A Unique Art Form - Acid glass Etching
Acid glass etching is a unique yet endangered art form. Acid Glass etching has some of the same effects as sand blasting but they are two different art forms. Acid glass etching also has a variety of watered down techniques that are still applied today as the traditional from of acid glass etching is rather dangerous and attempted by few artists.
Acid glass etching has been used for centuries dating back to the Victorian times where examples of this art form can be witnessed through mirrors and pub windows during the Victorian era. This type of etching was used to add decoration and color to glass and mirrors. The original process for acid glass etching was to use a wax stencil that was placed on areas of the glass or mirror that the artist did not want exposed to the acid. Artists used Hydrofluoric Acid which is the best type of acid to be used for glass etching yet it is lethal to a human being. When the glass or mirror was dipped into the acid, the fumes that it produced were poisonous and if the Hydrofluoric Acid touched a part of the artists body, it would dissolve the skin and tissue. Many artists have even lost their fingers and hands due to the use of this acid.
These days, only modern glass Etching are used. Hydrofluoric acids turned out to be expensive. So Artists had an alternative solution like the solutions and the creams in the mirrors that helped in creating wonderful arts. An Artist who is a beginner can use those solutions and chemical creams as they are not harmful to health.
As the finished product is similar in the case of sand blasting or sand abrasive etching to acid glass Etching, many people start comparing the two methods. But they are not the same. Artists use sand blasting to carve the mirror or glass but it is not possible with the acid glass Etching. Time cannot be saved in sand blasting and it involves many equipments to perform. Currently many artists don't prefer to use hydrofluoric acids and they opt for creams and solutions. So the work can be a bit hard and there is every chance for an error to happen. Chemicals used are not strong enough and the work may dry up when compared to other methods like sand blasting and acid blasting. A process of streaking and splotching has to be done if the work is not finished properly. Various techniques can be used with the sand abrasive Etching whereas chemical glass Etching cannot be handled with different techniques and it is restricted to acid.
Acid glass Etching are used by very few artists as it involves lot of risks to the human life as the techniques involved in it are very hazardous. It is the main reason that artists don't prefer this type of art. It is very difficult for these modern art techniques to replace this splendid art that created a great influence among the people during the Victorian times.
Acid glass etching has been used for centuries dating back to the Victorian times where examples of this art form can be witnessed through mirrors and pub windows during the Victorian era. This type of etching was used to add decoration and color to glass and mirrors. The original process for acid glass etching was to use a wax stencil that was placed on areas of the glass or mirror that the artist did not want exposed to the acid. Artists used Hydrofluoric Acid which is the best type of acid to be used for glass etching yet it is lethal to a human being. When the glass or mirror was dipped into the acid, the fumes that it produced were poisonous and if the Hydrofluoric Acid touched a part of the artists body, it would dissolve the skin and tissue. Many artists have even lost their fingers and hands due to the use of this acid.
These days, only modern glass Etching are used. Hydrofluoric acids turned out to be expensive. So Artists had an alternative solution like the solutions and the creams in the mirrors that helped in creating wonderful arts. An Artist who is a beginner can use those solutions and chemical creams as they are not harmful to health.
As the finished product is similar in the case of sand blasting or sand abrasive etching to acid glass Etching, many people start comparing the two methods. But they are not the same. Artists use sand blasting to carve the mirror or glass but it is not possible with the acid glass Etching. Time cannot be saved in sand blasting and it involves many equipments to perform. Currently many artists don't prefer to use hydrofluoric acids and they opt for creams and solutions. So the work can be a bit hard and there is every chance for an error to happen. Chemicals used are not strong enough and the work may dry up when compared to other methods like sand blasting and acid blasting. A process of streaking and splotching has to be done if the work is not finished properly. Various techniques can be used with the sand abrasive Etching whereas chemical glass Etching cannot be handled with different techniques and it is restricted to acid.
Acid glass Etching are used by very few artists as it involves lot of risks to the human life as the techniques involved in it are very hazardous. It is the main reason that artists don't prefer this type of art. It is very difficult for these modern art techniques to replace this splendid art that created a great influence among the people during the Victorian times.
About the Author:
Ales Lombergar is an acid etching artist specializing in unique acid glass etching and glass etching techniques.
posted by Marcondes Allen at 11:39 PM
0 Comments:
Post a Comment
<< Home