# Giant Pine Cone Sculptures Canadian Artist Floyd Elzinga Explores the Agressive Nature of Seeds By Meghan Young | Published 2013-02-05 | Art & Design Source: Trend Hunter, https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/floyd-elzinga References: [neatorama](http://www.neatorama.com/2013/02/04/Giant-Pine-Cones-Made-from-Shovel-Blades/) & [floydelzinga](http://www.floydelzinga.com/) What at first might appear to be relics from a long-gone past are actually sculptures created by Floyd Elzinga. The oversized pine cones might inspire fantastical thoughts of dinosaurs and giants, at the very least in children's minds, but they are manmade objects, not natural phenomena. Floyd Elzinga made them from the blades of shovels. The natural brown and rusty hue gives the sculptures an authentic appeal. Based in Beamsville, Ontario, Floyd Elzinga focuses on the themes of "broken landscapes, [portraits of trees](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/hughmanity) and the [aggressive nature of seeds](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/seed-stories)," as written on his website. These pine cones are certainly agressive. Especially drawn to metal for its "malleable, plastic and forgiving nature,[...] [h]e has been exploring [traditional metal working techniques](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/reflector-sculpture) to create textures and depth the same way a painter would use a paintbrush." ## Trend Insights (Trend Hunter) - Score: 3.4/10 - Popularity: 70% | Activity: 25% | Freshness: 8% - Audience gender: 50% men, 50% women - Primary generations: Millennial, Gen X - Top markets: North America ## Categories [Trend Hunter](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends) > [Art & Design](https://www.trendhunter.com/artdesign) ## Key Themes ### Why This Trend Is Growing - **Giant Sculptures:** Creating oversized sculptures can generate fantasy and awe in people's minds. - **Exploration of Natural Themes:** Using natural themes can create a sense of authenticity and promotes environmental awareness. - **Innovative Use of Materials:** Using nontraditional materials for sculpting can open up new possibilities for artists. ### Industries Being Reshaped - **Art:** Artists can explore new materials and themes to create impactful works. - **Landscaping:** Landscaping companies can create oversized sculptures to add a unique touch to outdoor spaces. - **Metalworking:** Metalworking companies can use traditional techniques to create unique textures and patterns. ## Related on Trend Hunter - [Insect-Inspired Bronze Sculptures](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/insect-bronze-sculptures.md) - [Ring-Shaped Forest Blenches](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/nesting-loops.md) - [Towering Reclaimed Wooden Sculptures](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/louise-durham.md) - [Geometric Wooden Art Sculptures](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/aleph-geddis.md) - [Nature-Inspired Installations](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/humannature-1.md) - [Resin Gravity Sculptures](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/the-great-tree.md) - [Textured Pine Furniture](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/crayon-pine.md) - [Ceiba Tree-Inspired Spiked Furniture](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/ceiba-series.md) - [Otherworldly Wooden Art](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/wooden-sculptures-1.md)