STEAMBOAT SPRINGS — “Carving out a meager existence” to artist Lucas Laverty relates to his sink-or-swim mentality.

“It’s something I was thinking about living in a ski town because sometimes you do feel like that,” said the 37-year-old Laverty. “Especially in a place like this, trying to make a living, to make your way.”

For the Michigan native who moved to town in 2009, it’s also a phrase that describes the spontaneity and precision involved with metal work.

“You’re making fast broad strokes with plasma metal cutters,” said Laverty. “If you’re working on those little details like Hunter S. Thompson’s face (one of Laverty’s recent works) with one stroke, once it’s done, it’s done.”

The artist’s work includes forged metal knifes, hatchets, axes, free plasma metal wall art, paintings from screen-printing designs and specially designed clothing and hats. It will all be on display at Urbane in downtown Steamboat Springs during a First Friday Artwalk showing from 5 to 9 p.m.

Laverty’s art will be featured along with the work of his friend and fellow skateboarder, snowboarder and artist Sheldon Sickles, who will be displaying collage art, handmade recycled necklaces, photography, Sharpie works, paintings and wood-burned images.

“Inspiration comes from seeing what you can do to push boundaries within our art,” said Sickles, who moved to Steamboat in 2010.

Staying away from digitally-enhanced works, Laverty said the art in the show represents authenticity.

“With the screen prints, I like how you can put the same color shirts and paint, and the result is the same, but yet each one has those slight, subtle differences,” Laverty said. “It’s taking mass-produced techniques and making those authentic.”

He started his own clothing project called “Sketchbook” in 2005, for friends and fans. His method is what he calls “low-key summer camp-style” screen printing, and all his clothing designs start with a pencil or pen sketch.

“I don’t even have a press to line it up, but I enjoy just making the designs myself and going through the process with each shirt,” said Laverty.

Laverty will exhibit 60 pieces at the First Friday Artwalk show, and Sickles will  display 19 pieces.

“You can definitely see both of our styles in the works that will be there, but it all ties together really well,” Sickles said.

To reach Audrey Dwyer, call 970-871-4229, email adwyer@steamboattoday.com or follow her on Twitter @Audrey_Dwyer1.