Sculpting Copper With A Torch (1966)

[Music] is [Music] copper has been utilized  by man for centuries in as much as it is found in a free state in many areas of the world thin sheets of copper can easily be  hammered into unique configurations after they have been analed a wide range  of finishes can be created on its surface copper tubes and wire  offer the artist a great deal of Freedom flexibility and fluency  in the production of ideas for his sculpture small copper tubing can easily  be bent attached reformed and brazed for linear constructions which may later enclose an  area for a feeling of solidarity the tubes can be quickly cut with a torch and brazed with  a coated bronze brazing rod the burning out of certain areas adds textural qualities  and modifies the material the addition of bronze Rod continues to change the shape of the  tubing added for texture and color variation the projections give the tubing greater mess  the interweaving of planes created in a rectangular m begins to create a more solid  mass in the sculpture tubes of copper need not be used alone in the construction they  can readily be combined with other forms of copper as well as with other materials  and metals to form relief or full round structures larger copper pipes present a great  many possibilities for creating sculpture and they require a larger tip for heat the  pipe can be cut with a torch or with a hacksaw or an electrical saber saw when it  is held securely in a vise projections can be added to the large pipe form by using soft  copper wire or electrical wire with a coating removed a smaller copper pipe is attached to  the hippo with a low temperature fos copper Rod this Rod is used for creating textures on  the surface as well as to fill open areas and gaps the blue patterer was  induced by the use of household ammonia for additional visual interest  some of the smooth edges on this wall sculpture have been burned with a torch while the inner surfaces of some of the pipe  sections are textured with brazing rod when securing two pieces together it is best to coat the edge of each piece  with brazing Rod before applying heat when acids are applied to the front of the  piece many colors are produced the discoloration caused by the heat of the torch is still retained  in some areas in analing sheet copper the metal is heated to a dull red color and it is then  permitted to cool in the air or is dipped in water a sandbag makes a good surface on which to  form the copper using an ordinary peen hammer this method involves shaping and forming the metal by  pressing twisting and hammering a relatively thin sheet of copper from both the front and back while  a chasing Hammer is useful for creating textures and for working in the smaller areas the use of a  planishing hammer produces a smoother surface this large owl is an example of hammered sheet copper  the original conception of the piece may change a great deal during the hammering and analing  process the flux coated Rod increases the speed of BRAC and the artist must move quickly when  working on thin sheet copper to avoid burning the metal after the nose was partially formed of thin sheet copper it was modeled  with a brass Rod to the desired shape by using a pre-formed patch and  an area that was not properly formed or that was dented in fastening  the larger pieces together can be revised the construction used in this  container employs a number of techniques and materials the ring was made from a  thin copper wire which was forged on an anvil when finished the prong is  quenched in water to pop off the excess flux and to clean the copper  and bring highlights to the Brass the center wire of the prong is tipped with  brazing rod before it is attached to the container many kinds of stones may be selected  to give added richness and sparkling highlights to finished pieces of copper sculpture in this landcape the copper  was analed then hammered and analed a second time to allow the copper to stretch  enough to form a higher relief in order to make the highly formed copper projections  more rigid and three-dimensional the artist used the brazing rod for modeling the  rich red and brown tones as well as the black oxidation caused by the intense  heat were later utilized as the final finish to Define an area more sharply  the edge of a flat copper wire is added for additional color variation nickel silver was modeled to create a slightly  raised effect on the mountain ridges small copper pieces from the  scrap pile suggest many possibilities since they can readily be  formed into any conceivable Arrangement the use of the pre-cut scraps  make it possible to construct a figure in a very short time with little effort  spent in forming the pieces themselves here the hand was cut from thin sheet copper with a pair of snips the fingers and thumb  were then formed by bending them with appliers in a slightly different manner the feet are fashioned one of the beautiful properties of copper  is the many possible finishes which can be applied to and created on its surface  the use of cold acid baths produces many exciting color ranges here the torch  melts enamel on copper for another color variation a saturated solution of salt and vinegar may be  used for cleaning copper and for creating a mellow green blue ptin for the patina the solution  is applied a number of times over a 2 or 3day period if oxidation of copper is desired it  can readily be accomplished with the use of liver of sulfur in a fairly concentrated  solution the color range of cold acid patners is from black brown red and pink  to yellow green green green blue and blue the use of a sprayed lacquer acrylic  or resin finish is a method not only of stopping the action of the patina but of  bringing out the rich colors that have been created sculpture intended for outdoor use would not receive a spray finish but  would be allowed to weather naturally some interior pieces of  sculpture require a suitable base this growth form in contrast to the  Torso made from scraps was deliberately cut with Snips from sheet copper and soldered  together with a fos copper Rod this female figure was created by a combination of two  working methods that of forming in the body areas and that of attaching long thin copper  scraps for the arm and leg portions the small tubular construction was secured to a/ Quin  steel plate for a base this large tubular relief sculpture was polished with a wire  brush and ground with a rotary rasp before the final spray finish was applied steel  was utilized for the base of this formed container a suitable metal paint such as polyvinyl acetate  can be used for Rich color highlights modeling the brazing rod with a torch created builtup  areas as well as color changes small pieces of sheet prast gave added textural interest to  accomplish the color changes cleaning was done with acid a wire brush attached to any electric  drill was used for polishing the highlights the sculptor is limited only by his own flexibility  fluency and inventiveness when using the torch metal rods and acids in the creation of  works of lasting Beauty in the world of [Music] Art