Fire and Copper

These panels are made of copper that has a patina finish developed by a process of chemical reaction and tremendous heat. I have been putting various patinas on copper and brass objects for over twenty five years and have come to love the magic of chemistry and happenstance that creates the textured surface. I have developed a technique of using a big torch or two, brushes, snow (when the season allows), different chemical washes, water, spit, wood blocking, my hands, soot, leaves, sand, etc. to generate images from the oxidation formed on the surface of the metal. A tremendous range of color is possible and the force of the burning gases creates movement in the images of expansion or collapse. I can create objects in space appearing to radiate light or heat or an aura of some unknown force.
The finish on the copper is quite stable. Once the oxides have formed the metal is much less reactive and I hand rub a high grade wax into the surface. They should not be mounted outside if one would like them to stay the way they look today. Dust periodically. The occasional fingerprints one finds in the surface are mine or my sons’ who are six and eight and love these things.