ARTIST STATEMENT
‘Pattern Series’
is a body of work directly influenced by my jewelry designs and the development
of those designs into jewelry objects.
By using the
process of repetitive succession I manipulate and render the forms by taking
them through different stages of illustration, metal construction, photography,
and finally paint on canvas.
Expanding my
ideas further into abstraction I reshape these natural forms for expressive
purposes, and make a significant departure from subject and object to organic
patterns and geometric structures by focusing on the pattern, texture, line and
shape.
My objective is
to be inspired by exploring and developing my design aesthetic of juxtaposing
industrial and naturally occurring shapes, contrasting surface treatments,
textures and colour, and bring those to a two dimensional surface.
Working with
oils has opened a new avenue in my creative process, finding that they allow me
to accomplish my intended application in a more fluid and dynamic way. I incorporate metal leaf into the paintings
to imitate the richness and reflective nature of the jewelry that has inspired
me.
I use the copper etching
byproduct, cupric chloride, applying it as a medium to the paintings. What has been removed in the beginning stages of my
jewelry process gets reintroduced, recycled, repurposed into my two dimensional
work.
Just like copper
and silver jewelry, the cupric chloride and fine silver leaf will age by
oxidizing in the environment.
In ‘Pattern
Series’ I demonstrate how one idea transcends mediums and dimensions, how one
material or technical process influences the next step in my artistic expression.
Techniques:
BASSE TAILLE
Basse-taille is an enamelling technique in which I create a low-relief pattern on copper using the
etching process, a translucent enamel is then applied to the metal, allowing light to reflect from the
relief and creating an interesting effect.
The exquisiteness of these objects influence and inspire me to
experiment with their qualities further.
I am then inspired to paint these wonderful forms, giving them a dynamic
two-dimensional perspective on a much larger scale, thereby challenging what is
art and what is craft, and connecting functional and non-functional art.
COPPER ETCHING
I etch my own designs into copper
sheet to be used to create jewelry forms.
Using a safer etching alternative to the traditional hazardous
chemicals, I employ an Electrolytic Copper Etching method using a resist, salt water and a
battery.
The
copper that is removed during the process attaches to the salt molecules to
form cupric chloride in solution. It is
heavy and settles, I then drain off the clear liquid from above and use this
“sludge” to apply as a medium to my paintings.
Once applied it dries very grainy and quite matt. This cupric chloride will slowly oxidize over
time developing an interesting verdigris colour.
• To see the jewelry that has inspired these paintings please visit my
blog @
http://melodyarmstrong.blogspot.ca/
