Repousse

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Repousse

• A method of creating a relief design by
  hammering or pressing the reverse side of a metal
  surface.   Literal meaning in French, "to push
  back".
• Repousse' is done in metals ranging from thin
  soft copper sheet that can be worked with wooden
  hand tools up to heavy steel plate worked hot
  with power tools and machines. Repousse' is
  used to create gold and silver jewelry, plate
  armour, decorative architectural panels or can be
  pieced together to produce sculpture in the round
  such as the Statue of Liberty.

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Lets look at some examples

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So, how do you get started?

• Begin with 3-4 thumbnail sketches of possible
  designs. If you plan on using letters, numbers or
  subject matter that must be facing a certain way,
  draw the design normally and then see the teacher
  for further instruction
• With the help of the teacher, choose the best
  composition suited to working with metal
• Get a piece of metal in your chosen color (brass,
  silver (aluminum) or copper. Cover the edges of
  the metal with masking tape

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• Trace the metal onto paper and then enlarge your
  thumbnail sketch to the paper
• Carefully tape the drawing, face up, on top and
  on one side of the metal
• Trace over the lines of your composition
• Gently lift your paper and you should see your
  design
• Gather a pad of newspaper and a sturdy board

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• Lay the metal over the pad of newspaper face down
• Using the tools provided, begin pushing the metal
  outward (into the pad of newspaper)
• IMPORTANT
• You need to begin in the middle of the metal
  plate slowly and carefully working your way out
  from the center. If you do not follow this step,
  you will have wrinkles in your metal!
• When your design is complete, there will be
  several options for coloring your metal plate.

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IMPORTANT

• Decide which items are to be the farthest back in
  the picture and work from the front pressing with
  tool into metal
• Turn over and work from the back to the front
  making the work protrude from the metal
• Always work from the center out

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Some things that will be taken into consideration
when grading your Repousse work
Creativity and Originality of design Good
compositional skills Willingness to take chances,
begin again if necessary and/or put in necessary
time and effort (both in and out of class if
needed) to create good artwork Color choices that
enhance your work Wise use of class time,
neatness, cleaning up after yourself and putting
away of materials daily, following directions and
practicing safety Meeting the deadline Other
criteria may be added as we go along if I feel it
is needed