Suzanne Donazetti
About 20 years ago, I began working with metal. My artistic journey has taken me through painting, fiber, quilting, basketry and jewelry. I
was never a weaver, but one day I was compelled to weave silver and that’s when the adventure began. I first colored the silver or copper with chemical patinas, but the colors were not satisfying. So I experimented with
different materials until I mastered the process of painting on copper. As far as I know, I am the only artist who uses this technique. The journey
has taken me full circle, back to painting.
I am fascinated by the interplay of color on this unique canvas and try to communicate moments in space and time through a refractive lens
of woven metal. The design process is complex and labor intensive, involving precise measuring and planning. I simultaneously gild and
paint two layers, the warp and the weft, so that the design will remain through the
weaving. I use 36 gauge sheet copper as my canvas and
metallic leaf, transparent inks and pigments for my paints because of the unique qualities each material brings to the others. To make the colors
richer, I first gild the metal with copper leaf, or composition silver and gold
leaf. After sanding, I spray the paints and inks on the warps and wefts, often including universal symbols of the circle, square, cross, or spiral.
The pigments of the inks are intense and, when mixed with water, create a unique watercolor effect. After the inks dry, I wax the copper to prevent
oxidation and facilitate weaving. I then cut the warps in gentle curves.
As I weave, the colors come together to suggest a place viewed through a lens into a parallel universe. My goal is to add to the beauty of our
world. Through the communication of color, I seek to provide moments of harmony and peace for meditation and reflection.
HOME
