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Archive for sculpture

Ingorance is bliss – Sandy Cogar

By Station Gallery
 on August 17, 2022
 with no comments
Sandy Cogar

Sandy in her work gear.  Pretty fancy, right?

Many people ask me if I have been trained to weld and why I decided to take up the hobby. I love to garden and when I created multiple gardens at our first home, I was in the market for something unique to complement them. I couldn’t find anything that appealed to me so I decided to take a stab at making something that incorporated my love of rocks. As I had no formal training, my approach was rudimentary, but sometimes ignorance breeds a new style of approach. Although I’m sure there was an easier and more industrial way to create a sculpture, I loved the fact that my creation was unique and done completely by hand. So here I am 18 years later, still making rock art and expanding my skills to bigger pieces for my sculpture trail and commissions. Every piece still done by hand with a bench vise, a plasma cutter and hand grinder and a welder.

In categories Metal work, sculpture with no comments

Sandy Cogar’s Garden Therapy

By Station Gallery
 on June 30, 2018
 with no comments

My dad always said I had a green thumb but at the time, I thought that was just his ploy to increase my enthusiasm in dispersing seeds in his very large vegetable garden.   I loved spending time with my dad and helping him in a hobby that he was very passionate about but I can’t say I shared the same passion for vegetable gardening.

When my husband and I bought our first house on an undeveloped one acre lot in the country, I was faced with the task of landscaping. I had no knowledge or interest in plants and flowers. Luckily, two good friends of my mom’s were avid gardeners and took on the chore of introducing me to the gardening world.  I was intimidated at first, worried that I wasn’t planting in the right spot or the right depth but realized in a short time that as with anything else, it is all trial and error and nothing is permanent. In no time, I amazed myself that I could recognize plants, rhyme off their names fluently and was able to create a pretty outdoor space that our empty lot really needed.

Each year I got more and more engrossed in the gardening hobby. It never seemed overwhelming or like hard work.  In fact quite the opposite. I got lost in the creativity and visual reward and found it extremely therapeutic and relaxing. Often, my husband would bring my lunch out to me because he know I wouldn’t stop for it!

My passion for gardening is what sparked my interest in creating sculptures. I put our old family plough in one of the gardens with some hanging baskets and I loved the rustic blend with the flowers. It added some interested and created a conversation piece.

My first creation was the blue heron in honour of my mom who used to love to do “walkabouts” among my gardens. She was thrilled when she was able to catch sight of a blue heron nesting in the bullrushes.

When we moved from our first house, I was sad to leave my gardens behind but excited to start new ones on another clean slate.  It has been quite a challenge dealing with the rocky soil in Bobcaygeon but I haven’t lost my passion. When I’m working at my studio and a sculpture just isn’t coming together, I abandon it for a little “garden therapy” and then I am ready to face the challenge again!

Visit Sandy’s work at the Station Gallery.  She will be in the gallery next on the 5th & 11th of July.

In categories Fenelon Station, mixed media, sculpture with no comments

Best of Both Worlds – Sandy Cogar

By Station Gallery
 on August 15, 2017
 with no comments

When we moved to our beautiful wooded lot just outside of Bobcaygeon two years ago, I asked my husband to build me a little studio where I could display and store my work, but most importantly so I could work outside.  I love to weld but it is not the healthiest trade, especially indoors.

My workspace consists of a 8′ x 2′ workbench with a vice mounted on it and a welder and plasma cutter by my side.  Add a grinder, some vice grips, a wire brush and emery cloth and that completes all the tools I need to make my sculptures!  Surprising that so little tools and some brute strength on my part can create such hefty garden art pieces!

When my working season starts (I don’t endure the winters outside!), I place a large metal order and it gets delivered to my doorstep.  The metal comes to me in 20′ lengths, so immediately I get to cutting it into the various pieces I need to create my sculptures. That is a long and tedious process and I am happy to get to the next step of bending each piece by hand on my bench vice.  Once the pieces are formed to my liking, I get my skull flamed welding helmet on (a Christmas gift from my husband) and get welding.  This is where the vice grips come in handy, to clamp each piece securely before I weld.  Then a little cleaning up with a brush and emery cloth and the piece is ready for a stone.

I am really enjoying my new workspace.  Having worked in many environments, I have had some time to think about an ideal setup and this is it.  I’m enjoying the outdoors while I work.  What more can you ask for?  My “Rockhound Reg” is usually in a shaded spot by my side and occasionally my workbench is put to a different use, a good shave to cool him off!

If you are making a trip Bobcaygeon way, please feel free to drop by my studio.  I am open from May long weekend to Thanksgiving, Friday to Sunday (and holidays), 11-4.  If that doesn’t work into your schedule, I also welcome appointments. Call or text me at 705-341-5738.

Sandy will be in the gallery next on August 17th.

In categories Artists, Metal work, sculpture with no comments

Sandi Cogar & “Reg” the Rockhound

By Station Gallery
 on June 1, 2016
 with no comments

I would like to introduce you to my loyal Rockhound. He is the only friend and family member that has stuck with me in my search for perfect rocks to put the finishing touch on my sculptures!

reg

Reg the Rockhound

My search criteria may be a little stringent (hence the abrupt drop in helpers), but the rock is what gives each piece personality.  Colour, shape and interest are all important factors in choosing the perfect rock.  Not an easy process some days.  A large pile of rocks doesn’t always mean I’ve hit the jackpot and I’m happy if I can fill my trunk with a few select ones.

It may seem laborious to search for rocks and lug them to and from but I don’t mind because I LOVE rocks!  For years I have dragged “souvenir” rocks home from various vacation destinations.  It amazes and intrigues me how rock formation can change so significantly from place to place.  Even from Bobcaygeon to Buckhorn, only a 20 minute drive, you transition quickly from the edgy grey limestone to the smooth rosy hues of granite.  Driving not much further north to cottage country, we are privy to outcroppings of beautiful majestic rock walls, each one displaying its own charisma. We are so lucky!

I’m not sure if “Reg” the Rockhound is as passionate as myself about rocks but he seems to enjoy climbing rock piles and chasing the odd chipmunk.  He’s always game for a good road trip even if it means a rock pit stop!

In categories Artists, sculpture with no comments

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Recent Posts

  • Making a glass bird with Mary Firth
  • Painting the Fenelon Falls Museum – Terry Sullivan
  • Making Frames – Terry Sullivan
  • Ingorance is bliss – Sandy Cogar
  • Marilyn Clayton and 8th MOC Designs

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