Stephen's Metalwork
Ron Stephens is a man that has worn many hats. He spent years as a potter, as a painter and then a sheet metal sculpture. Ron began life in southern Ontario. After high school, he hitch-hiked west and started working as a potter in Calgary. In 1983 he started his own wheel thrown pottery business near Vancouver B.C., but after 20 years he found pottery limiting and started experimenting with metal. It took a year to get it just right, but the result was a distinctive collection of rustic sculpture, depicting wildlife and domestic creatures. A close inspection of each piece shows how the form has been created with just a few careful cuts and welds. The natural rust finish on each piece is unique and variable.
In 2020 Ron decided to make another career change, and closed his metal shop of over 20 years. Before he moved on, he generously passed on his patterns and technical knowledge to Styll owners John and Heather Zondervan. We continue his creative tradition here in our on-site metalworking studio, bringing more of these rustic creatures to life.
Because they are already rusty, you can leave these pieces outside without any maintenance. The rust will act as a "paint", keeping the creature from rusting away, and will continue to develop a rich pitted textured surface. If you want to freshen up the finish, spray on some clear lacquer designed for metal such as Tremclad or Rustoleum.
