Description

Land Ahoy

Land Ahoy is a seascape pot by Adam Aaronson. This complex, freeblown glass sculptural vessel is a triumph of composition. The surface is fired with pure silver leaf and textured coloured glass. This creates a dramatic, shimmering perspective.

Inspiration

“Water always looks different when you are looking inland and can see the way it reflects the light. It picks up all the colours of the coastline. Blue/black water is shot through with myriad shades of grey, brown, and green, constantly shifting and shimmering with streaks of lemon, champagne and gold, interspersed with flashes of silver. Minutes later, the water can turn red and yellow, reflecting the bright colours on the far shore”.

Asked what makes one of his landscape bowls different from landscapes made by other glass artists, Adam replied

“Every artist wants to develop their own style. Glass is tricky to work with at the best of times. It doesn’t always do what you expect it to. But as your work progesses, you develop your own recognisable style. I think that I approach glass from a different perspective, and perhaps that’s why some people have commented that my glass doesn’t always look like glass!”

Technique

First Adam chooses a palette of powdered glass colours. Next he lays them out so he can use these to reflect a landscape that he finds inspiring.

He applies layers of pure silver leaf, delicately adding the powdered colour, to create a soft luminosity. So at this point the silver becomes a canvas, because the colours will melt onto it. This helps to create the effects of light reflecting on seascapes or forest scenes, or perhaps a change in the seasons or dramatic skies.

The colours melt into the surface by a process of heating and reheating and importantly this builds up unique tones and texture.

Land Ahoy is a classical form. Adam refers to this shape as a pot. It doesn’t require special lighting and the reflections will change depending on where you place it. While it is mainly decorative, it can also be functional.