Tuesday, June 9, 2009

Scratching the surface

I love to add colour to my work and in the past have regularly introduced colour by the inclusion of stones, fabric and accents of metal. I have also used surface treatments such as oxidising and fine silver finishing.

Lately I have been experimenting with some interesting colourful surface treatments. While it is not necessary I have chosen in my work to apply the patina to a texturised surface, this way I can remove layers to reveal different colours and patterns.

In my store right now you can see brass that has a copper patina, this comes as a result of the heating and pickeling process.

Halo Earrings



Cherry Drops Earrings



New in store is some work I have been doing with verdigris, the fabulous aged blue/green layering you can see on old copper roofs such as Flinders Street Station in Melbourne. I have used amonia to get the verdigris on these pieces, this gives a vibrant cerulean blue colouration. I have also noticed that the age of the copper seems to have some impact on the colour, I am finding I get a better intensity from the recycled copper than from new copper sheet.

Reef Earrings



Rockpool Pendant



You can get varying shades of verdigris depending on what chemical treatment you use. I would love to hear about what you have tried and what colours you have achieved.

8 comments:

  1. Your stuff is just so beautiful! I've got no words, and that never happens.

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  2. I really like all of the new stuff, color and texture appeal to me every time.

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  3. I just love the different colours and textures you are creating.

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  4. Those colours are extraordinary. I am definately going to try it. Where did you get the ammonia?

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  5. Soli, you can get it at the supermarket in the cleaning aisle, it is near where the metho and turps are kept I think.

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