RACINE, Wis. — Scott Yocco spent decades in the fire service at the Racine Fire Department. He retired as a lieutenant and has been working as an artist ever since.

Yocco creates custom works of art with copper. He creates items like crosses, tables, lamps and much more through his business, Yocco Custom Copper.

He works out of his garage workshop and said he is in his happy place while he is creating and working with copper.

“I do enjoy it,” Yocco said. “There is no feeling like it.” “Once it’s finished and it’s all together. It just pops. It comes together nicely. It’s very rewarding. There is nothing like it that I’ve experienced.”

Yocco has seen and done a lot in his career in the fire service. Not only did he serve on the department, but he also created a patented life-saving device that is used in firefighter jackets to this day.

“That was a fun job,” Yocco said. “We had so much fun, so many quality people, oh my goodness. It was a lot of fun.”

(Spectrum News 1/Megan Marshall)

Yocco said he was able to retire a few years early, thanks to his patented invention. During his retirement, he picked up working as an artist.

Yocco had a background in carpentry and even built his own house. Now, he’s taken those skills to make his custom copper creations.

“The originality part kicks in, yeah, there’s a little bit of pride there,” he said. “I think every artist is. They love their work, otherwise they wouldn’t do it.”

Since getting into art full time in 2017, Yocco has been able to showcase his work at craft shows across Wisconsin.

(Spectrum News 1/Megan Marshall)

He said he’s proud of what he’s been able to accomplish, in a line of work he didn’t expect to be in.

“There’s so many talented people, my goodness.” Yocco said. “Just to be included in that, I still can’t get over it myself, because — because, that’s why.”