Southern California Artist Sue Priest, works in a variety of mediums in an effort to challenge and express herself innovatively. Originally a wetland ecologist, in 2017 Sue’s life work took a radical change and the need to reinvent herself became necessary. Relocation and reinvention were both accidental and synchronistic. As was the discovery of copper flame art. While Sue was teaching herself to silversmith by using copper, she observed coppers unique reactiveness to heat and chemicals. For the past five years, she has been cultivating copper flame art skills. She draws on and colors solid copper pieces with a torch to create original wall art and jewelry.

Copper is turned into wall art & jewelry using a torch to heat & reduce the copper. This forces the copper to oxidize on the surface into different colors based on the temp. A clearcoat is applied. The copper is cut, hammered, and sanded as part of the prework. Then an oxygen/propane torch system is used to heat and oxidize the copper. The coloration of the copper through the use of heat/flame is done in several parts 1. Heating, 2. Drawing, & 3. Coloring. The oxygen to propane ratio on the torch is altered to progress from drawing to coloring and back again to color and control different sections. The final detail is sanded out and then retorched using the same technique. Each piece whether jewelry or wall art is done through the same process and is original, and sealed to stop the oxidation process.

Sue also works in more traditional mediums such as acrylic and pastel. Although the mediums are more traditional, Sue’s approach to them is currently evolving from representative work to contemporary abstract with tenets of cubism. Art like science for Sue is about discovery and exploration to form a greater understanding of the world around her.