Bonnie Shopper Enamels - Bonnie Shopper

Born, raised and educated in New York City, I had never entertained thoughts of being an artist or craftsperson. Music, yes. But art? Never. I earned my BBA from City College of New York, and MA in Ed from Bank Street College, also in NYC. Attending a class at Brooklyn Museum Art School introduced me to enameling.

Moving to St. Louis with husband and two young children, I continued to enamel, became involved with the Craft Alliance and showed my work in many galleries throughout the country. Other than two brief classes at Laguna Beach Art Museum in California and Arrowmont School of Crafts in Gatlinburg, Tenn, I am essentially self taught, allowing me, through many years of experimentation and happy accidents, to develop techniques which seem to be uniquely my own.

This is a marvelous medium in which to work. Basically, enameling is the fusing of powdered glass onto metal. The results are relatively rapid: each firing in a preheated 1500 degree kiln may take only two minutes. The piece is allowed to cool, then cleaned and prepared for the next layer of powdered glass to be applied and fired. This entire process is repeated many times, adding to the depth and design. My metal is copper. The combination of transparent colors of glass on this rich, warm metal is brilliant. When heated, bare copper will oxidize. I often incorporate this natural property into my design. I have most recently been experimenting with welding equipment to melt the edges of some copper pieces. I like the juxtaposition of the rough dark edge with the smooth elegance of the enameL

For a long period of time, until perhaps two years ago, I was out of touch with my craft. I had found that supplying galleries and preparing for shows had begun too much to dominate my life. I needed to stop, completely and for several years. After this long hiatus, I have gone back again and I'm fired up about firing the kiln. The process is once again fun and the result more exciting than ever.

Bonnie Shopper Enamels
Bonnie Shopper
21 Aberdeen Pl.
Clayton, MO 63105
314-862-0408
e-mail Bonnie
www.shopperenamels.com



		Born, raised and educated in New York City, I had never entertained thoughts of being an artist or craftsperson. Music, yes. But art? Never. I earned my BBA from City College of New York, and MA in Ed from Bank Street College, also in NYC. Attending a class at Brooklyn Museum Art School introduced me to enameling. Moving to St. Louis with husband and two young children, I continued to enamel, became involved with the Craft Alliance and showed my work in many galleries throughout the country. Other than two brief classes at Laguna Beach Art Museum in California and Arrowmont School of Crafts in Gatlinburg, Tenn, I am essentially self taught, allowing me, through many years of experimentation and happy accidents, to develop techniques which seem to be uniquely my own. This is a marvelous medium in which to work. Basically, enameling is the fusing of powdered glass onto metal. The results are relatively rapid: each firing in a preheated 1500 degree kiln may take only two minutes. The piece is allowed to cool, then cleaned and prepared for the next layer of powdered glass to be applied and fired. This entire process is repeated many times, adding to the depth and design. My metal is copper. The combination of transparent colors of glass on this rich, warm metal is brilliant. When heated, bare copper will oxidize. I often incorporate this natural property into my design. I have most recently been experimenting with welding equipment to melt the edges of some copper pieces. I like the juxtaposition of the rough dark edge with the smooth elegance of the enameL For a long period of time, until perhaps two years ago, I was out of touch with my craft. I had found that supplying galleries and preparing for shows had begun too much to dominate my life. I needed to stop, completely and for several years. After this long hiatus, I have gone back again and I'm fired up about firing the kiln. The process is once again fun and the result more exciting than ever. Bonnie Shopper Enamels Bonnie Shopper 21 Aberdeen Pl. Clayton, MO 63105 314-862-0408 e-mail Bonnie www.shopperenamels.com Home \| Artisans \| Membership \| ArtSmart \| Contact \| Featured Craftsman \| Mission \| Links \| Members Only
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