Medicine Hat artist fuses welding and creativity to build eco-friendly robot sculptures

“I just kind of fall in love with them, I get really attached to the end product,” Bouchard told CHAT News in his workshop.

Bouchard spends about 40 hours in the shop making each Rustbot.

“It’s such a good thing for my mental health to just create,” he said.

Bouchard keeps some Rustbots in his gallery, while others are sold to community members who connect with a piece.

Hatter Marco Jansen bought a Rustbot after falling in love with Bouchard’s artistic style.

Now, the Rustbot has become a backyard staple and it even helped to celebrate a family birthday.

“There’s probably some phenomenal welders out there that can build you a fantastic truck frame, but can they make something like this? No, that’s special,” said Jansen.

“They’re all one of a kind. No one else in the world is going to have a Rustbot that you have.”

After forging a connection with Bouchard’s art, the two have also developed a friendship.

“To connect with another person through their art is a really magical thing,” Jansen explained.

Bouchard encourages people to reach out to him on social media to tour his Rust Gallery, or donate recycled metal.

Bouchard will also be present at the Last Minute Market hosted in Town Square on May 10 and 11, showcasing his creations that he doesn’t plan to stop making anytime soon.

“I want to do this until I die. This brings me such joy.”