Artwork

Roofing is an art in and of itself but read on to see what kind of artwork being a roofer can lead to ...

How does an artist choose the material on which to apply paint?  Over the centuries artists have experimented with painting on supports as diverse as silk, glass and concrete.   While painting on copper might seem radical or new, master painters including Rembrandt and El Greco were using the metal as a support hundreds of years ago. Sheet copper’s smooth surface and its natural luminosity lent a surreal feel to their paintings and contemporary artists continue to be seduced by the material’s innate qualities.

Perhaps it was serendipity – or just plain inevitable – that Timothy Spillane first started using sheet copper for his paintings.  As both a craftsman and a contractor specializing in the installation of slate, tile and copper roofing, Mr. Spillane gained a hands-on appreciation for copper over the years.  It would take more than a few rainy days sitting idly in his company shop, but in time, the scraps of copper and old cans of exterior paint stored there began to suggest possibilities beyond the roofing trade. 

In a process as frustrating at first as it is exciting now, Mr. Spillane explored what he could do with oil paint, verdigris, ink and lacquers on copper.  Gradually, he developed a style that suited his penchant for the landscapes and scenes that he had only previously painted in watercolor.  The result is an evolving journey of artistic discovery that is reflected in each of his unique paintings.

To learn more about Tim's art go to http://paintedcopper.com/default.aspx