2022: Blacksmithing in the Modern World

Today, you can learn about the blacksmithing trade in schools. There are some blacksmith programs available in colleges. Fleming College has a unique artist blacksmithing program. In this program, students will make small and large metal artworks.

Watch the video below to see what modern day blacksmithing is like.

English subtitles are available for both videos below.

Link to Introduction to Blacksmithing in Ontario in 2022 video.

Link to 2022 Blacksmithing Challenge video.

Introduction to Blacksmithing in Ontario in 2022:

Descriptive Transcript for 2022 Introduction Video:

[Exterior shot of Fleming College’s Artist Blacksmith program’s studio.]

[interior shot of Fleming College’s Artist Blacksmith program’s studio. Various work stations, tools, and equipment can be seen, with students working on tasks in the background.]

[A professor is talking to three students while holding two metal flower sculptures in his hands. Other students can be seen walking in the background.]

[NARRATOR:] Today, blacksmithing is a beloved art form and continues to grow in popularity. There are many opportunities to learn metal sculpting techniques.

[A close up shot of a student using a welding tool outside of the Artist Blacksmith studio. The student uses a guideline to create a circle on a sheet of metal.]

[A close up shot of various blacksmithing hammer laid out on a table.]

[The camera pans across the interior of Fleming College’s Artist Blacksmith studio, showcasing the workstations, equipment, and tools inside this building.]

[A student uses a pair of blacksmithing tongs to insert a small piece of metal into a small propane forge. The student then retracts his tongs and dips it into a metal bucket full of water.]

[NARRATOR:] Haliburton, Ontario is home to the Haliburton School of Art and Design Fleming College. The Haliburton School of Art and Design provides a post-secondary program called “Artist Blacksmith” that teaches the art behind these metal techniques. Recent graduates from this awesome blacksmith program prove that the trade doesn't just exist, but that it is a staple of the art scene and is a successful career.

[The artist blacksmith professor uses a pair of blacksmithing tongs to hold a flower poppy shaped piece of metal on an anvil. The poppy is bright orange as it as just been removed from the forge. The blacksmith begins to hammer each petal on the anvil.]

[NARRATOR:] Although blacksmithing has gone through many changes in the past and has once even disappeared as an essential trade in society, it doesn't mean that blacksmithing is no longer appreciated.

[The artist blacksmith professor crouches down and pushes a large block of blacksmithing equipment aside. The block is a bowl or round stake used for moulding hot pieces of metal.]

[A close up shot of two hammers laying on an anvil inside of the studio.]

[A blacksmith uses a pair of blacksmithing tongs to insert a flower poppy shaped piece of metal inside a propane forge.]

[The blacksmith pulls the poppy shaped piece of metal using a pair of blacksmithing tongs out of the propane forge. The flower is bright yellow. He places it on an anvil using his tongs and begins to strike each petal with his hammer.]

[NARRATOR:] As contemporary blacksmiths provide their services and artists create their timeless works, it is believed that the art will continue to be popular with the upcoming generations. Contemporary students and blacksmiths now have access to technologies that would have been unimaginable back in the 1830s. Such as computer design programs, 3-D printing, and electronic tools like the laser cutter. However, the mechanics of the design process remain the same.

[The blacksmith uses a spring fuller and his hammer to draw out each metal flower petal.]

[NARRATOR:] Television shows about blacksmithing and a growing market for handmade goods have made the trade more popular in recent years. This is a testament to the progress of blacksmithing and that it is still relevant in today's world.

[The artist blacksmith professor carries the metal poppy flower to a metal rounding stake. He gently hammers the center of the metal flower, causing the petals to curve upwards.]

[NARRATOR:] Fleming College is a leader in providing unique and flexible art and design education with the best hands-on studio experience.

[The artist blacksmith professor uses a pair of blacksmithing tongs to insert the metal poppy flower into the propane forge.]

[A close up shot of the propane forges inside of the artist blacksmith studio. Students can be seen working in the background.]

[The artist blacksmith professor uses a spring fuller again to create more details to the flower petals.]

[The artist blacksmith professor presents the metal poppy flower to the camera.]

[The artist blacksmith professor inserts the metal poppy flower inside the propane forge using a pair of blacksmithing tongs.]

[The artist blacksmith professor presents various blacksmithing tools and equipment inside of the studio to the camera.]

[NARRATOR:] Students use an array of the newest technologies in this program. Faculty in this unique program teach the processes of well-formed design and technological drawing for blacksmiths. The Fleming College artist blacksmith studio includes four propane forges, cutting and welding equipment, specialty tools and adjacent classrooms spaces.

[The artist blacksmith professor uses a blacksmith guillotine on a heated metal rod. He strikes the top of the guillotine using a hammer until it creates an indent all around the metal rod.]

[The artist blacksmith professor presents the handcrafted pistil of the metal poppy flower.]

[The artist blacksmith professor hammers the heated metal rod on an anvil.]

[NARRATOR:] This blacksmith challenge is a contemporary approach - a combination of history and modern day methods - the creation of  a poppy flower made from iron. Not many people would associate metal with beauty and creating a flower out of metal is a massive challenge. It not only inspires a sense of beauty, but also commemorates Remembrance Day in Canada. This challenge will also emphasize the transition from blacksmithing as  a staple trade in local communities to a niche skill and art form.

Watch the video below to see how a blacksmith would create a contemporary metal poppy to commemorate Remembrance Day. Would you choose the same methods as the artist blacksmith?

2022 Blacksmithing Challenge:

Descriptive Transcript for 2022 Challenge Video:

 [The artist blacksmith professor places the heated metal rod over the horn of the anvil. He begins to strike it with his hammer.]

[NARRATOR:] This challenge will also showcase how contemporary blacksmiths emphasize safety while using modern machinery.

[The artist blacksmith professor inserts the heated metal rod into the blacksmith guillotine again. He then begins to strike it with his hammer.]

[The artist blacksmith professor presents the handcrafted pistil of the metal poppy flower to the camera.]

[The artist blacksmith professor uses the blacksmith guillotine on the heated metal rod again.]

[NARRATOR:] Carbon, more than cast iron, is very hard and versatile and can withstand high levels of stress and impact.

[A stock image of poppy flower laid out on the ground. A paper tag is placed on the flower that says “LEST WE FORGET”.]

[A close up shot of the completed metal poppy flower handcrafted by the artist blacksmith professor at Fleming College.]

[A stock image of a man wearing a Remembrance Day poppy flower pin on the lapel of his suit.]

[The artist blacksmith professor uses the blacksmith guillotine on the heated metal rod.]

[The artist blacksmith professor presents a round stake and a stake tool to the camera.]

[NARRATOR:] Poppies became an iconic flower through World War One battles in Flanders, France. The Great War Veterans Association in Canada officially adopted the poppy as its flower of remembrance on July 5th 1921. Today, the poppy is worn each year during the remembrance period to honor Canada's fallen. The legion also encourages the wearing of a poppy for the funeral of a veteran.

[The artist blacksmith professor uses the half round stake tool and a hammer to perfect the shape of the metal poppy’s pistil.]

[A close up shot of the artist blacksmith professor using the blacksmithing guillotine.]

[NARRATOR:] Since its conception, the pinned poppy has had many variations. This metal poppy is now one of its new variations.

[The artist blacksmith professor holds the heated metal poppy pistil up to the camera.]

[The artist blacksmith professor hammers the metal poppy pistil and stem on an anvil.]

[The artist blacksmith professor uses a hardy tool to keep the metal rod secure as he hammers at it.]

[The artist blacksmith professor uses the half round stake to mould the metal pistil into a perfect circle.]

[The artist blacksmith professor presents the heated metal poppy pistil to the camera.]

[The artist blacksmith professor uses a wire brush on the metal poppy flower. He brushes all sides of the metal poppy flower.]

[ARTIST BLACKSMITH PROFESSOR:] “People come for different reasons. The college has a full art program and we have a visual arts diploma program and they, the visual arts students, are required to take one studio.”

[The artist blacksmith professor presents a bottle of patina. The bottle is labeled “Black Magic Traditional Patina”.]

[The artist blacksmith professor takes a sponge paint brush and dips it into the patina. He then brushes the patina onto the pistil and stem of the metal poppy flower.]

[A close up shot of the metal poppy stem and pistil getting brushed with patina.]

[The artist blacksmith professor holds the metal poppy pistil and stem next to the petals.]

[The professor takes a sponge paint brush and dips it into the red patina. He then takes his brush and begins painting the metal poppy petals.]

[The artist blacksmith professor presents the metal poppy petals stained with patina.]

[A close up shot of the artist blacksmith professor painting the metal poppy petals with patina.]

[A close up shot of the artist blacksmith professor sanding down the edges of the metal pistil.]

[A close up shot of the artist blacksmith professor holding the metal poppy flower pistil.]

[ARTIST BLACKSMITH PROFESSOR:] “You’re gonna see the highlights of the metal. All those bumps and ridges that I put into the surface are going to be reflected. The high points are going to be silver, and the low points will be darker.”

[A close up shot of the artist blacksmith professor sanding down the metal poppy flower’s petals.]

[A close up shot of the metal poppy flower’s petals before the patina.]

[The artist blacksmith professor begins assembly the metal poppy flower together on a metal table.]

[The artist blacksmith professor paints the metal poppy flower petals with red patina using a sponge paint brush.]

[The artist blacksmith professor gently places the painted metal poppy flower petal aside, allowing it to dry.]

[The artist blacksmith professor paints another metal poppy flower petal with red patina using a sponge paint brush.]

[The artist blacksmith professor assembles the metal poppy flower together.]

[NARRATOR:] So, what did you think about the Fleming challenge? Did your class assume similar methods to the blacksmith at Fleming College?

[Close up shots of the completed metal poppy flower.]

[An exterior shot of Fleming College’s Artist Blacksmith studio.]

[WITH SPECIAL THANKS TO: FLEMING COLLEGE.]

[PHOTO SOURCES:

ADOBE STOCK IMAGES]