which I could see as being perfect for the body, as you'll see below...

Taking shape, an image from behind the brazier is now in place, the wings are welded on and a tail is in the making.

A detail of the beak, as is!! I couldn't have formed this even better if I'd tried, nature at its best with its own way of sculpting to perfection!

The Phoenix rises from the ashes!!!

A lucky find - the legs, aren't they awesome? No, I can not take credit for these....someone else had a passion for sculpting with rusted materials, I saw these at the tip some years ago and I just had to have them, I knew I'd use them one day and this was their day of beckoning!

The Phoenix - complete for its new home.