Ozarklake's Profile

Bio

Hummingbirds.
Copper and glass.
Recycling.

With these three ingredients, artist Bill Merritt is making people smile across the country. Bill, doing business as Ozarklake Distinct Décor, makes garden art in his garage studio. His specialty is hummingbird feeders. The glass containers he uses in his art began life as something else—soda bottles, vases, candlesticks, gazing balls, decanters and decanter tops. From common to elegant, each is united with copper and repurposed as a fun and functional one-of-a-kind work of art.

Formerly a draftsman and sometime sketch artist, Bill was quickly led to a functional art that not only was different but serves a purpose and gives new life to recycled copper and glass.

Many years as a professional wireman translated into bending, forming, and manipulating various and multiple gauges of copper wire, from very thin to tubing size, around glass containers of all shapes and sizes. Joints are soldered, copper and/or glass accents are added, and functional art is created. Hummingbird feeders include the vacuum type, with rubber stoppers and a curved feeding tube, and delicate tube feeder arrangements with multiple stations. Glass unsuitable for feeders becomes some other garden adornment - fruit or seed feeder or a lovely hanging vase/plant rooter. Expanding his skills, Bill also makes hammered copper dishes to be used for butterflies, orioles, seed feeders, or water baths for hummers who find the traditional water bath too deep for their little legs. Bill has Picnic Pals, copper art stakes to hold your drink or winebottle when outdoors. New in 2008 is the H2Oasis, a plant watering system that is NOT as seen on TV!

Bill also does custom work, turning YOUR special container into a functional piece of art.

All copper used will patina. Bill does not coat his copper.

Juried Artist, Best of Missouri Hands.
Member Columbia (MO) Art League.

Awards:
2007 Purchase Award Maryville Festival of the Arts
2008 Hot Art Cool Jazz Patron Award
2008 Denton Art & Jazz Fest Honorable Mention
"How to" article in Birds and Blooms Magazine, June 2009

Male

Favorite Materials

Copper