copper

The ritual of cleaning the copper

Preparation of the copper before enamelling can feel quite therapeutic, grinding the edges with a pumice stone and washing to de grease the surface reminds me of the cleaning of specimens after an archaeological dig. I love the potential that copper allows when fired, the beautiful oxides that occur when fired to a high heat, the over firing and the charcoal coloured matt- black tarnish that is the fire-scale. Then the reveal of the bare copper, a salmon-like warm colour when dipped back in to the pickle bath afterwards. It is a transformative process that requires me to observe, reflect and respond in equal measure and for me a constant source of challenge and change.