Today we’d like to introduce you to Lyle Adair.
Hi Lyle, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
I began sculpting copper over 20 years ago as an apprentice in a local gallery. As I grew in my abilities and confidence, I launched out on my own and through commissions and various art shows, I grew a presence in the art community and a sizable body of work. Life has taken me down many side roads along the way and my art has occasionally taken a back seat to other pursuits. In recent years, I’ve become more active creating and showing in galleries and shows near and far. I’m always on the lookout for new venues to show my work.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
The road hasn’t always been as smooth as I’d like. Running a business full-time requires frequent travel to meet potential clients and representatives and takes time away from working in my studio. This was manageable at first but began to take a toll on me and my art suffered. I reached a hard decision to take on another job to pay the bills and allow me the free time to create what I wanted. This breathed new life into my art and helped me to reach a place of peace, where I sculpt on my own schedule and choose to show when and where I want.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
The copper pieces I sculpt come from the world I walk in, the people I meet, and the books I read. I use an oxygen acetylene torch to heat copper sheet and then cool it down so I can touch it. I’ll proceed to hammer both sides with a series of chisels and hammers to create figures, ideas, and dreams. I’ll also fuse together copper wire and pipes of different shapes and sizes to fabricate stand alone pieces. When I’m finished, I’ll apply various chemicals to create a desired finish and then clear coat for protection. One of the coolest things that’s happened is that one of my pieces made it into a BBC online magazine. From there, a girl from the Netherlands found the image and used it for a school project. Her mother contacted me through social media to ask followup questions and I remain friends with her.
We all have a different way of looking at and defining success. How do you define success?
I find success in creating my art and being able to show it publically. The art is a piece of me that speaks of my hopes, thoughts, and desires. I’m elated when people find value in what I create and the kind words they express. When someone takes home one of my pieces, I’m beyond thrilled that I’ve spoken to someone through my sculpture and know that it will bring a smile to their face for years to come.
Contact Info:
- Email: lylead71@gmail.com
- Website: copperbylyle.com
- Instagram: @copperbylyle
Image Credits:
Photos by Autumn Adair
