NEWS

There's no limit to creativity at Imagine Metal Arts

Chase Will

While heavy metal music may not be everyone's cup of tea, Imagine Fine Arts can shape any type of metal into your heart's desire.

Imagine Metal Arts, founded by Jake and Emily Zbierajewski in June 2014, specializes in creating one-of-a-kind designs.

Unlike other business models that typically target a specific customer, the beauty of Imagine Metal Arts is its application to all demographics. Animal décor for bedrooms, beautiful garden centerpieces and large metal sculptures are just a few examples, and a customer's imagination is the only restriction.

The business stems from the couple's preexistent business, Zbierajewski Machine LLC, which manufactures custom designs and can repair nearly anything metal.

"We bought a machine shop to help supplement our income, and we were slow at times, so last June we went out and bought a CNC plasma table to speed up the process," said Jake. "Something that would take three hours in a mill, we can do in three minutes."

The business mainly did work for farmers and fabricating prototype work for fabrication. There are only so many farmers in the area, however, and Jake wanted to expand. The custom art is now around 90 percent of their business.

The CNC plasma table uses software called AutoCAD to tell the machine where to cut designs of all sizes and patterns from a sheet of metal. With his previous education in AutoCAD, Jake's trial-and-error learning curve with the machine was very brief.

One unique aspect of the CNC plasma table is its ability to copy designs from something as simple as a photograph.

"A customer of ours took a picture of a cross they saw at the cemetery and really liked, and we were able to turn that picture into a one-of-a-kind metal piece," said Jake.

Like the very best artists, Jake is also able to supplement a customer's verbal description of a desired piece with his own imagination.

"You can get programs with designs already in them," Jake said, "but the problem is, you go to a flea market and there's already 90 of the same thing. But when you draw it out yourself, there's nothing exactly like it."

"Jake's really good at taking a simple idea and turning it into something beautiful," said Emily.

Although the business had a few naysayers who warned of a difficult market for newcomers, word-of-mouth has created rapid growth for Imagine Metal Arts. Lately, the business has been working with the Oak Harbor Development Group to create signs for the beautification of the downtown area.

Aside from the online shop at www.imaginemetalarts.weebly.com, Jake's designs are also available at Jack's Amish Country Konnection as well as Novelties and Nostalgia.

The Zbierajewskis make it a point to keep all their products affordable. Custom designs can be bought for as little as $10, while a larger three-by-four-foot design would be around $100.

Emily said they would rather sell more for a reasonable price than offer a bunch of expensive pieces.

"His goal is to eventually work solely for himself doing this, so hopefully in the next year or two it'll be all we need," said Emily.

Those interested in turning their idea into a design can contact Jake at 419-707-1398 or contact the business via their website or Facebook page.