I have dabbled in various forms of artwork over the years, but in late 2007 I decided to try a hand at an idea for a new
form of artwork that has been rattling around in my head for a few years, based
loosely on drawings I developed as a child. I call it
embossed metal artwork (EMA), and it consists of intricate embossed patterns
drawn completely freehand into thick copper or anodized aluminum foils, often with cutouts or different colored inserts.
Originally I mounted them on rectangles of roughly finished slate. However, the
weight of the slate limited sizes to about 12", so in mid-2008 I switched to
mounting the EMAs on stretched canvas frames covered with a variety of rich,
complementary fabrics (such as faux suede, leather and snakeskin; crushed velvet
and satin).
EMAs are designed to draw attention from a distance with their overall simple
but dynamic patterns and the unique metallic sheen. As the viewer approaches,
the focus switches to the intricate, detailed patterns worked into the metal.
EMAs change appearance dramatically in different lighting. They especially come
to life when displayed in soft, oblique home lighting, which brings the
embossing out in sharp relief and causes the metal to shine with a liquid or
even electric intensity.
My EMAs have been displayed at
"The Pacific Art League" and "The Great American Framing Company and Gallery" in
Palo Alto,
"FastFrame"
and "The Original Pancake House"
in Los Altos, the "Sunnyvale Art Gallery" in Sunnyvale, "The Artists Alley" in San Francisco
and the "Carney, Sugai and Sudweeks" law firm in Los Gatos.
Click on the thumbnails below
to see examples of my work (scroll to the bottom to see the older slate-mounted
EMAs).
Most are available for sale and I am happy
to consider custom orders (email me at
ooo0001@aol.com if you have any questions).
* "The Old Man And The Sea" won first place
in Palo Alto's
Pacific Art League "Figurative" exhibition in November 2008. Judge
Michael Azgour wrote of the artwork:
"Great craftsmanship and use of materials in a
sophisticated manner.
Good use of negative spaces, movement, and surface quality."