With just a chisel and a hammer, metal artist Alan Jones transforms motorcycle fenders into formidable sculptures of flaming skulls, exotic dragons and majestic eagles. We probably never would have known about him either if a kind and internet-savvy son hadn't recently posted the impressive evidence on Reddit.
Chasing was a technique popular in the 18th century in which metal is worked from the front using tools that raise or push aside the surface while not removing it completely. Jones' resulting metalworks blend an archaic method with contemporary canvases to create truly unique results.
We reached out to the New Jersey-based metalsmith to ask about the strangest request he'd ever received for a commissioned motorcycle fender, and his answer is below:
I had to do a trophy for a horse race once. It was for one friend who wanted to give it to another friend who had a race horse. There is nothing funny so far about that. His friend wanted me to emboss the horse onto the trophy, but he wanted the horse on the trophy to only have three legs, and that's what I did. It was just to have some fun with his friend because his horse never won anything.
See some more conventional pieces in the slideshow below and let us know if Jones' unusual metalwork is inspiring you to get creative. Check out his website -- which is awesomely retro -- to see more of his chasing creations.
