Text by Cindy Cooper
Love of the outdoors and draft horses led this homeowner on a unique path creating decorative ironworks for the home that deserve to be the center of attention.
“Horses can be really good teachers and can teach you a lot once you learn how to listen to them,” Wayne Parden says. Such is the case with the Belgian draft horses Wayne and his wife, Jenny, raise on their farm. Using their horses as his initial inspiration, Wayne set out to channel his creative lessons through ironworks. After working with a farrier he developed an interest in using horse shoes in a new way. Wayne also gets a lot of satisfaction from working with reclaimed metal and small pieces of iron, forging them into beautiful pieces of sculptured artwork often inspired by horses and rustic living. Some pieces take several months, while others take days to craft from a combination of everything from found iron and metal tubing to purchased pieces for framing purposes. He twists and shapes them as the heat of the torch melts away the solid metal to create its new form. He says he is somewhat of a perfectionist and will continue forging his design work until it is just right or feels like it is complete.
The Tree of Life table evolved from a single leaf created in detail and then attached to a branch. One by one, branches are attached to create the tree sculpture to withhold the weight of the thick glass tabletop.
When making a piece of furniture, like the side table, every detail has to be right. But sketching or planning designs is not really his idea of creating sculptures. It all seems to come to him, he says, as he works through the hands-on process, feeling the balance and visualizing what shapes the metal can take. It’s the process that makes him even more satisfied with each finished piece. Always referring back to his beloved horses, he has learned to work freely and instinctively, listening to his heart.
This reclaimed oak and iron tray were inspired by an old barn renovation. The oak was used on the walls of the stalls, adding to the patina of the wood. The twisted iron suggests barbed wire you would find in this rustic setting.
A custom made forge and tools are used to heat the metal until it glows red. At that point, it is removed, hammered, and twisted on an anvil. Once the metal begins to cool, it is reheated in the forge and the process is repeated until the work is complete.