When I first discovered the world of vitreous enamel twenty years ago I was besotted, and excited by it's endless possibilities. A recurring vision I had was of animals - insects, amphibians, reptiles, (both real and fantastical) glowing and alive in a way my artist mates working in "ordinary" mediums could only dream about. Diane Buettner and Sharron Kree working together as metalsmith and enameller bring that vision alive in a way that is completely their own. When the big bugger above came up unexpectedly on my screen I felt sick with excitement and anticipation (and more than a little envy!) What other wonderful stuff had they done? Their love for and expert knowledge of their coleopterological subjects along with the necessary hard-won technical expertise they so obviously possess makes them the first of our "Benchmarks".
See their work at http://www.beetlesculpture.com
