These works of art are for the birds -- and we mean that in the best possible way! Joe Papendick's Etsy store, "Outdoor Sculpture - For Birds and other Living Things," is filled with modern, architectural bird feeders that are as vibrantly hued as a tropical parrot.
Crafter Joe Papendick in his workspace. Photo: Joe Papendick
Joe Papendick, both a painter and metal sculptor, was first influenced to design his chic bird feeders the day his fiancée's mom discovered that her simple bird feeder had been destroyed by raccoons. "She asked if I could fix it. I told her I'd prefer to just make her a new one that would be virtually indestructible."
That was about ten years ago. Today, he makes two to three dozen birdhouses a month--all made using various types of metal, from sheets of steel to lengths of copper tubing. He sells them on Etsy at a range of prices to fit all budgets: from $65 and $400, depending on the the size and design.
Papendick was born and raised in NYC, where he studied fine art at both Parsons School of Design and Hunter College. He then moved to St. Louis, Missouri, where he now resides. His studio is his 400-square-foot garage, which is jam-packed with both metal waiting to be worked and finished pieces waiting to be sold. Plus, of course, various welding machines, metal grinders, and "all the associated paraphernalia that goes along with it." Creature comforts, he says, consist of a large fan for summer, a propane heater in the winter, and his trusty iPod.
When Papendick is ready to make a new feeder, he first considers the materials he currently has on hand, which consist of both new pieces of steel and scraps from previous projects. How does he choose where to start? "Sometimes {I might start with} a piece of copper that looks like a roof element; other times it's a steel rod {that might work as a perch}. Once I know where I want to go, artistically, those pieces are welded into trays which will hold bird seed, and perches. There's always the central point from which the other elements spring."
Metal in hand, Papendick sometimes starts by sketching ideas. Other times he picks up a piece of metal with a shape or patina he likes and just starts cutting. The larger steel pieces are cut at the steel yard, then either bent into curves by hand, or scored slightly with a handheld grinder. From that point on, everything is welded together with a Miller MIG welder.
Left: "Chirpie" bird feeder in Mango; Right: "Cubist" bird feeder in Aqua. Photos: joepapendick, Etsy
And what about his unexpectedly clean-lined designs? "At first, the large feeders I made were very architectural. As the ideas for the designs advanced, they gradually became more abstract," he says. Asked if he was an architecture fan he waves off the question, simply saying, "I'm really just indifferent to architecture. Aesthetically I'm more likely to find inspiration from looking at a spoon or a fork."
Papendick had never thought "big" enough to try selling pieces outside of St. Louis -- and then HGTV called. One of their shows, "
I Want That," featured his work in 2006, and inquiries from across the country started pouring in. "I figured out how to modify the designs in order to be able to ship pieces affordably; I began constructing new work so that the top and bottom portions easily pull apart, allowing them to be shipped in two smaller boxes. Once I realized that approach would work, deciding to list pieces on Etsy seemed like a given."
While his "Charm" feeder (see lead image above) is his most popular piece, Papendick says he can't choose a favorite for himself. "My favorite is always that new design I'm still trying to figure out." Like the rest of us, Papendick says his biggest challenge is not with design but income. But, he says happily, "I love not actually having to 'go to work'." Sounds like a true artist to us!
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