Normally, most first time metal workers are going to start with copper because it’s economical to work with compared to most other metals. But, the Matthews have taken a different approach to working with copper, a truly artistic approach. In their DVD, they cover the basics of what you need to get started working with copper, and while they don’t concentrate primarily on jewelry making, the techniques they teach can be used to make all kinds of metal related items, including jewelry. In fact, if you browse their website, you’ll see that they have their own line of signature pins which incorporate the smithing and flaming techniques covered in the video.
For those not familiar with flame painting, it’s a technique used to color copper metal. Copper changes colors as it heats, which most people know already. But, Skip Matthews was able to take this naturally occurring trait and learn to control it to a certain extent and actually create colored patterns in his metal work. While he warns early on in the DVD that you must first become a coppersmith before you become a flame painter, he explains and demonstrates both areas of this art form.
For more information about this video, including a sample for viewing, go to either the artists’ website at www.coppercolorists.com or their media distributor’s site at Handcraft Media.
