"Email" means more than you think!

"The word enamel comes [from] the High German word 'smelzan' later becoming 'esmail' in Old French. Hence the current usage of 'smalto' in Italian, 'email' in French and German and 'enamel' in English.

It is thus defined as a vitreous, glass like coating fused on to a metallic base. In history, enamels were initially applied on firstly gold, then silver, copper, bronze and more latterly on iron and steel. The term is also used for the application of decorative fusible glass applied to glass objects."[i]

"Enameling is a good fit for me because I am strongly influenced by accidental occurrences and I like to experiment. The kiln offers many accidental occurrences, but I have learned in art as in life you have to accept risk and failure in order to move ahead. Sometimes we have to play the game of life with sweaty palms!" Pat Perito

While working as an R.N. Pat became interested in metalsmithing after collecting several strands of African trading beads and other beads from all over the world.

Chihuly inspired brooch

Two hundred necklaces and three years of metal classes at Montgomery College, she began working with enamels in 1980.

Ten years later she set up a studio in her home and continues to take enamel workshops all over the U.S. Pat regularly exhibits with the Washington Guild of Goldsmiths.

Pat’s love of color initially attracted her to enameling. She is  fascinated by the results of accidents that can happen as part of the process. “Hopefully you remember what you did and kept notes. Stretch yourself, you’ll learn something each time.”

Tabletop Art

One year Pat dropped her annual tabletop piece when taking it out of the kiln, she popped it back in and it is now one of her favorite pieces. However that has not become a mainstay technique to try to recreate the result! “It’s the mistakes that give you a whole new road to travel.”

Inspiration is found in parts of things -- a corner of a Monet garden, nachos, butterfly wings, the view from

Nachos inspired necklace
(her son ate one model)

her studio into the yard, just a small piece not the whole thing -- that lend themselves to a series of pieces. “I’m always looking. Something that’s fascinated me for years, after a storm, someone pulls out of the driveway leaving a puddle of water with a bit of oil floating on it, a flat rainbow.” Pat is about to start sketches for a series of pieces inspired by Hubble Telescope images a friend sent to her.

Wall Art

Although she takes inspiration from abstract and impressionist artists Pat describes her work as contemporary not traditional. She likes “to take cloisonné and make it more current, see where I can push it.”

One of the original seven “sisters” of Pleiades, Pat will be on sabbatical in 2014. Is she sad to miss this year’s 29^th Anniversary? “Yes, but I need to have knee surgery!” However, she fully expects to return for the 30^th!

2014 Jewelry

[i] http://www.iom3.org/content/history-of-enamel