Hanging Copper

On occasion, I give myself free rein to play a bit at the easel. I bought this heavy copper pan and deliberately set about creating a patina on its surface to make it more visually interesting. I then hung it against a blue board on my studio wall.

The painting is built around the complementary contrast of orange and blue, with very little visual movement from left to right. It is also a trompe-l’oeil work on several levels, though much of that effect cannot be fully appreciated unless the painting is seen in person. The raised areas in the blue are actual physical texture, while other passages merely imply texture through illusion.

The sense of depth, which I particularly like, comes largely from the Rembrandt-style lighting—one of my favorite forms of illumination. So, within what may at first appear to be a straightforward still life, there is a great deal taking place: actual texture, implied texture created through deception, strong color contrast, dramatic light, and convincing verisimilitude in the copper.

The painting has proved extremely popular.