Hot Chilli anodized aluminium bangle by Hazel Atkinson
This beautiful hand painted bangle measures 7 cm across and is predominantely red with orange and darker red heart decoration. It is made from anodized aluminium which makes it light to wear but is also strong. This is part of the 'Natural Selection' range Hazel's latest collection.
Hazel is a leading jewellery designer living and working in Nottingham U.K.
After graduating from Loughborough College of Art and Design, she established her business in 1984 and built an enviable reputation for bold, colourful and eye catching design.
Today her work can be seen in over 200 galleries and independent retailers throughout the U.K, USA, New Zealand and mainland Europe. She also designs and makes bespoke jewellery, and has made pieces for theatre, T.V. and Film.
Hazel is pleased to introduce her new collection
‘Natural Selection’ which replaces her previous range ‘Heaven and Earth'.
‘Natural Selection’ has evolved through a painstaking process of experimentation and elimination using various dying, printing and painting techniques to finally produce a collection of strong vivid colours and intricate patterns
Each piece is designed and hand crafted in Hazel’s Nottingham studio.
All earrings are fitted with Sterling silver hooks and the pendants are supplied with a 16 inch (40.5 cm) silver chain.
Anodizing is a process which can be applied to aluminium to cause a layer of aluminium oxide to grow on the metals surface.
This layer is transparent, but porous, and can absorb certain dyes and inks, aswell as grease, dirt and moisture.
Work made of clean, pure aluminium is suspended in an acid solution, and an electrical current is passed through it. The current will flow from the work (which is the positive element , the anode) through the electrolyte to the cathode ( the negative element) and causing a chemical reaction between the oxygen in the water and the aluminium, building a layer of oxide on the surface.
At the same time the sulphuric acid eats into this oxide layer, creating microscopic pores, which will absorb certain pigments.
After this process I hand paint and decorate the metal with permanent inks and specialist dyes. During this part of the process latex gloves have to be worn so as not to contaminate the anodized surface with grease and dirt from fingers. However, sometimes a stray fingerprint can be found if you look closely.
After decorating with inks, the metal is suspended in hot dyes for 15 mins, and then it is boiled in water for 30 - 60 minutes to seal the colour permanently.
Finally, the coloured metal is cleaned with a mild solvent, and then ready to be used.
