Studio Saturday

Etching Silver Metal - Part 1 - the design

There are many ways to get texture onto metal. You can engrave it, sand it, chase it, hammer it or use a rolling mill. Etching is simply another way to get the design you want onto the metal. I did a jewelry collection of the design in the above photo many years ago. It was an original drawing with four quadrants. I called it the “Four Corners” in honor of the only four states in the US that intersect at one point - Arizona, New Mexico, Utah and Colorado. There is actually a monument there that you can visit. At the time I decided that etching would be my best bet to texture the metal with that design and create some wonderful bespoke pieces.

So I would like to take you through the etching process from design, the resist, applying the resist, setting up for etching, etching the metal, disposal of chemicals. And finally show you a jewelry collection.

Part 1 - your design

the Oil Pen - direct to the metal

I have used these oil pens because you two sizes of tips in one marker. Just draw your design directly onto the metal.

Original art - needs to be digitized to copy onto the resist paper.

Just scan your original drawing or draw with apps (Procreate) on your ipad.

Commercial Graphics

There are many pattern books for sale out there. Just make sure the images are not copywrited. Hironori Yasuda had several books out that are perfect.

Below the paywall you will find a mini tutorial on etching words into metal along with a video

So go find or make a wonderful design and come back next week to see how I get the design to be a resist.

No matter how you subscribe thanks for being here.

Louise x

But I want to etch words - needs to be digitized.