Artist Spotlight: Feb 2026
Dorian Custodia at an outdoor foldforming demo
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Dorian Custodia, Sellersville, PA, U.S.
Metalsmith www.etsy.com/shop/CrystalMetalCreation The Lewton-Brain Foldform Competition: First and Second Place Award Winner, 2025 Second Place Award Winner, 2017 'Dorian's work is extraordinary. He has used foldforming in full service to his artistic vision - the foldforming disappears and the full intention of his flower studies is revealed' -- Charles Lewton-Brain Artist Goldsmith, Foldforming Pioneer |
Process for Flowers
by Dorian Custodia
FIRST PLACE: Dorian Custodia, www.etsy.com/shop/CrystalMetalCreation, Sellersville, PA, U.S.
“Double Day Lily Memorial” (25 x 40 cm) (10 x 16 in) Brass, copper, silver, bronze, guilder's paste wax, clear coat, oak wood base
Double Day Lily Memorial:
First Place 2025 Lewton-Brain Foldform Competition
I wanted to nail down the peculiar fold found in pretty much all the Liliaceae flowering plants. In the beginning of 2025 I worked out my first prototype. It’s actually a refined version of the T-fold. I then applied this to the day lily. It took me about three months. Part of this time was building a protective case around it in bronze and glass.
Leaves are a single foldform copper with a green verdigris. The double bloom is fabricated from jewelers brass. The wide pedals are first folded tightly then I reverse fold from there. The thinner petals are folded once tightly. I then remove some material from the spine and unfold. Along with various texturing, this gives it its lifelike appearance. This is my main goal in my floral art. Finding the folds in nature and matching that with foldforming. Colors for the blooms start off with 24 gauge jewelers brass. I plate the surface with several passes of silver. Heated then pickled to achieve pink and white hues. Fringes are a yellow guilders paste. A touch of red/orange to bring out the anthers which morphed into the inner petals. A clear coat applied to lock in the colors.
It looks like I spent about 52 hours. Plant/flowers/base. Includes mocking up things.
First Place 2025 Lewton-Brain Foldform Competition
I wanted to nail down the peculiar fold found in pretty much all the Liliaceae flowering plants. In the beginning of 2025 I worked out my first prototype. It’s actually a refined version of the T-fold. I then applied this to the day lily. It took me about three months. Part of this time was building a protective case around it in bronze and glass.
Leaves are a single foldform copper with a green verdigris. The double bloom is fabricated from jewelers brass. The wide pedals are first folded tightly then I reverse fold from there. The thinner petals are folded once tightly. I then remove some material from the spine and unfold. Along with various texturing, this gives it its lifelike appearance. This is my main goal in my floral art. Finding the folds in nature and matching that with foldforming. Colors for the blooms start off with 24 gauge jewelers brass. I plate the surface with several passes of silver. Heated then pickled to achieve pink and white hues. Fringes are a yellow guilders paste. A touch of red/orange to bring out the anthers which morphed into the inner petals. A clear coat applied to lock in the colors.
It looks like I spent about 52 hours. Plant/flowers/base. Includes mocking up things.
Columbine:
Second Place 2025 Lewton-Brain Foldform Competition
This started out life back in 2018. I always wanted to fabricate a columbine flower. I also wanted to push my limits and work with titanium. Fabrication process and coloring. The years went by. I’d pick up for a bit then get distracted with daily life, work , and business. So I put my foot down and determined to finish this project in 2025. That took me about three months. Also my first real attempt in symbolism.
Leaves and stems are copper with green pencil and guilders paste. The sepal is titanium star-folded and anodized attached with rivets. Center of bloom is the base of 30-06 brass casing. The blade/spur petals are from the sides of the casing and then milled. Single fold then formed into a speculum shape. Color from silver plating and red/blue guilder’s paste. Stamens are copper wire and silver plated with yellow guilders paste
Second Place 2025 Lewton-Brain Foldform Competition
This started out life back in 2018. I always wanted to fabricate a columbine flower. I also wanted to push my limits and work with titanium. Fabrication process and coloring. The years went by. I’d pick up for a bit then get distracted with daily life, work , and business. So I put my foot down and determined to finish this project in 2025. That took me about three months. Also my first real attempt in symbolism.
Leaves and stems are copper with green pencil and guilders paste. The sepal is titanium star-folded and anodized attached with rivets. Center of bloom is the base of 30-06 brass casing. The blade/spur petals are from the sides of the casing and then milled. Single fold then formed into a speculum shape. Color from silver plating and red/blue guilder’s paste. Stamens are copper wire and silver plated with yellow guilders paste
SECOND PLACE: Dorian Custodia, www.etsy.com/shop/CrystalMetalCreation, Sellersville, PA, U.S.
“Columbine" (71 x 48 cm) (28 x 19 in) Titanium, copper, brass, silver, wood, guilders wax, colored pencil; photo by MaryBeth Z. Baringer
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SECOND PLACE: Dorian Custodia, www.etsy.com/shop/CrystalMetalCreation, Sellersville, PA, U.S.
“Columbine" (71 x 48 cm) (28 x 19 in) Titanium, copper, brass, silver, wood, guilders wax, colored pencil; photo by MaryBeth Z. Baringer
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Background and Additional Works
SECOND PLACE: Dorian S. Custodia, etsy.com/shop/CrystalMetalCreation, Sellersville, PA, U.S.
“Silver Mouth Pitcher Plant” (15.2 x 15.2 x 45.7 cm) (6 x 6 x 18 in) Copper, Argentium Silver, silver plating, brass, red copper oxide, green verdigris, clear acrylic enamel
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Personal History
Thoughts from the artist
I grew up in a family of musicians and artists. Dad was a blacksmith and restored classic automobiles. My mother was a graphic artist who worked in Philadelphia's Center City District. I was raised in Northeast Philly and then bucolic Upper Bucks County in Pennsylvania . I was fortunate to have wood shop and metal shop early on in school as a requirement. During high school I took mechanical and architectural drafting, and advanced art.
A few years after high school in 1992, I decided to go into the automotive restoration profession . That’s where I learned how to weld and fabricate car parts and body panels. I learned how to work steel, stainless steel, aluminum, copper and brass. I’ve done this continuously for the past 30 plus years.
In 2004 I decided to do something a bit more creative than working on cars, and made a few metal flowers for local arts and craft shows. In 2006 I got a few art books including The Complete Metalsmith by Tim McCreight, and Patinas for Small Studios by Charles Lewton-Brain. At that point I concentrated mainly on textures and metal assemblies. Then in 2013 I opened up my Etsy store.
I think it was about 2014 when I committed to using foldforming in my metal working. It started out with folding leaves from a random YouTube video. Foldforming gave a better look to certain leaves than any other technique. I cracked open my old books then. Lo and behold there was a whole section on foldforming techniques.
I’ve learned everything I know on my own, but in reality I’ve been taught by some of the best through books, demonstrations in real time, videos, and metal working communities on Facebook. Two artists in particular have been an inspiration to me; Blaschka's Glass Flowers and Trailer McQuilkin's metal flowers and plants. These some of the most amazing works I’ve ever seen.
Thoughts from the artist
I grew up in a family of musicians and artists. Dad was a blacksmith and restored classic automobiles. My mother was a graphic artist who worked in Philadelphia's Center City District. I was raised in Northeast Philly and then bucolic Upper Bucks County in Pennsylvania . I was fortunate to have wood shop and metal shop early on in school as a requirement. During high school I took mechanical and architectural drafting, and advanced art.
A few years after high school in 1992, I decided to go into the automotive restoration profession . That’s where I learned how to weld and fabricate car parts and body panels. I learned how to work steel, stainless steel, aluminum, copper and brass. I’ve done this continuously for the past 30 plus years.
In 2004 I decided to do something a bit more creative than working on cars, and made a few metal flowers for local arts and craft shows. In 2006 I got a few art books including The Complete Metalsmith by Tim McCreight, and Patinas for Small Studios by Charles Lewton-Brain. At that point I concentrated mainly on textures and metal assemblies. Then in 2013 I opened up my Etsy store.
I think it was about 2014 when I committed to using foldforming in my metal working. It started out with folding leaves from a random YouTube video. Foldforming gave a better look to certain leaves than any other technique. I cracked open my old books then. Lo and behold there was a whole section on foldforming techniques.
I’ve learned everything I know on my own, but in reality I’ve been taught by some of the best through books, demonstrations in real time, videos, and metal working communities on Facebook. Two artists in particular have been an inspiration to me; Blaschka's Glass Flowers and Trailer McQuilkin's metal flowers and plants. These some of the most amazing works I’ve ever seen.
