It’s been said that some things get better with age. This adage holds true, especially for copper and brass. Because of its chemical makeup, copper and its popular alloy naturally oxidize when exposed to the elements—a process called patination. Rather than destroying the metals, however, the oxidation leads brass and copper to develop beautiful, sought-after colorations.
It’s this same quality that has led artists like Adam Colangelo to fall in love with copper. In a series of large-scale pieces displayed all over the U.S. and Canada, the artist brings to life the color and character that patination adds to metals.
As he says, “In my experience working with metals, copper has proven to be the most versatile. Firstly, it’s soft, which makes it easy to bend and cut. It can also be oxidized through heat and/or chemical treatments, which reveal a surprisingly wide spectrum of colors and textures.”
A Historic Favorite
Of course, Colangelo is far from the only artist who appreciates the beauty and versatility of copper. The Colossus of Rhodes, one of the Seven Wonders of the World, was made from brass, an alloy of copper. Likewise, the Statue of Liberty, the country’s icon of freedom and a gift from France, is composed of 160,000 pounds of copper.
Furthermore, sheets made from copper were also used as a canvas by some of the most well-regarded artists in history, including Leonardo da Vinci and Rembrandt.
However, you don’t have to be an artist to take advantage of copper’s aesthetic properties. These days, many architects use the metal in the facades they design or in the fixtures inside a building. One stylish fire station in Chaminix, France, for instance proudly sports a copper cladding on its outer walls.
A Worthwhile Investment
That being said, beauty can only be extracted from the finest materials. Hence, artists looking at copper and brass sales must choose the highest quality metal possible to facilitate the best creative work possible.
Luckily, there are copper & brass sales offered by leading suppliers, such as Rotax Metals. By working with trusted suppliers like these, artists can rest assured that they will get excellent metals, delivered on time, and in accordance to their custom specifications.
Sources:
Artist’s Work with Copper Showcases the Metal’s Diverse Colors and Textures, ThinkCopper.org
Copper Facts: Copper In Art, Copper.org
