Oh I have been wanting to show off this piece ever since I made it and finally here it is. Its an experiment on so many levels – using a paper punch to cut metal foil sheets, discovering a new technique of doming (totally cool – without using a doming block!!) and then flame painting using copper foil sheets. I chanced upon flame painting in a you tube video long back and have been fascinated by it ever since. Flame painting is not just the coloring of the surface of a copper sheet with a flame but the intentional control of an oxyacetylene torch to create shapes and colors on the sheet.
But since I dont have a torch I never gave it a serious thought, until one day, I punched out these flower shapes using my craft punch and I was wondering what to do with them. I saw my mom cooking and noticed the blue flame on the gas…and I was reminded of basic school chemistry – that the blue flame reduces all the oxygen in the copper, leaving it plain and it can then be reheated to any color. Inspired I took out my flame pliers (pliers to be used when in contact with flame/heat), lit up a candle and carefully swayed the pieces over the flame. Viola!! beautiful colors and patterns appeared and I was so excited. I got streaks of lovely blues, greens and yellow along with the reddish orange copper tones
But since I dont have a torch I never gave it a serious thought, until one day, I punched out these flower shapes using my craft punch and I was wondering what to do with them. I saw my mom cooking and noticed the blue flame on the gas…and I was reminded of basic school chemistry – that the blue flame reduces all the oxygen in the copper, leaving it plain and it can then be reheated to any color. Inspired I took out my flame pliers (pliers to be used when in contact with flame/heat), lit up a candle and carefully swayed the pieces over the flame. Viola!! beautiful colors and patterns appeared and I was so excited. I got streaks of lovely blues, greens and yellow along with the reddish orange copper tones
But the hard part was getting 2 or more similar shades as I wanted to make a near symmetrical necklace and that took a lot of effort and patience. I realised that it’s not important how hot the flame is, but it’s how hot you get the metal that brings out the particular colors you want. Also I never quenched or pickled the pieces. I just let them cool.
Then I domed them out very slightly for a 3D effect and them made this pretty necklace using lots of copper chain.
Then I domed them out very slightly for a 3D effect and them made this pretty necklace using lots of copper chain.
It looked so exotic that I wanted an exotic name for that. So I named it as ” Copper Flowers from my mother’s garden”, mother’s garden here referring to her kitchen :D. I loved it and actually felt a bit sad when it got sold. Maybe I’ll make one or more someday as its perfect for Spring – esp valentines day If you one who likes warmer tones over pinks and reds on the day. . I will show you all my secret of doming without a block very soon. Till then..
Cheers
I hope you found it interesting
Cheers
I hope you found it interesting
Leave a Reply