We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful David Mills. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with David below.

David, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today Learning the craft is often a unique journey from every creative – we’d love to hear about your journey and if knowing what you know now, you would have done anything differently to speed up the learning process.

I officially entered the 3D world of art late in my career. After decades of primarily working as a painter and mixed-media artist, I found an opportunity to pursue a longtime passion for being a sculptor. Having dabbled in various sculptural media, including clay, plaster, ceramics, and wood, I crossed paths with an established metal sculptor who agreed to take me on as an apprentice. Over the past several years, I’ve had the privilege of working side by side with a few master fabricators. This opportunity has hastened my development by exposing me to various tools and techniques specific to art-making and practical tips that might not have been covered in a classroom setting.

To speed up my learning process, looking back, I could have sought out mentorship and apprenticeship opportunities sooner.

Beyond the basics of any artistic endeavor, the most critical skills in metal sculpting are, of course, proper welding technique and understanding the properties of different metals, such as mild steel, aluminum, and stainless steel. Understanding the difference between cold rolled and hot rolled, and knowing when, where, and how to use each, is essential. Additionally, knowing (and having access to) the tools and equipment necessary eliminates mistakes, difficulties, and injuries.

Early obstacles in my learning journey as a metal sculptor may have included limited access to specialized tools and equipment, as well as the cost associated with acquiring them. Metalworking tools can be expensive, and not everyone has easy access to a fully equipped studio.

Overall, the learning process in metal sculpting is a dynamic and evolving journey that involves a combination of formal education, hands-on experience, mentorship, and a willingness to overcome obstacles. Continuous curiosity, adaptability, and a passion for the craft are key elements in honing the skills necessary to become a successful metal sculptor.

David, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

I was young when I knew I wanted to be a professional artist. Yet, the path here from there was not as straightforward as I’d have liked. I lived with one foot in the reality of doing what was necessary to earn a living and the other testing the waters of the mysterious and romantic pursuit of being a full time studio artist.

It wasn’t until I was 40 that I turned my focus to pursue a full-time career as a studio artist. Now, some 15 or so years later, I have developed a style and aesthetic that combines the most important elements of my previous works to make up my current oeuvre. A relatively recent epiphany led me to concentrate my work on the exploration and expression of frequencies. Particularly, sound frequencies and the possible affect that representing them in 2 and 3 dimensions could have on the surrounding environment. I’ve come to understand that everything in existence is made of of the same basic elements. Furthermore, the space between the basic building blocks of all life makes up the greater volume of the universe. This realization has let me to believe that the differences between all matter is insignificant compared to the similarities we all share. Therefore, making work that exposes the underlying structures of our shared energies became my primary objective. No matter the medium, the subject is always the aesthetics of frequency and the hope for unity and understanding for all mankind.

What can society do to ensure an environment that’s helpful to artists and creatives?

There seems to be a disconnect between general appreciation for the arts and the consumption of things that are steeped in artistic interference. There are very few aspects of daily life that don’t have the imprint of someone of artistic background. For example, from your morning coffee mug, to the cereal packaging, to the car you drive, the music you listen to, the computer or phone you spend most of your day engaging with, nearly everything you see, touch and hear has been dreamed up, designed, imagined and reimagined by a creative. The disconnect comes when an inequitable value is placed on the contribution of the creatives. The term starving artist is a tire old adage that needs to be flipped on its head. The pursuit and application of artistic principles originates from a desire to see the world in a way that harmonizes with nature and solves practical problems through creative thinking. Often times people think that you either “have it or you don’t”. But the truth is, the principles of art are learnable and through curiosity, exploration, dedication, and hard work one who has an inclination to pursue art can do so. It would be great if societies’s overall appreciation for the fine arts would be commensurate with the value that a robust art community provides. I’d love to see more people at art exhibitions, more people willing to venture into the waters of becoming a collector or patron of the arts. More people willing to see through to the effort and creativity, patience and craftsmanship involved in hand made objects d’art and to elevate their appreciation of “the art of it all”.

Is there a particular goal or mission driving your creative journey?

Ever since turning my creative attention to the exploration of frequencies, I’ve been driven to find out all I can about our fundamental existence. That journey has led me to expand my understanding of classical physics, quantum physics and mathematics. I believe the answer to life’s mysteries and existencial mysteries lies deep in the science and the math that supports it. While I approach the principles of Quantum entanglement, string theory, unified field theory, et al from an artistic point of view, I proceed with a somewhat scientific approach attempting to illustrate my new understanding as it unfolds. My collages and sculptures are akin to scientific “notes” and records of my discovery. The goal is to uncover the truth of human existence and to show that despite our minor but seemingly great differences, we (humans) are all connected not only to one another but to every bit of matter from the beginning of time itself. We are not just living in this universe we are one with it. Once we all understand that we are cosmically and spiritually connected then perhaps we will treat and respect others as we do ourselves.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.davidmillsart.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/davidmillsstudio
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DavidMillsStudio

Image Credits
David Mills / Stock Photos