Tools, metal and art have always been an important part of my life.  As a child my father taught me about work, tools and craftsmanship in our Seattle basement shop.  As early as I can remember my mother exposed me to beautifully made glass, carvings and fabric.  My metals education began as a student machinist at Seattle's old Edison Technical School. 

    Having served a combat tour with the Marines in Vietnam, I entered Western Washington University, where I studied art and earned a Bachelor of Science Degree in Industrial Design. After an interesting undersea engineering and design career I started Olympic Forge in Santa Barbara. In 1988 our family returned to the Northwest. Today, Thorne Metals Studio, located in Anacortes, Washington, produces unique metal furnishings, architectural forgings and sculpture for public and private collections. Now three Thorne generations- my father, three sons and I- often work together to create using heat, metal and tools. What a special joy! 

People often ask about the techniques that I use to transform raw steel into artwork. First, all of my work is done by hand. Each piece is an original. Even subjects that I often do, such as roses and fish, vary subtly from piece to piece. Forging starts after the metal is brought to a bright red heat. At this temperature I hammer, pierce and cut it into various shapes. Once this hot work is complete, individual parts are joined together into a single composition. Finally, every surface is smoothed, hand burnished and colored to the desired finish and feel. 

Most of my art incorporates nature subjects, such as fish, flowers and birds native to the Northwest. In my work I struggle to achieve an active balance between strength and flowing graceful action. When you look at my work, I want you to experience for yourself, in some way, the essence of the subject and the beauty and excitement of forged metals. 

I invite you to stop by during forging operations, but request that you call first. Please keep in mind when you visit that most things in the studio are either hot, sharp, or will turn your hands black. Welcome!