Here’s a post showing the progress from start to finish on a new (December 2025) Alpaca sculpture that I am making from scrap metal and wire.
MOST RECENT PHOTO – March 10, 2026 – COMPLETE!
I’m finally at the point that I can call this sculpture complete! Like any artist, I always feel there is ‘something’ else I can do, but honestly, I’m happy with it and am stepping away! 😀
For me, it always starts with finding the best reference and fully understanding the subject I am about to recreate. I also received some measurements from the client, and of course, I really enjoyed watching Suri Alpaca videos as part of my research! 😀
Suri Alpacas have a great look and a unique fur that is a big part of their appearance. It will be important for me to capture this part of the animal as well as I can. They actually have ‘layers’ of fur (which I won’t be sculpting), but they are a big part of how the fur flows and lies.
December 22, 2025: But before I get to that, I need to start building the structure of the neck and head.
So after a bit of welding, a little grinding, a little bending and other metal magic, I’ve got a start of the neck!
Here’s where I am at the end of my morning on December 22:
December 23, 2025: I’m working my way up the neck! And BOY! do these animals have long necks! 😀
It’s hard to imagine, but I have about 90′ (27.4m) of 3/16″ (5mm) wire! But I really like the look of it.
December 24, 2025: It was a long night of working on the neck, but it’s about done! 😀 I’m really liking the look of it so far, and I might admit that I’m ready really looking forward to starting the head!
January 17, 2026 – After the holidays, a vacation, and getting caught up from the holidays and my vacation – it’s back to unwinding wire to turn it into hair! 30 feet (9.1m) of cable cut, unwound, and formed. Time to get more!
January 19, 2026: I’ve picked up more wire and started attaching some to the sculpture. Here you can see the base mounting plate as well. BOY! These animals have a LOT of hair! 😀
After too long of a break – the welding shop is finally “thawed out” and I’m back at it!
February 5, 2026: I’ve started work on the face! This is my favorite part of the process – even more than unwinding endless feet of wire! 😀
February 5, 2026: Here’s a time-lapse video of me getting my parts cut – the prep work I need to do before assembly.
February 5, 2026: Here’s another time-lapse showing a few hours of work as I start the assembly of the face.
February 6, 2026: More progress last night as the head starts to take shape! 😀
Here’s a short time-lapse video of me forming an ear from a trowel.
February 6, 2026: Here’s a longer time-lapse showing the head assembly.
February 11, 2026: Here’s another time-lapse video that shows me attaching the head. I start by preparing the neck area, then I attach the head, and at the end, I start adding more hair.
February 11, 2026: This morning, I made the next big step and attached the head to the neck! As it starts to come together, I still have many more spots to fill with hair. The drawback is that the whole piece is harder to maneuver as I add the final details.
February 12, 2026: I’ve added a lot more hair tonight, and it’s getting very close! 😀 I can’t wait to see it finished!
This is a long video – even for a time-lapse, but it shows the long process as I cut wire, unbraid it, and weld it to the sculpture.
February 13. 2026: Here are some new shots that hopefully show the head area better – there may some lens distortion for the phone, but it’s close.
February 20, 2026: I’m ALMOST DONE! 😀 I have to add the glass eyes and then give it ol’ once-over and finish it up!
I should have kept track – but it’s hard to believe that I have over 250 feet / 75m of cable in this sculpture! For each piece, I have to cut the braided wire into segments, and then unravel it, and weld it on – then “comb” it – or get each strand into place!
February 25, 2026: I need to even out the overall finish on the sculpture before I can make it permanent. I had a really bad reaction to SOMETHING (maybe the zinc fumes from welding the wire cable?), and my face has been swollen for a week- so I need to burn off the zinc OUTSIDE, and it’s been cold, and I’m a bit of a wimp.
March 10, 2026 – COMPLETE! I’m finally at the point that I can call this sculpture complete! Like any artist, I always feel there is ‘something’ else I can do, but honestly, I’m happy with it and am stepping away! 😀
