September 2015

Enameling As An Art - How Is It Created?

September is one of my favorite times of the year on the Outer Banks. The weather has been glorious and many events start to take place. The rates drop from the summer and all of the restaurants are open to enjoy. We look forward to seeing you during this beautiful time of year.

Enameling As An Art

Green Separation with Red Flags by Higgins

Enameling is one of the oldest arts in the history of man. Enameling on metal is not difficult. However, it is an exacting art which demands careful attention to such details as cleaning, application and firing . To most people the word "enamel" means resinous paint for decorating kitchen chairs, brightly colored lacquer for a lady's fingernails, a superior automobile finish or the outer covering of our teeth. To the artist, enameling means only one thing - the process of applying a thin coat of glass to a metal which, when heated to a high temperatures, melts and becomes fused to the metal. Like all artists you must start with a good design and good color combinations. You then clean the metal (I use copper most of the time, however I have done a few pieces on steel) be sure you do not get your oily fingers on the metal after the cleaning. Just about all enameling takes at least 3 and usually a lot more firings. The first coat is the counter enamel which is usually the back of the piece. You fire. Again you clean the metal. You then put your first coat on the front. Often this is a clear coat sometimes called flux. You fire again and clean again. Now you are ready for your design and colors. Firing and cleaning between each. If you are lucky it will come out as you imagined it, and sometimes even better. Article and art by Pauline Higgins.

Artist Demonstration and Book Signing

Scarborough Fair, oil by Keirce

November 7, 2015

Meet the artist, Debra Keirce and author, Kay Kerr on Nov 7 from 10-5.

Debra Keirce is an award winning artist and a member of the Miniature Artist Association. She will be here demonstrating painting techniques. This is a wonderful opportunity to meet her and discover how paintings are planned and created. Click Keirce to read more about her and see her art.

Kay Kerr has written and illustrated the children's book, "Corolla's Sand Horse Beach: Croatoan's Memoirs". She will be here autographing her book which is a true story about one of the stallions that lived in Corolla. The author is an advocate for keeping the wild horses of Corolla free and safe.

October Birthstone

Pink Tourmaline and 14kt Gold Ring

October has two accepted stones as its birthstone. Opal is the more traditional. The other is tourmaline which can found in a myriad of colors: yellow, green, red, blue, pink, brown, black. Some even have bi-colored properties.

Benjamin Franklin used this gem in his studies of electricity because when it is rubbed or warmed it becomes charged with static electricity.

Click Tourmaline for more information about the ring that is illustrated.

A room hung with pictures is a room hung with thoughts.

Joshua Reynolds, artist 1723-1792

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Looking forward to hearing from you!

Sincerely,

Seaside Art Gallery
800-828-2444