Landscape Sampler in Metal Leaf by René Roberts

Wall Piece

Steel, copper, copper and silver leaf, uranium glass seed beads.

Copper and silver leaf as sole colorants on several white enamels, sgraffito using fingers and fingernails as "tools", tearing, sifting, application of glass seed beads.

19 X 14 inches

These tiles explore copper and silver leaf as colorants on 10 different white enamels. The leaf is difficult to control, and I exploit imperfections by scraping areas away with my fingernails, or tearing it to reveal what’s underneath. Color variations are caused by differences in the chemistry of the white enamels, thicknesses of the metal leaf, and copper+silver overlaid on top of each other. I've also added seed beads colored with uranium oxide, and these glow vibrant green under UV light.

In 1980 I left law practice to become a glass worker. I worked in the torch for many years, where I developed the technique of coloring the surface of the glass with metal leaf to create a natural stone-like appearance. Eventually I followed my love of photography and the landscape into photorealistic champlevé enamels, which have formed the main body of my enamel work. However, I'm a mad scientist at heart, often creating endless arrays of test tiles for some new technique. My home is on the coast of Northern California, an inspiring landscape where patterns, colors and light are always changing.