Road Trip Reflections: Discovering Metal Art and Nature Across Oregon

This summer, we left San Miguel de Allende for a bit and headed north to Oregon for a much-needed break and some fresh inspiration. It was one of those trips that reminded us just how much beauty, creativity, and connection there is out in the world—especially when you hit the road with open eyes and an open heart.

We started off in McKenzie Bridge, which feels like being dropped right into a forest fairytale—dense green woods, cool mist, and endless trails to explore. One of the highlights was Sahalie Falls, a powerful waterfall just off the road between McKenzie Bridge and Sisters. You feel it in your chest before you even see it. That kind of raw, natural force is so grounding and inspiring. Whenever I am up here, the raw power of nature always seems to inspire me in terms of our ongoing and future metal art projects. It just seems like creativity abounds in this place.

From the forest, we drove out to the coast and spent time in Florence and Newport. We didn’t have a fixed plan—we just wandered, stopped at roadside galleries, and took it all in. We saw some incredible metalwork and woodwork out there—people using everything from salvaged ship parts to rusty farm tools to create truly unique pieces. The weathered, coastal feel of the art along the Pacific is so different from what we do in San Miguel, but it was still really inspiring. There’s a shared love for the material, the process, and the imperfections.

Portland was our final stop. We explored metal supply shops, tool stores, and artists’ studios. The city’s full of creative energy and really supports the maker community. What we loved most was seeing how many artists blend old-school techniques with new ideas—something we care a lot about too. We even picked up a few old tools and vintage parts along the way that we’ll probably end up using back at the workshop.

The whole trip reminded me of why we love this work so much. It’s not just about making things—it’s about being part of a larger community of people who see the world a little differently, who get excited about textures, materials, and the stories behind objects. It was also a reminder that inspiration doesn’t always come from sitting in a studio. Sometimes you need to get out into the woods, or down by the ocean, or wander into a roadside gallery in a small town.

Now that we’re going to be back in San Miguel, we’re excited to take everything we saw and felt and bring it into our work. We are booking sessions for fall and winter and scheduling our commission portfolio which is always exciting. 

We look forward to seeing everyone at First Saturday Art walk Sept 6th at Van Doren Studio, over at La Fábrica Aurora. And of course we would love to have you come visit us in the workshop. So call, message, or email us today to learn more about our beginner sessions or jump back in if you're already a metal art vet. :) And if you’re following along with The Metal Art Wire, we’ll keep sharing more of these stories and moments that shape who we are and what we do.

Thanks for being part of the journey.