Copper Patina

Patina is a chemical process that occurs naturally over time when metal is exposed to the outdoor elements. In the art and design world, patination is often created by human hands. By adding various combinations of acidity and alkalinity to metal surfaces, reactions are created that change the color and texture of the metal. Patinas are notoriously hard to control but this is what makes the process interesting, magical, and frustrating in equal measure.

After extensive experimentation, Arch devised her own formulas as well as using commercially available patina solutions in order to make a wide array of colors on thin sheets of brass and copper. This allows her to create her own color palette to paint her sculptures’ surfaces.

From these malleable patinated metal sheets, she individually hand cuts the desired shapes, like her iconic “feathers.” By hanging them closely together, she creates fields of color intrinsic to the sculpture’s design.