Sculpture Technique:
Each piece is created from a flat disc of copper which is shaped using a technique called raising. The piece is hammered over a steel bar, starting at the centre and working out in a spiral to the outer edge. Covering the whole disc with hammer blows changes the shape half an inch with one course of work. The piece is then heated to red hot to soften the metal and worked again many, many times until the final desired form is achieved. This can take many months.
When the initial shape is formed the pieces are then filled with pitch, a tar like substance which is hard on cooling and holds the shape of the form. By heating small areas and softening the pitch I can sculpt the spiral shapes and ridges by hammering using shaped punches, thus adding expression, movement and form. The pitch is then removed by heating and the piece is completed with colour and wax. Every work is incredibly labour intensive.
See bottom of image for details of piece.
