I love texturing metal

I started taking metalsmithing classes in 1997. I continue to take classes and I love texturing metal. Here are some examples of recent projects using foldforming, rollerprinting and etching techiniques. Many of these are available for sale in my etsy shop.

https://www.etsy.com/shop/artnestbydiane?ref=si_shop

Hearts From My Hands

Sterling Silver heart

I've been in a heart making frenzy, working in metal mostly to get Valentine's Day items ready for my etsy shop. I made a heart die using a product called Faux Bone and I've been using it to form 3-D heart shapes. First I anneal and texture the metal so they all have interesting surface treatment. Then I usually add a patina, liver of sulpher or dormant spray to make the surface more interesting. I've put a few of them on sterling silver chains, some just on a simple black rubber necklace. Here is what I've done so far....

XOX Pendant Copper and Brass

Sterling Silver Heart with Hammered Texture

Brass Heart

Sterling Silver heart with patina and net texture

Back side of pendant

MEET EL ANATSUI, THE AFRICAN ARTIST

http://www.nytimes.com/indexes/2009/02/22/style/t/index.html?hp#pageName=22nigeria

This is the man who created the large wall hanging that stopped me in my tracks at the De Young museum at the entrance to the Yves St. Laurent show. It was like a metal quilt, pieced together by using aluminum bottle caps that had been pressed and strung on wire. The artist is El Antsui, who lives in Nigeria. I took a photo which is here. Check out the links to read more. He is my new favorite artist. See better pictures of the work at these links.

http://www.kcrw.com/etc/programs/at/at090224humble_but_sooo_sexy