More On Etching

I've had so many pieces in the process stage during the last three weeks that I have forgotten to add to my post on etching. Here is my etched bi-metal piece on a handforged copper neck ring:

Bi-Metal Etching of Mimbres Pottery Shard

Another etching design I have used is a print of New Mexico artist Nan Orr's black and white designs. So far, I've only etched these on copper by printing them first on Press N Peel paper and then transferring the designs to copper with heat from an iron.

Copper Etched Pieces on Fused Fine Silver Chain

Two 1"x1/2" Etched Copper Rectangles

Nan Orr's Sunflower Etched on Copper Square

It is really fun to transfer this artist's designs to copper with PnP and then etch them. If the designs don't fill in when transferred, you can fill them in by hand with a Sharpie fine tip, permanent marker. I love having that ability to fix the design before it goes into the etchant.

Annie at A Spinner Weaver blogspot, has a post about an artist in Illinois, George Colin, who paints in a colorful, primitive style. When I saw the post and his work, I thought how it would look when transferred to copper for an etching. Hmmmmmm. Ya never know what will happen next! 

A Wild Ride To The Land of Enchantment

The Ceiling of La Posta Restaurant in Old Mesilla, New Mexico. Magical.

Tuesday my daughter and I flew into El Paso, Texas in the middle of a sandstorm driven by 50-60- mile winds. At least they were tail winds but the flight from Phoenix to El Paso was a totally white knuckle, teeth clenching, stomach churning, beverage free experience. The captive audience of the full-to-capacity flight broke into spontaneous appluase as the wheels touched down and the wings finally stabilized.

The drive from El Paso to Las Cruces, New Mexico was equally thrilling. The 50 mile per hour winds caused pieces of rooftop ventilation covers and highway traffic signs to levitate and cross the freeway in front of us.

Since we have been well spoiled by California weather, this inconvenient truth was foreign to us and a little unnerving. We headed for our favorite Mexican restuarant--La Posta in Old Mesilla, New Mexico. By then, the wind was blowing the New Mexico real estate horizontally into our eyes, mouth and lungs as we walked from the car to La Posta but the vision of enchiladas and margaritas lured us on.

A Fountain Framed by a Ristra of Red Chiles in the Entry of La Posta.

Yes, besides eating I did find some stones to purchase on this trip and you can see those in an upcoming post.