Brad Crittenden, Delcambre High School’s 2018 valedictorian, received his diploma last spring. But he really didn’t have a firm idea of what he wanted to do after high school.

After talking to his father, he decided he would dedicate his time learning to weld. Now, nine months later, he’s trying his hand at being an artist, using the skills his father taught him to fashion junk metal into figures, plant stands, artworks — anything his imagination can conjure.

At first finding the raw material was hard, but after a little hunting in the area’s junkyards, Crittenden has developed a fairly steady supply of media for his projects.

He was one of the vendors at the Shadows-on-the-Teche Arts and Craft Fair Saturday, where he was more than happy to talk about his newfound vocation.

So why welding?

It was about midsummer last year, about nine months ago. I had just graduated and I was thinking about what I wanted to do. I considered community college. Then I talked with my papa and he said he would teach me welding. He taught me the ins and outs of safety, about technique. After a little while he said I was doing well.

What drew you to the art side of metalwork?

I do like to make figures, things in a humanoid form. Like “The Thinker” or the discus thrower. It’s good practice.

Do you have a favorite artist that inspires you?

Not really any in particular. But I know good art when I see it. I do like Rodin. His physiology is very good.

What do you want to do when you grow up?

I am going to give this a try. If the art does not work out, I can still find a good job welding.

How much time do you devote to your art?

Each week I will create maybe three, four, five small pieces. For the larger pieces, they can take two or three days each. Since I started, I’ve created about 70 pieces. Then some days I just don’t have that mojo. Not enough fiber in my diet, I guess.

Where do you find your influences?

A lot of it comes from pop culture, like the “Minion” piece. Other times it can be modern day things. Sometimes I end up with a “Peabody,” like the dog with glasses. Other times it can be Bayou Teche.