“I am about to do a new thing; now it springs forth, do you not perceive it?” (Isaiah 43:19)
This series was created in response to the 2022 Mandorla Art Award theme, “Metamorphosis” with accompanying verse.
I reflected on ways the COVID-19 pandemic had transformed us. Change can be uncomfortable but beautiful. It can show us what we’re capable of, especially our capacity to care for others.
These images represent copper mirrors being transformed into vessels as a metaphor for this type of personal and cultural transformation, drawing on imagery from Exodus 38:8 in addition to the verse provided by the Mandorla committee.
Metallic textures
I used aluminium and copper leaf in this series, with layers and layers of glaze. The resulting texture glows, but this doesn’t photograph well. So I made a short video…
The glazes were made with a premium quality acrylic polymer varnish that is water-resistant. Then the whole piece was finished with two coats of the same varnish as an isolation coat, plus two coats of a turps-based gloss acrylic varnish. Shiny!
The edges are finished in distressed aluminium foil with acrylic underpainting to complement the artwork. But a sleek timber float frame will really elevate this piece.
Self Less (2022) 30 x 30 “ Acrylic, aluminium foil, aluminium leaf and copper leaf on marine-ply
Self Less (detail)
Self Less (detail)
Lay it down (2022) 12 x 12 " Acrylic & aluminium leaf on birch
Transformed (2022) 12 x 12 " Acrylic, aluminium leaf & copper leaf on birch
Emerging (2022) 12 x 12 " Acrylic, acrylic ink & paint pen on birch
Under light
Another peek at the metallic sheen in different lighting.