“I don’t want to limit myself, so I have definitely pushed myself as far as I can. I’m grateful that Francis Tuttle allowed me to grow as fast as I wanted to, and the same with Artform.”
Creativity has always shaped Ian Brockwell’s life.
Raised in an artistic family, he grew up watching his dad build custom woodworking projects that were both functional and expressive. One of the first projects they created together left a lasting impression.
“I remember making something 3D and thinking, ‘Wow, that’s it,’” Brockwell said. “There’s a lot of value with 3D art because it can be hung up on the wall or sit on a table, and not to mention how you can build artistic values into commonly used furniture and things like that. You can make all kinds of cool, useful things, and they’re also a way to express my creativity.”
The drive to create led Brockwell to Francis Tuttle Technology Center’s Welding Program, where he focused on turning his artistic vision into precision metalwork. That path eventually brought him to Artform, an Oklahoma City-based custom architectural fabrication company.
Today, Brockwell’s creativity is on display inside Hearts for Hearing’s recently opened Celebration of Sound expansion, where a 42-foot-tall chandelier sculpture he helped create transforms recorded sound waves into art.
Forging His Own Path
Brockwell enrolled at Francis Tuttle in 2021 as an adult student, a year after graduating from high school. Though many welding students gravitate toward more traditional areas like pipeline or structural work, Brockwell was interested in applying his skills in a different way.
“I wanted to get into metal fabrication for artistic reasons,” Brockwell explained. “I like being able to work with my hands and building things.”
Under the guidance of instructor Matt Manaugh, Brockwell quickly advanced. He credits the program’s flexibility and personalization for accelerating his growth.
“My favorite part was the flexibility,” Brockwell said. “I could learn what I wanted when I wanted to, and they did a really good job of personalizing that curriculum for exactly what you’re looking for.”
During his second year in the program, Brockwell participated in the SkillsUSA Welding Sculpture competition. He chose to sculpt a subject that meant a lot to his family: his mom’s late orange tabby cat, Big Tony.
The project took eight months and roughly 280 hours of hands-on work. The end result was a “life-size, shiny little dude” that weighed 37 pounds and took first place at the state competition. Today, Big Tony sits proudly on his parents’ fireplace.
“It was the best being able to come in and work on something that it felt like I only had the vision for,” Brockwell shared. “Being able to focus on that and working through the problems I had was everything.”
Growing into Leadership
A classroom presentation connected Brockwell with Artform. He began as an intern while still at Francis Tuttle and transitioned to full-time shortly after completing his program in 2023. What started as a role focused on finishing welds and high-polish metalwork quickly expanded.
Brockwell now works as a production manager for the company, supervising 13 employees and overseeing scheduling, purchasing, training, budgeting, client communication, and more.
“I started that role when I was 21, and the experience I’m getting from it is invaluable,” Brockwell expressed. “I don’t think a lot of companies would put me in such a position so early, and it’s nice to be recognized for how fast I can learn. I don’t want to limit myself, so I have definitely pushed myself as far as I can. I’m grateful that Francis Tuttle allowed me to grow as fast as I wanted to, and the same with Artform.”
Brockwell acknowledges the challenges of taking on additional responsibilities so early in his career and of leading employees with more experience, but he views it as an opportunity for growth. Along with giving him “a good grasp of what the entire industry is like and how to run an operation,” his role provides him the chance to learn how to create an environment that works well for different people.
“It’s nice to be able to learn from them, and being in that position allows me to be flexible working with them, with their personalities, and with their experience,” Brockwell said. “I can make an environment that lets them work how they want to work.”
Celebrating Sound
One of Brockwell’s recent projects perfectly merges creativity and fabrication. On display inside the new wing at Hearts for Hearing, the chandelier was designed to resemble a giant sound wave — a tribute to the organization’s mission and its Celebration of Sound expansion.
Using an audio recording of someone saying “celebration of sound,” Brockwell and his team translated sound frequencies into acrylic discs ranging in diameter from two to six feet, which were then mounted around an aluminum mast.
The project required Brockwell to acquire additional skills beyond welding. In addition to fabrication, Brockwell helped wire the low-voltage lighting and learned the software needed to program customized light displays. The sculpture can shift colors and patterns, adding another dynamic layer to the design.
The clinic, located on North Portland Avenue in Oklahoma City, held a grand opening for its new space last week. The event included a lighting of the sculpture and free hearing tests for attendees.
“That really scratches the itch of being able to make these cool, one-off things and putting the time into something so custom,” Brockwell said. “I like that it’s not the same work every time, and I love the customization of it. It’s a lot of fun.”
Looking Ahead
For Brockwell, staying connected to Francis Tuttle is important. Being part of the welding advisory group has allowed Brockwell to continue learning about the industry, make connections, and build relationships. This is beneficial not only for his current job but also for his future since one of his goals is to start his own company.
Inspired by his father, who once owned his own business, and his instructors, Brockwell sees mentorship as a part of his long-term path.
“If I end up eventually starting my own company, I would love to organize it in a way where I can work with students coming out of programs like Francis Tuttle,” Brockwell shared. “I would love to be able to work with them one-on-one and help them grow.”
Though metal fabrication is his current focus, his interests extend into other areas as well. He has experience with woodworking and epoxy resin and hopes to one day blend multiple disciplines into an operation of his own.
“The dream would definitely be to be able to make art out of any kind of medium,” he said.
No matter where Brockwell’s career leads, one thing is certain — creativity will always remain at the center.