Original paintings on metal occupy a prominent position in Lana’s portfolio. The metal sheets are in various textures giving an interesting ground for the paintings themselves. The overall look is contemporary and crisp. The metal gives an edge to even flowing lines and organic shapes. The metal paintings are framed in minimalist metal frames to complement the material and give the work substance.
Metal suits contemporary interiors because it holds an edge that paint on canvas cannot. Even flowing, organic shapes stay crisp, and the surface changes as the light moves across the room through the day.
Pieces are hung with stand-off fittings where depth and shadow are wanted, and framed minimally where the metal itself should do the work.
The work
Finishes, and what the light does
The metal sheets are worked in different textures, and the texture matters more than the colour. A brushed ground throws light in one direction and changes as you walk past it; a more broken surface scatters it and stays quieter. The same painted design on two grounds is two different pieces.
That is also why metal photographs badly and shows well in person. Almost everything interesting about the surface is in how it behaves as the light moves across it through the day.
Where metal suits a room
Contemporary interiors, mostly, and rooms with joinery or hard finishes that a canvas would sit oddly against. Metal holds an edge that paint on canvas cannot, so even flowing, organic shapes stay crisp at a distance.
Hallways and stairwells are worth considering, since a metal piece rewards being passed rather than sat in front of. Above a fireplace, check what the heat does before committing: a working fire is not the place for every finish.
Commissioning
Pieces are available from the Bowdon showroom and by commission, sized and coloured to the room they will live in. Bring a photograph and a measurement of the wall and we can work from there.
Questions we get asked
Can the finish be matched to the room?
Yes. Finishes are matched to what is already in the room, usually the metals in the lighting and the ironmongery.
Does metal work in a period house?
It can, though it is more often specified in contemporary rooms. It depends on what else the room is doing.
Can pieces be made in a set?
Yes. Several panels working together often suit a long wall better than one large piece.