The way I approach welding is as deliberate as the way I shape steel. My obsession with hiding welds is not about denying the process, it is about control, intention, and forward thinking.

From the very beginning of a sculpture, I am already considering where each component will sit within the system of the piece as a whole. I have never been drawn to excessive tack welding unless it is absolutely unavoidable. Every weld has consequences, not just structurally, but visually. If it does not serve the form, it needs to disappear.

Most of my welds are strategically hidden behind layers of steel, often concealed beneath a feather, a scale, or a folded edge. This allows the sculpture to read as seamless and fluid, even though it is technically complex beneath the surface. The result is a piece that sits somewhere between fine art and engineered structure, where strength is hidden inside elegance.

That forward thinking approach is critical. I am always planning where the next piece will sit, how it will lock into the existing form, and how it can be integrated without disrupting the visual flow. Welding, for me, is not just about joining steel, it is about anticipating the future of the sculpture as it evolves.

That said, not all welds are meant to remain secret.

Spot welds and exposed weld beads can be a powerful medium in their own right. When used intentionally, they add texture, rhythm, and a raw honesty to the surface. I often use this technique when forming bird talons or claws, where the organic nature of the subject lends itself beautifully to built up weld texture.

Using the MIG welder to layer and build the welds gives me an enormous amount of control. I can shape, exaggerate, and refine texture directly through the welding process itself. After a chemical clean and a bright polish, those welds take on a completely different character, what was once molten steel becomes tactile, precise, and alive.

In the end, hiding welds, or revealing them, is never accidental. It is a conscious decision, guided by structure, aesthetics, and the story the sculpture is meant to tell. For me, that balance is where technical engineering meets art.