Pat Johnson

My aim is to introduce students to the wide range the wonderful effects than can be achieved when enamelling on opper. The colours and textures produced by enamel on copper, both on flat surfaces and on bowls, can be used for decorative purposes or for expressions of fine art. Enamelling techniques are initially simple but can lead to an absorbing exploration of content and meaning.

Enamelling is a very quick process and students will be able to complete at least ten pieces during a course. Beginners to enamelling will be shown the basic processes, and there will be samples on display, complete with instructions for achieving the effects, for all levels of difficulty. Advanced enamellers will work on their own projects, which are discussed before the course begins. The courses welcome students of all levels of expertise because, due to the nature of enamelling, each person has something unique to offer.

My courses work with enamels (coloured glasses) that have been ground to a fineness of 80 mesh. The enamels are applied to the copper surface by sifting and are held in place with a fine spray of wallpaper paste. This allows for a range of processes to be used to achieve textures, designs, and images: free hand drawing, stencils, and sgraffito. Enamel firings take approximately one minute, with the kiln temperature set at an average of 920 degrees centigrade, but different effects are achieved by slightly altering the time and temperature. Learning to work with these variations are at the heart of the course.

Geology is my principal source. Generally I like my pieces to look like they have been produced by forces of nature, but I always include a little component that shows that thought was involved in the process.

They can look at my two web sites and visit galleries and exhibitions that show my pieces. They may also come to my workshop. Contact me for more information.

I am self-taught in enamelling on copper, although I have a degree in Chemistry. For 15 years I worked free-lance within the architectural enamelling industry where I learned the techniques of large scale enamelling on steel.

I have been teaching at West Dean for over 30 years and run workshops for groups at other venues when requested. This had included large scale enamelling workshops in an industrial facility.

My work is collected privately and my large scale commissions are also in private venues.

I have written many articles about enamelling which were published in the British Society of Enamellers Newsletter.

I belong to the British Society of Enamellers.