RS Welding creates metal artwork
If you have visited the Des Moines Farmers Market or more recently attended the Iowa Food and Wine Expo, you’ve seen the work of Randy Schnebbe.
Schnebbe, the proprietor of RS Welding Studio located at 2026 B Ave., Victor, has seen his business of welded artwork take off over the past few years.
Recently, Schnebbe was asked to create a bottle tree for the Iowa Wine and Food Expo on Nov. 12 to 13.
The bottle tree stood nine feet tall and held close to 300 bottles.
Holly Kjeldgaard, assistant general manager of the Iowa Events Center, said she had seen wine bottle trees before, but never a Christmas tree.
She knew Schnebbe from the Des Moines Farmers Market and thought he would be able to put one together.
“I knew Randy has his things at the farmers market and knew he work with iron, so I called to see if he did wine bottle trees and told him about my idea of the Christmas tree,” she said.
After doing some research, Kjeldgaard sent Schnebbe photos of what she would like to have done.
“I had no idea on how to put the tree together, but I started working on it and it just grew,” said Schnebbe.
The nine-foot-tall structure featured a four-foot base, 291 bottles and 18 strands of Christmas lights.
“I never expected it to be that big,” said Schnebbe.
HUMBLE BEGINNINGSSchnebbe never expected to be considered an artist. Schnebbe is a farmer by trade and welding was always something he had done.
“I would always weld as part of the farm,” said Schnebbe.
“When we first started selling at the farmers market people wanted to know where ‘the guy’ is,” said A.J. “Now people ask where ‘the artist’ or ‘the sculptor’ is.”
Before Schnebbe began welding as an art, he and his wife A.J. started a side business selling Amish lawn furniture.
“We needed to sell something year round, and after the Fourth of July, sales (of the furniture) would drop,” said Schnebbe.
In 2001, A.J.’s sister-in-law brought some Mexican-crafted iron pieces from Kansas City. the Schnebbes saw the potential in selling the pieces.
The couple had already been selling the lawn furniture at the farmers market and decided to sell the metal work as well.
“We gave my parents $250 to buy the merchandise,” said A.J. “When we brought it to the farmers market, we sold out.”
Schnebbe then decided to branch out and make his own art work. he was inspired by an ant. the metal was wrapped around gravel to create the body of an ant.
“I saw the piece and thought I could improve it by making it bigger for use in gardens,” said Schnebbe.
Schnebbe added character to the little creatures by adding eyes and making the head movable.
“The business really exploded the year of the ant,” said A.J.
The pair started bringing their ants to the farmers market and they quickly sold out.
Since then, Schnebbe has added other pieces to his portfolio including other insects, snowmen, metal balls and birds.
His insects have become so popular, he has been asked to create large scale creature for the Reiman Gardens at Iowa State University in Ames.
“Next year is the year of the insect and they want me to make a spider, praying mantis and an ant,” said Schnebbe. “I have some other ideas for them too, like a giant mosquito.”
Schnebbe will be creating the pieces alongside a New York artist.
“I feel like it’s quite an honor to be on the same level as an artist from New York,” said Schnebbe.
Schnebbe has also made pieces for individuals including a nine-foot praying mantis and an 800-pound ant located in Norwalk.
“I never dreamed people would actually want to collect this stuff,” said Schnebbe.
A.J. said people from all over Iowa, the United States and even the world have asked for their pieces. A participant in a triathlon came from Bermuda and purchased items to take home with him. the Schnebbes even had to ship a piece to Australia.
“One of the funny parts of the whole business is how people try to load this in their cars,” said A.J. “I’m amazed at some people who want this so badly, they’ll do anything to get it home.”
One woman from Colorado wasn’t able to fit a 42-pound spike ball into her car, so the Schnebbes had to build a special wooden crate to ship it to her.
“We ship our products everywhere,” said A.J.
INSPIRATIONSchnebbe said he gets his inspiration from all over the place. sometimes customers will suggest a piece, other times Schnebbe will see something in a catalog and improve it or sometimes Schnebbe will just come up with something on his own.
“There’s a lot of trial and error on the ideas,” he said. “But then something just clicks and it all comes together.”
Schnebbe said he always tries to create new pieces each year.
“In May when we first set up at the farmers market, our groupies will always come up and ask us what’s new,” he said. “We need to keep creating new things to keep the clients coming back.”
And clients keep coming back for more. the Schnebbes said the economy has not affected their sales in the least.
“Last year was our best year ever and right now we’re right on track to meet or beat our sales from then,” said Schnebbe. “The economy hasn’t shown up for being negative to us.”
In addition to his current line of artwork, Schnebbe said he would also create custom design pieces if it’s not too complicated.
“I’m always looking for new and different things to create,” he said.
Aside from the booming business, Schnebbe said the most exciting part of it all is seeing the joy on people’s faces when they see his product.
“One of the biggest rewards is how our products make people smile,” said Schnebbe. “I love that it puts a smile on their face.”
Visit the Schnebbe’s Web site rsweldingstudio.com for more information and to view products.
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Written by Tim on December 9, 2010 under Work From Home Jobs.
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