Tip - Etch Painting
One way using Etch Cream or Blue Etch is to free etch with artists paint brushes. This technique simulates engraving and can is used for small detail work.
A liner brush gives you more control over the etch than an applicator bottle, and can pick u
We recommend you go to our tip page on Etching with Blue Etch as well. On that page, we explain about using Blue Etch with the needle tip applicator that comes with the bottle. many of the techniques are the same as you will use with a brush. You may want to use both the needle tip applicator and a brush when creating your design, so the information on that page will be most useful. You can also work with a small sponge for tree leaves and ground cover, so you may want to include one in your supplies.
#15-0302 Blue Etch
Synthetic Artists Brushes: Various small flat, liner brushes
practice glass
Paper Towels
Coated or plastic paper plate
Small plastic bowl of water
Set up your work area:
1. Place your work table in the vicinity of the sink if possible. You will be rinsing your glass off often as you work. Be comfortable, but being a short distance to the sink is a plus. Also cover your work surface with paper or paper towels so you do not scratch your glass and protect polished surfaces from the etch.
2. You will be cleaning and drying off your brushes often , so tear off a few pieces of paper towels from the roll before you start. If they are large sheets, you may want to cut them down to smaller sheets to conserve them. You'll use a fair amount of paper toweling, and you will need to work with clean pieces so not to get etch where you do not want it.
3. Fill a small plastic bowl about half way with water. The Blue Etch can dry out quickly on your brush and gum up the hairs. When this happens, rinse the brush in the bowl of water and dry well with paper towels. Water neutralizes the Blue Etch, so a damp brush is fine, a wet one is not.
4. Last, put the rest of your materials on the table: plastic plate, practice glass, artist brushes, bottle of Blue Etch with needle tip applicator screwed on and the needle tip reamer.
1. Squeeze a small amount of Blue Etch onto the plastic plate. Do not squeeze more than you think you will need between rinsings. The Blue Etch dries up fast and will get too gummy to work with a brush if it sits too long.
2. If your brush is very stiff, dip it in the bowl of water until it softens, then wipe off the water in a paper towel until the brush feels pretty dry, but pliable.
3. Working with a liner brush: Dip the liner brush in the Blue Etch until it is loaded with etch. Roll the brush at the edge of the pool of etch to make a point on the brush. (the same as you would if you were loading a brush for painting) Working a small area at a time, make your lines. Rinse off and dry the glass well, then move to the next section.
4. Working with a flat brush: Hold the brush with the flat side level with the plate. Dip the side of the brush in the puddle of etch and lightly pounce the brush into the etch. Flip the brush over and repeat. Drag the brush along the plate to flatten the bristles, flip and do the same. Hold the flat edge to the glass and make long even strokes. How you lay the brush down is how it will look when rinsed. The Blue Etch starts etching immediately, so you must be careful to not make jerky strokes and do not brush over and over the same spot if you wish to see the strokes. Practice this on the scrap glass first, so you see the results before you do your project.
Article Posted: 05/11/2018 01:20:04 PM
