Royal Miree

 

 

Sculptures are independent creations of how I express a situation, an idea or event.  Materials, shapes and compositions are chosen to give form and a feeling to that inspiring idea behind each sculpture.  The attempt is to focus on one or two structural elements to define an overall form.

Pendulum machines are wall mounted on a ball bearing assembly and precisely balanced to allow for smooth rotation periods approaching thirty minutes from a single push.  Each one is designed about a particular radius and with minimal components to accentuate the visual and mechanical flow of elements. Raw stainless steel, copper and aluminum is hand formed and polished to a mirror finish in a six stage process.

Engraved copper works are pure copper plate, starting with an acidic cleaning bath and then sketching the image onto the copper surface with ink.  Razor knives and small grinding wheels are used to define the major outlines of the image.   Choosing from over fifty other tools, I will begin to engrave the finer details of the image by overlapping one type of texture over another.  This gives contrast and depth to the image and reflects light to reveal textures from many points of view, kind of like a hologram.  With the engraving done, I begin heating isolated areas of the surface to develop oxidation colors in the copper.  The duration, frequency, intensity and angle of flame creates the color and the type of engraving texture being has an impact on how the color develops as well. The entire copper panel is heated in an oven and then the clear enamels are applied in several coats with the piece returning to the ovens for a full cure.