Venue 7 - the Methodist Church
Seeing the wonderful enamels of Limoges over 25 years ago inspired me to discover more about this ancient art. As I have learnt and experimented with different enamelling techniques and types of metal my own work has literally grown in size.
Whilst still enjoying creating simple, yet bold jewellery designs in silver and copper - highlighting with gold leaf, lustre or dichroic slide - I am increasingly drawn to the opportunities of enamelling slightly larger pieces of copper to create 3d work. Thin copper ‘shim’ is textured to create a range of autumnal leaves in many colours and shapes. Strings of hanging leaves designed for a window or outdoors will blow gently in the wind and reflect the light on even the coldest of days. Some leaves are available on wall mounts or are sold separately to be displayed on a plate or table. Using the kiln at a temperature of over 900 degrees with certain types of enamels on copper can transform their colour in often unpredictable and exciting ways. For me it is close to alchemy! Repeated firings in the kiln can lead to amazing interactions between the colours and with the underlying metal. I have been working on a range of small copper bowls of different designs, many as commissions. No two pieces are ever the same. To see more work please look here www.facebook.com/janewillsenamels www.janewillsenamels.co.uk 07762 108804 |