Summer 1 - Sarah Shanahan
Summer 1 - Sarah Shanahan
by Sarah Shanahan£1,900.00
Observational drawings of wild flowers, hand carved into wax. Lost wax cast glass and sterling silver. After casting, I carve details back into the glass, polishing, finishing and patinating.
Working in glass and metal my intent is to translate the infinite variety of living things into beautiful, colourful and desirable objects.
After training as a silversmith and jeweller, I undertook commissions and worked as a freelance wax carver. In my personal work, I made a series of smallwork decorative objects. These used a variety of techniques, including enamelling, stone setting and etching.
I became fascinated by the contrasting qualities of glass and metal, which seemed to offer huge scope for creativity.
A recent QEST scholarship has allowed me to produce a new body of work in glass and silver.
Working predominantly with the ancient process of lost wax casting, I hand carve intricate forms from nature. Each unique piece takes many hours of careful carving. I enjoy the challenge of accurately recording features which are often unappreciated. By highlighting the beauty and fragility of species, I aspire to encourage awareness and conservation.
I am interested in portraying living things, not taxidermy, and seek to capture a fleeting moment in time.
The colour transparency of glass allows the play of light and shadows to imitate life and movement. Adding metal elements gives fine definition and forceful silhouettes.