From Dragons to Saint Michael: How One San Miguel Artist Found a New Passion in Metal

One of the greatest joys of the Van Doren Metal Art Workshop has never been the finished sculptures—it’s watching people discover talents they never knew they had.

Over the years, we’ve welcomed more than 3,000 people, ranging in age from 7 to 87, into the workshop. The overwhelming majority arrive with little or no experience working with metal. They leave not only with artwork they’re proud of, but often with a newfound confidence and a creative passion that continues long after their first class.

This month, we’re highlighting another member of our growing metal art family, John Kavanaugh, whose journey perfectly captures what makes this workshop so special.

John walked into the workshop with no background in metalworking. Nearly 20 sessions later, he’s become one of our most dedicated artists, creating an extraordinary collection of sculptures that continues to grow in both size and complexity. His story is one of curiosity, perseverance, and the joy of lifelong learning.

Q&A with John Kavanaugh

When you think back to the very first piece you created in the workshop and compare it to your work today, how do you feel your artistic style and skills have evolved? What has surprised you most about your journey as a metal artist?

I have always been drawn to Asian folklore, especially dragons, and I even have several dragon tattoos on my arms. Naturally, my first three workshop projects all revolved around dragon designs, and each one taught me something new.

The first was a simple dragon head that, looking back, resembled more of a demonic horse than a dragon—but it was a beginning. The second became a much more detailed dragon mask with greater complexity and color. My third dragon was a significantly larger sculpture that I first built entirely out of cardboard before translating it into metal. That planning process made all the difference, and today it’s proudly displayed in one of our mesquite trees.

What surprised me most was how quickly I became hooked on the entire process. I also realized that years of drawing, CAD drafting, floor plan design, and creating set designs for live corporate productions translated beautifully into metal sculpture.

When you’re creating a new piece, what does your creative process look like? Where do your ideas come from, and how do you bring them to life in metal?

After my dragon trilogy, I was studying art and Spanish with Efrain González at Somos Art and Language Center when he handed me an old metal stand for a tailor’s mannequin that he had found on the street and said, “You need to make a metal Catrina out of it.”

After researching traditional Catrina imagery, I became fascinated by Mictecacíhuatl—the Aztec goddess known as the “Lady of Death.” I wanted to create something that honored that deeper cultural tradition rather than simply recreating the familiar Day of the Dead figure. After talking with Efrain about my hesitation as an American creating such an iconic Mexican image, he reassured me that respectful intention was what mattered.

As with my dragons, I began with a detailed scale drawing before building a full-sized cardboard model. The finished sculpture was completed just days before Día de los Muertos, making the timing especially meaningful.

After finishing the Señora de las Muertes, I began thinking about another iconic figure that represents San Miguel de Allende—Saint Michael, our city’s patron saint. That idea has now become my largest and most ambitious project yet: an eight-foot-tall sculpture featuring an incredibly detailed sword, shield, armor, and countless individually fabricated metal components. It may very well become one of the most intricate sculptures ever created in our workshop.

You’ve become a big part of our metal art family. What do you enjoy most about creating alongside fellow artists in the workshop?

People often ask me which medium I enjoy most—graphite, pastel, painting, or metal.

My answer is that drawing and painting are wonderfully quiet, solitary experiences. Metal art is exactly the opposite.

The workshop is alive with grinders, welders, sparks flying, smoke rising, classic rock playing in the background, and Drago the wonder dog wandering through to check on everyone’s progress. There are always several artists working together, sharing ideas, solving problems, encouraging one another, and celebrating each other’s successes.

Alex’s enthusiasm and instruction, along with Gambio’s incredible knowledge and ability to solve just about any fabrication challenge, make every session both educational and fun.

The lunches have become just as memorable as the art itself. I’ve met fascinating people from all over the world—visitors, temporary residents, and longtime San Miguel locals—all bringing unique stories, perspectives, and creativity to the table.

It’s a very special place, and I’m grateful to be part of it.

John’s journey is exactly why we started these community artist highlights.

Metal art isn’t reserved for professional sculptors or people with years of experience. It’s for anyone who’s curious enough to pick up a pair of gloves, strike an arc, and discover what’s possible.

Whether your first project is a simple flower, a dragon, or eventually an eight-foot Saint Michael, every artist begins exactly the same way—with that very first spark.

Even better, every registration at the Van Doren Metal Art Workshop helps create opportunities for someone else. Through the Van Doren Children’s Metal Art Program, every workshop sponsors underprivileged children from local campos and colonias, giving them the opportunity to experience metal art free of charge as both an inspirational creative outlet and a hands-on vocational learning experience.

Every sculpture created in our shop helps inspire another artist.

Perhaps the next story we’ll be telling will be yours.