Ice Spectrum - Silver and Vitreous Enamel Using traditional silversmithing techniques my work creates a silver landscape for the table, which is influenced by the natural environment. Although I have always had an interest in combining silver with other materials, especially stone and wood, my work has developed more recently to include elements of colour. Adding this colour with transparent vitreous enamel enables me to create organic patterns on the surface of the silver that are highlighted by the refraction of light. The enamelling process is slow and meditative. Each layer is applied wet using a quill, then fired in a kiln. This is repeated several times to build up the final surface. The last layer is ground smooth before a final firing to reveal its full character. Ice Spectrum is a series of bowls created in response to a bitterly cold January, inspired by the shifting hues of frost and ice viewed through my workshop window. Technical information for how Ice Spectrum is created Each bowl is pressed on a hydraulic press using male and female steel formers. The edge of the bowl is 'caulked' with the hammer to ensure there is a lip to enamel to. Using a micro motor and metal burr tools, the bubbles are engraved into the surface of the silver. The silver is then annealed (heated with a torch) twice to ensure metal stability before the enamelling process. It is finally prepared for enamelling with a glass brush. The vitreous enamel is ground very fine from lumps of glass in a mortar and pestle to ensure a smooth consistency is achieved. (It becomes the consistency similar to talcum powder) The enamel is suspended in water and is applied to the surface of the silver wet using a quill. This is a very delicate process as you are asking the enamel to 'stick' to the sides of the bowl! Once the surface is covered with the enamel the piece is f ired in a kiln until the glass melts. Once cooled the enamel is applied again with the quill for at least another two layers and is fired each time in between. When the required colour and thickness of enamel has been achieved the surface of the enamel is ground back by hand using carborundum and diamond papers to an even surface. The bowl then receives its final firing. Once the enamel is completed the bowl is polished.