The Insect Sculptures

The sculptures are created as a response to the artists’ longtime fascination with insect form, texture and color. Each piece is inspired by a living species and shares the same scientific name. Most are larger than their natural counterparts, with the exception of some of the scarab beetles, which are close to actual size. Recent work emphasizes larger settings that place the insects in scale surroundings. All are one-of-a-kind, completely handmade.

What is Vitreous Enamel?

Vitreous Enamel is a transparent or opaque glass coating that is fused to a metal. The process of enameling involves applying finely ground glass in thin layers to a metal, which is then fired in a high temperature furnace, causing the glass to melt and fuse to the metal surface. Enameling is a centuries old craft that is known to date back to the Fifth Century B.C. It appears in the arts and crafts of numerous cultures throughout the world.

Creating the Enameled Insects

The enameled sculptures use the brilliant colors and transparent qualities of vitreous enamel, to recreate the amazing patterns found on living insects from around the world. The parts are cut out of flat copper sheets, then annealed, textured and shaped over various stakes and forms.

After the parts are assembled and cleaned, enamel coatings are applied by hand in layers. Each application requires a firing in a 1525 F furnace to fuse the enamel to the metal surface. To achieve the desired color and transparency, as many as eight firings may be necessary. After final assembly, all non-enameled surfaces are antiqued or patinated and given a protective finish. Some of the larger sculptures incorporate welded steel, bronze and copper.