Daryl Richardson

Artist’s Bio

Daryl Richardson is a full time blacksmith. He began exploring the art of blacksmithing in 1992 as a hobby, and since 2000 he has been working at it full time. The equipment that he uses is rather traditional, with an anvil and forge. Most of the tools and dies used in his work have been made right in his studio. The materials that he uses to create his pieces are steel, copper, bronze, brass and wood. The term "wrought iron" has changed quite significantly in meaning over the years. Originally, wrought (worked) iron was a refining process. The iron was refined without carbon and had slag inclusions. Today, the only wrought iron available is that which has been recycled. Living on the West Coast, you may have seen the anchors of old ships, which have an almost linear wood grain pattern; this would most certainly be wrought iron. Modern usage of the term "wrought iron" refers to pieces such as gates and handrails, which are made of steel. Very little of this metal is actually heated in a forge and worked.

The finishes of all his pieces are oxides. The steel pieces are forged, polished to bare metal, and then heated. The colours are oxides that form at different temperatures, often called tempering colours. While still hot, they are waxed. The colours formed are similar to those found in raku pottery and they are not food or water safe. With copper, bronze and brass, he uses chemicals, heat, or a combination of the two to produce the unique colour finish.

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