Enamels

Judy Garland once wrote, "Always be a first-rate version of yourself, instead of a second-rate version of somebody else." The trick is to know who you are and once you find you, follow your heart, follow your inner star.

This is a 3-dimensional enamel. First a hole was cut into the copper. Then the top layer was fired with a flux. A stencil was created and enamel applied over it before it was fired several times. The bottom copper was inscribed and a flux was applied before firing.

MEDITATION/PRAYER ROCK

Gingko & butterfly

Enameled forged copper

MEDITATION/DREAM ROCK

Leaf & flower bud

Enameled forged copper flower & leaf

Ceramic beads, copper wire

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Too many times we dam rivers and wonder why we have floods. There are consequences to trying to change nature.

This is torch fired using leaded enamels. Copper was cut to shape and enamels applied. River was cut, crimped and shaped.

Hiking in the woods, I’m inspired by the beautiful collage of leaves, their colors and shapes creating their own art.

Leaves were burned onto the copper as well as used as stencils. Sgriffito, scratching into the enamel, also was used. Flux was applied. Both kiln and torch-fired.

Enamels are very difficult to capture in an image because of the reflective quality. That quality is why I'm addicted to working with enamels. They seem alive. They're dynamic, ever changing, as shadows and light move across them.

Woods series

RUN RIVER RUN

Enamel on Copper

LEAF

Forged Copper Leaf &

Enamel on Copper on

Wood block

WHERE BUFFALO ROAM

Assemblage

Enamel on copper,

kiln and torch fired

8” X 8” X 1.5”

Front gate opens

Wood Block series

RIVERS GOTTA FLOW

Enamel on Copper

WRITE IT DOWN

Enamel on copper &

hammered copper

chalk holder

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ZEN RIVER

Enamel on hand-torched

copper & wire wrapped

river stone

TREE

Forged Copper Leaves &

Enamel on Copper on

Wood block

LANDSCAPE: BIRD VIEW

Enamel on Copper &

Acrylic on Paper

TRIO OF TREES

Enamel on Copper

6X6X1.5

SUN OVER MOUNTAINS

Enamel on Copper

SHATTERED HEART REVIVED

Copper & Enamel on copper

12X12X3

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RED DISH w/gold

Enamel on copper

4.25”

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MAKING AN IMPRESSION

Enamel on Copper

AUTUMN UNCONFINED

Enamel on Copper 8x8

IT’S A WRAP

Enamel on Copper

BIRD WATCHING

Enamel on Copper

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CARPE DIEM

Enamel on Copper

6x6

LEAVES OF GRASS

Enamel on copper

FISH GOTTA SWIM

Enamel on Copper

OUT ON A LIMB

Enamel on copper

LEAF US BE

Enamel on copper

11X11.25 on wood

PRAYER ROCK

Enamel on copper

5x3.5”

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POWER OF LOVE

Enamel on Copper

8”X8”

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ENCHANTED FOREST

Enamel on Copper

6x6

SOLD

LIKE PEAS IN A POD

Hammered (forged) Copper

Ceramic Beads

Front and Side view

GREEN LEAF BOWL

Enamel on copper with gold

3.5” oval

PASSION PLATE

Enamel on Copper

4.75” diameter

MAPLE LEAF DISH

Enamel on copper

4” d

There is something about cedar trees, so stately like sentinels watching over the fields. Whether I see them in France, Italy or my own backyard, I respect and adore them. I used liquid enamels applied to show brush strokes. When complete it was placed on a torch fired copper piece. It took several firings.

Fall is a glorious time. It’s the leaves shouting their last hurrah and they are not going away quietly.

This is created burning leaves into the bare copper and enameled copper. Also using leaves as stencils. It is fired multiple times and enhanced after the last firing with open flame (torch fired).

My son’s interest in birds began at 3 looking at Peterson's guide and asking me, "What does W-I-N-G-S-P-A-N spell?". He was fascinated by birds of prey and would measure his friends out-stretched arms and tell them what bird they could be. His interest was contagious and spread throughout our household. When hiking we’d defer to him to tell us the names of the birds. When he didn’t know the name, he knew how to find it in the bird book.

For this piece I skeletonized leaves and burned them onto copper. Flux was applied and kiln fired at 1400°F. To finish I used a torch.

I FOLLOW MY INNER STAR

Enamel on Copper with inset

6X6X.75

Fond memories return often of my Dad taking me fishing when I was a youngster. Early rising before the dawn to get on the water before sunrise. I carried that tradition on with my kids.

This is a torch-fired composite created with leaded enamel on copper and wire. Leaded enamels are no longer readily available (hard to find, very expensive), but some enamelist still prefer their bright intense colors.

FOREST BENEATH OUR FEET

Enamel on Copper

When camping and the night has fallen, my senses change to hearing from seeing the beauty of the forest. The forest then comes alive with sounds. Who is out there?

This is a 3-dimensional enamel. First a hole was cut into the copper. Then the top layer was fired with a flux. A stencil was then created and enamel applied over it before it was fired several times. The bottom copper was inscribed then a flux was applied before firing.

The copper is cleaned then a layer of flux is kiln fired to 1400° F. Leaves are placed upon the copper and sometimes enamel is applied before the 2nd firing, or not applied until the third firing. Along the way, sgrifitto is used (inscribing into the enameling). There are always multiple firings before the compositions are complete. Final enhancements done by hand-torch.

The American Elm has a graceful arching vase-like growth and it is understandable why many towns and cities used them to line their streets. Unfortunately it is susceptible to the Dutch elm disease, which nearly irradicated it. However, it’s biology has saved it from obliteration. The seeds are wind-dispersed and the tree grows quickly.

RIVER RUNS THROUGH

Folded, forged copper

with enamel and

diachroic slide

Torch fired using leaded enamels. A composite of several pieces. Design was hammered into the copper and liquid enamels were applied. The base was shaped then a flux applied on first firing and opaque enamels applied in subsequent firings. Attached to homemade paper structure.

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Leaves were burned onto the enamel. Layers of flux and powdered glass were applied in multiple firings. In later firings, leaves were used as reverse stencils. Sgrifitto was used to detail. Final details were applied with open flame.

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