Ian Cooper – Worcestershire Open Studios

80 Ian Cooper

Pewter Work and Painting

Artform: Blacksmithing & Metalwork, Painting

Experimenting with different sorts of metalwork I found my way to Pewter.
I’m fascinated by the way in which the metal moves from solid to liquid with the addition of relatively little heat… and then rapidly back again.

Whilst molten I pour the metal into a variety of moulds… often swirling the liquid whilst it cools to see what happens. Experience teaches you how the Pewter is likely to react, but nothing is ever certain and the results can be unexpected…. Sometimes excitingly so!

I also work with sheet Pewter hammering the metal into shape over formers or freehand to create interesting pieces that reflect the versatility of the metal.

My artworks are similarly experimental. I use a roller, palette knife, scraper… in fact almost anything… to move paint (oils) around the board or canvas in flowing movements which create dynamic waves of movement and colour.

Abstract but with a familiarity that reminds me of land, sea and air.