strong as steel: n.j. artist catches the eye of east coast music legend

A few years ago, when the welder in Greenwich, Mike Williams, had an unpleasant divorce, he thought he had bottomed out.
\"In order to keep my house, I have cleared everything for the next two or three years,\" Williams said . \".
\"I sold everything.
\"After he sold everything in order to pay a high monthly support, he almost lost hope.
But then he got a strange request from a friend that would lead to a future he never thought.
\"A friend of mine sent me a picture of a metal deer head and asked if I could do something like this,\" he said . \".
Williams worked as a welder for nearly 25 years, mastered the torch skillfully, and created some decorative pieces before.
\"I have done some graphic work before, but there is no 3D work,\" he said . \".
However, after he finished the deer head-
About 3 feet high, from the village stump-
He realized that art was his mission.
\"I saw that I had gifts and saw the way to save my house,\" he said . \".
He studied the art of metal and began to make all the original works completely by hand.
\"Everything is done by hand and by hand --
Williams said.
I never draw anything.
I just saw it in my head and started with a piece of metal.
Williams has been working on metal art for less than two years.
Usually he will find a piece of metal and visualize what he can create from it.
One day he decided to try out the Disney characters.
\"I \'ve seen some other metal artists doing Jack Skellington (
From \"Nightmare Before Christmas \")
\"I want to try it,\" Williams said . \".
When he began to create sculpture, he had a feeling that life was about to change.
\"I knew Jack would put me on the map,\" he said . \".
But he never thought the video of his finished work would go viral on the Internet.
After the video was released, he received numerous messages about his work, requests and comments from friends.
\"I think my phone has a virus because the number rolls like the number on the gas pump,\" he said . \".
The video is shared and tagged by thousands of Facebook users, but a specific audience is not just looking to watch the video.
\"People who know Joni zazara shared Jack\'s video and tagged it,\" Williams said . \".
Zazula is the executive producer of the heavy metal rock band Metallica\'s debut album, kill all of them, and the founder of touchforce records ---
Original signer of the band-
Collect \"Nightmare Before Christmas\" souvenirs and want to buy Jack sculpture of William.
\"Jonny sent me a Facebook message and wanted me to call him,\" Williams said . \".
So I called him.
Zazula bought the sculpture for $3,500.
Williams was shocked.
My friend Bert Bigler (
Malicious local rock band)
\"I rode it with me to Jonny, Florida,\" he said . \".
Since the video was circulated on the Internet, William has made art his full possibility.
Time and business seem to be within reach.
\"The past few weeks have been crazy,\" he said . \"
\"I received requests from friends and private messages that they both wanted Jack or something.
Or some people. -
Including other metal artists. -
He left praise and positive comments on his work.
\"It makes you feel good, let me move on,\" Williams said . \".
\"I believe in myself and know my abilities.
Williams said: \"For a man who has been working in a car since he was 11 years old, he has been building grills and repairing equipment all his life, and he has never imagined himself to be an artist
\"Things will change right away,\" he said . \"
\"The last three or four years have been terrible and everything has changed in a day.
\"To check on Williams\'s work, follow him on facebook.
@ Mikehewelder_metalart on Com/merciesmeter Instagram.
For more information, please contact Williams at 609-579-4075.
Kelly kroncace @ njadvancemedia Roncace may be reached. com.
Follow her on Twitter @ kellyroncace.
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