Sheep Mountain Overlook Gallery

Introduction: I provide murals and 3D metal murals that are one-of-a-kind, unique and specially commissioned pieces. I create metal murals from scratch. We own Sheep Mountain Overlook Gallery, located in Golden, Colorado BUDDY TOWNSEND INTERVIEW WITH BUDDY TOWNSEND/MARCH 15, 2012 YOUR HUB/GOLDEN, COLORADO How did you get involved in this business? One year, (1995) my family and I went down to the Albuquerque balloon festival. I saw some Southwestern metal art I really liked. It inspired me to start creating metal art myself. What distinguishes you from other business in your category? The metal art I started creating was always different than the art I saw in Albuquerque or anywhere else. My sculptures are made from copper, brass and steel. It is an art of contrast. I know of no other artist anywhere who does anything close to what I do. What do you like best about your line of work? I love to create beautiful things and work from my home studio in Golden Gate Canyon. I like to continue to push the envelope and see how far I can take this art form. What is your business’ biggest challenge? The unyielding nature of metal makes it really hard to shape the pieces. When heating the metals it is difficult to achieve predictable colors. The metal almost seems to have a mind of its own. Each piece is a one-of-a-kind and, unlike some art forms, cannot be duplicated. I make each piece by hand. This is what makes this art unique and special. Something people might be surprised to learn about you or your business? Although I have lived here in Colorado for the past 30 years, I was born and reared in South Louisiana. My love affair with the Rocky Mountains began as a young boy, as my family crossed the Continental Divide on vacation trips to California. I have been a devoted artist for over 25 years, working with a variety of mediums. The metal sculpturing I now do was completely developed by me. Each piece within a piece is handcrafted, hammered and shaped to achieve a lifelike look. The green color that you may sometimes see is not paint. It is called patina. It is the way copper rusts. The colors you see in the metal are literally born of fire. The different metals-copper, brass, and steel-are heated, causing them to oxidize. This oxidation produces the colors. The colors never come out the same. This works to make each piece unique and special. Experience/Skills/Qualifications-Nuclear Certified Welder with Xcel Energy for over 30 years.