Max Howard Sculpture, Huntersville, NC
Growing up in rural North Carolina, the woods and the river were my playground.
I seized every opportunity to explore them and imagined them to be undiscovered territory.
Fueled by my curiosity, my imagination landed me in some mildly dangerous, mostly mischievous but always fun adventures. Little did I know that these adventures were then an unknown part of the career I was to have.
Collecting scrap wood and tin to build my own boat and treehouse, jumping off rocks and ropes into the river, finding just the right spot to make the perfect campsite and always wishing to be able to fly are just some of the boyhood experiences that have inspired me to create sculptures of nature and whimsy.
In 1965, I began industrial welding, learning from my father. At the time I acquired certification, I was the youngest certified welder in North Carolina. With training in metals and welding from a steel construction career, I began creating interesting works of art in my spare time. My wife Jolynn noticed an artistic talent and encouraged me to enter my sculptures in a local art show. Immediately embraced by the art community the demand for my work quickly spread.
Copper and brass are my metals of choice, but I also work with bronze, steel, stainless steel and titanium. Many techniques are used to form my sculptures. I cut, burn, twist, pour, temper, age, hammer, oxidize, roll, brake, hand form, weld and braze at one point or another. Colors and patinas are obtained by the heat of different torches and by oxidation processes. Motion is very important to me in my designs. Some actually move, such as water sculptures with waterwheels and dippers. Also, hot air balloon sculptures gently sway in a breeze or look as if they’re floating.
I enjoy creating sculptures. A new idea will not be still in my mind. I see the sculpture completed before it’s started. Transforming a sheet of hard cold flat metal from an idea into reality brings great satisfaction, but I equally enjoy seeing the fun smiles on people’s faces as they view my work. I am also greatly appreciative of the numerous commissions and awards received over the course of my fifty year art career.