MItch kernodle
Metal Artist
My name is Mitch Kernodle. I’m a metal artist. In the mid 80’s I began my metal work out of the need for a good wood stove to heat my house. From there I progressed to serious blacksmithing and tool making and ultimately into the building a 45’ steel sailboat. Following the building of a boat, I changed my direction for a time to a life on the ocean and being a captain. However, after years of bouncing around on the water I came back to my roots in metal work and art. The creation of Eagle River Forge has once again fueled my vision and creativity using metal as my medium – combining blacksmithing and fabrication with an occasional whimsical twist to exhale what I feel. With the use of aggressive metal preparation along with vivid and cutting edge coatings, my wife, Jan, and I strive to make the bare monotone of steel into unique, multi-dimensional expressions of the finest art.
Leah Jeffery
Scrap Metal Artist
Ever since I was young, I have enjoyed art and making things with my hands. In high school I started looking into different trades. I signed up for a welding class my senior year and found I really loved it. Throughout the semesters I finished my work quickly and used my free time in class to work on different projects. Inspired by scrap metal artists I saw on social media, I decided to make an animal – a Great Horned Owl. I found I really enjoyed making sculptures. Now combining my love of both art and welding, I explore creating different birds and animals from reclaimed metal.
