Floyd Elzinga
Metal Sculptor
Floyd Elzinga, a sculptor renowned for his mastery of metals, channels his creative energy into both three-dimensional and two-dimensional artworks. His artistic focus revolves around interpreting the natural world through the medium of metal, reimagining the age-old tradition of landscape painting with unconventional materials and techniques.
In his recent body of work, Floyd explores the dynamic relationship between steel and the environment, crafting stunning representations of landscapes where steel and stainless steel embody the essence of mountains, lakes, and trees. These picturesque scenes often spotlight trees that appear almost human, emphasizing the inherent physical properties of steel.
What truly captivates Floyd is the enduring spirit of trees, their ability to flourish despite relentless challenges and constant stressors. Trees' external appearance and physical structure bear witness to the forces that shape them. Floyd utilizes the form and structure of trees as a metaphor to craft portraits that celebrate resilience in the face of adversity. Whether portraying decaying stumps, wind-swept branches, pruned survivors, or trees shaped by unyielding winds, his art conveys the profound beauty found in the struggle against unrelenting forces.
Initially drawn to steel for its malleability, plasticity, and forgiving nature, Floyd continues to employ it due to its diverse range of colors and its capacity to interact with light. Through techniques such as polishing, burnishing, sanding, grinding, rusting, and heat treatment, he manipulates steel to create an array of colors, textures, and the illusion of depth through the play of light. In his exploration of this cold and industrial material, Floyd seeks to uncover rustic, lifelike, and organic narratives that bridge the gap between a stark, industrial medium and the warmth of natural beauty.