Location: United States
I started doing metal sculpture at a young age. My dad taught welding at Fresno City College and taught me to weld when I was eight. I started doing sculpture for Christmas presents when I was 15. People told me I should sell my work. So, off and on I did for 51 years. I do 2 types of sculpture, fabricated and bronze casings from a carved wax original. The fabricated work is done by hand and welded with a oxi-acetylene jeweler's torch. I use scrap metal, when I can. In recent years, It has gotten harder and harder to buy scrap, so I'm forced into buying new material, razing the price of the sculpture. The wax carvings are done using a combination of waxes including wax for jewelry.
For over 40 years, I have built roads for a living, so the sculpture had to take a backseat. One must usually take a straight job to support one's passion. Now that I am retired, I'm trying to get back into the art world at age 66. Back in the eighties, I placed sculpture in galleries along the California coast, from Morro Bay to Carmel, Monterey and as far north as San Francisco and Sausalito. Now, the internet has opened up the entire world.
I have a degree in Industrial Arts from Fresno State, where I learned the ancient art of lost wax casting and how to create from a wax form.
These are all very intricate pieces. All are bronze except for Whale Watch. It is cast into a 60 troy once silver piece.
This is a depiction of a large Manta Ray being ridden by a skin diver. It is cast in bronze with a off black patina on the Manta, the diver is jet black and the arms and base are a blue patina. The base is the bottom of the ocean, with rippled sand and curved organic looking arms, holding up the Manta. It is mounted on a solid oak base, with a name plate ( FLYING LOW by James A. Smith). This is the original, cast from a wax carving I did. There are molds to make a limited addition of copies as they are requested. The sculpture is signed by me in bronze and dated 2016. The original is $5000 and each numbered copy are $2000 per copy. The approximate dimensions are 21" long X 21" width and 11" tall.
This is a depiction of a 1700s whaling boat, being attacked by a Sperm Whale. It is very highly detailed, with little sailors bailing off into the water. It was very difficult for foundry to cast in bronze and very expensive. They told me I would have to cut up the original wax sculpture into many pieces to cast and there would be no guarantee. It came out beautiful and is a one of a kind with no copies. The approximate dimensions are 13.5 inches diameter and 9 inches tall. It is mounted on solid oak, with a name plate. The sculpture is signed by myself cast into the bronze with the date 2016. I want $5000 firm.
It is a depiction of a Blue Whale breaching suddenly next to a fishing boat, startling the captain. It's a very highly detailed piece, done in traditional bronze. The foundry made me cut the wax original into many pieces to be cast, with no guarantee it would come out. I could not be happier the way it came out. It was very expensive, but it was worth it. The approximate dimensions are 13.5 inches in diameter and 9 inches tall. It is mounted on solid oak with name plate. My signature is cast into the bronze on this one of a kind sculpture, with the date 2016. I'm asking $5000 firm since I have so many, many hours of carving in the original wax.
This sculpture was carved in wax in 1989. It depicts Valdez harbor before the oil spill. There are 2 Sea Otters and a Pelican in this nature seen. This sculpture won second place overall in the fine art sculpture division of the Fresno District fair that year. It is signed in bronze and is a one of a kind, mounted on hard wood with name plate. I want $3000 firm.
This is the only one in this collection that is cast in sterling silver, all 60 troy ounces. The sculpture is mounted on a block of walnut 8" x 8" x 2.5". The sculpture is approximately 5.5" x 2.25" tall. It is an intricate fishing boat, turning to see a whale tail going under the water. I carved and cast this piece myself at CSUF. Many, many hours went into this piece. I'm asking $3000 firm.
This is one of my favorite sculptures. It's comprised out of steel, brass and copper. There is a funky captain at the helm to add to the fun. The approximate dimensions are 15" tall and 10" long and 8" wide. I want $1000 firm.
When my daughter was born in 1977, I did this sculpture. It is somewhere in the tropics, with no worries or cares. It has furniture in the shacks and is lit up with new batty powered LEDs in little lamps and a light in the wood stove. NFS my daughter would have a fit if I ever sold it.
This is a intricate and very funky boat in my style. With a steel hull, brass ocean and copper sails, it is one of my favorites. There is a funky captain at the helm, made from molten metal. It has 3 mast and multiple sails. The approximate dimensions are 25" long x 10" wide and 21" tall. $1000 firm
Made from steel and stainless steel, covered in phosphorescent paint, with 2 real surge jet motors, almost make it believable. Many years ago, a friend of mine gave me the 2 surge jets. They are way to loud to fire up in my neighborhood, so, now they are a sculpture hanging on a wall. The approximate dimensions are 32" x 18" x 8". $1000 firm
It's a very nice fishing boat, docked at a rickity old pier. There is a blank sign where the new owner could put their family name. It is done realistic but with some funk added. Fashioned out of mild steel and brass, it would look nice in someone's office. The approximate dimensions are 21" x 16" x 16" tall. $800. firm
Mary was my Mother-in-law. When she died, I got the sculpture back. NFS
This one is one of my all time favorite pieces. It's fashioned out of mild steel and is the epitome of my style. There are 2 men on the ship made from molten metal. The sails and rigging are pure fantasy. It is wired with 3 amber LEDs that are battery operated for No Cord. With continual use, the batteries should last 2 weeks. There is a lamp on each deck and one in the crow's nest. The approximate dimensions are 32" tall x 28" wide and 9" deep. It hangs on the wall. The battery compartment is hidden on the back of the ship. $1200 firm.
This is a large hanging ship that needs to be anchored to a stud in the wall. It is mainly mild steel with brass ocean underneath. It has a 2 man crew, made from molten metal. Each deck and crow's nest has a neon light wired in with the typical flicker of neon. This one plugs in to 110v-120v. typical USA household wiring. The approximate dimensions are 5 feet tall x 3 feet wide and about 10" deep. I will miss this one on my own wall. $2500 firm.
A trip to San Francisco made this one come alive. Comprised mainly in copper. Dimensions are 4" wide x 12" long. $550 firm.
This is the best funky pirate ship I ever built. This was built in the month of May this year. It is very intricate with 12 cannons blazing. I was so happy after I finished this one, I started to cry, it meant that much to me. There is a 2 man crew and a arm out the back porthole airing out his shorts. The picture just does not do this one justice. It is very, very intricate. Approximate dimensions are 32" tall x 24" long x 20" wide. $1200 firm
This is a self standing sculpture of a half motorboat, half sailboat, done in my style. There is the captain at the helm and a sailor half way up the latter to the crow's nest. This ship is highly detailed and has a total of 12 sails and a crane on one side to scavenge the seven seas. When I look at this boat, I can almost see it moving threw the water and hear the putt, putt, putt of of it's ancient marine motor. The approximate dimensions are 32" tall, 12" wide and 27" long. $1200. USD.
The ship haul is coming right out of the very wall you hung it on. The front of the ship and 2 mast are showing. There is a LED in the crows nest, one on the main mast, and 2 LEDs lighting the deck. The power is supplied by 3 volts, of 2 "D" cell batteries contained in the ship's haul. There is a toggle switch for off and on. These batteries should last quite long time. The approximate dimensions are 42" tall, 16" wide and 14" deep. It is not very heavy and can be hung with one small nail into a stud. $1000 USD.
This is a lighted pirate ship, with 4 amber LEDs on the deck, crows nest and top of each mast. The ship is coming out at you from an angle. There is a sailor looking out over the ocean, up in the crows nest. The thing I love the most are the 10 cannons with flashing red LEDs, creating a new dimension in pirate ships. The whole thing is self contained using 2, D cell batteries, with an on and off switch. I LOVE THIS PIECE. You can see a short movie of it in action on my Facebook page, under James Smith, Selma CA. The approximate dimensions are 42" long, 30" wide and 7" deep. $1500.
“FLYING LOW”
“MOBY DICK'S REVENGE”
“STARTLED”
“BEFORE VALDEZ”
“WHALE WATCH”
“FUNKY FISHERMAN”
“MICHELLE'S HIDAWAY”
“FUNKY SAILBOAT”
“SPACESHIP”
“FISHERMAN'S COVE”
“MARY'S BOAT”
“LIGHTED FUNKY SHIP”
“5' LIGHTED FUNKY SHIP”
“CABLECAR”
“CRAZY PIRATE SHIP”
“MOTOR SAILOR”
“LIGHTED TALL SHIP”
“PREPARE TO BE BOARDED”
