Kathryn Looby

With the gentle motion of my tools gliding across a flat sheet of copper, I am allowed to release all cares & expectations into this continuous soothing movement - losing myself. Upon my resurgence, I see that my mind’s door has opened a crack and I have captured my dreams. The metal is unforgiving, every mark made on it will be seen; therefore, each step is meticulous and time consuming but equally rewarding when done successfully

“I work on copper because it allows me to express my inspirations in mists of grey and shadows of burnished gold. As the natural sunlight parades across the picture it captures new nuances, creating an ever-changing vista that welcomes and invites you to stop.” - Kathryn

The Technique

Using a metal stylus, the artist Kathryn Looby, skillfully sketches the outline of a picture on the front of the copper with enough pressure to be seen on the back. The design is formed from the back using highly polished special purpose chasing tools.

No moulds or forms are used; therefore, each picture is distinctive

Kathryn sculptures the copper freehand by pressing or hammering the copper into a soft material such as pitch or firm foam pad. Details are added by 'chasing' patterns on the front with specialized hand tools. The picture is reworked until the she is happy with the results. A patina is used to completely darken the copper, which is then hand buffed to create highlights & background effects that play across the picture. Color is nimbly added with the application of heat from a micro torch. The work of art is finally sealed to preserve the color and protect the copper. Upon reflection of the finished work, Kathryn may add additional finishing touches such as glass or semiprecious stones to enhance the details.

Definitions: Repoussé & Chasing

Repoussé is the process of ornamenting metallic surfaces with designs hammered out by hand from the back and worked with a variety of tools (dependent on the type of metal and its thickness). There is no loss of metal in the process, as it is stretched locally and the surface remains continuous. Literal meaning in French is, "to push back.” The practice is of ancient origin, having been employed by most early civilizations and is distinct from embossing, in which the relief ornament is produced by use of dies.

Chasing is the opposite technique to repoussé, and the two are used in conjunction to create a finished piece. Whilst repoussé is used to work on the reverse of the metal to form a raised design on the front, chasing is used to refine the design on the front of the work by sinking the metal