COPPER ETCHING Etching by goldsmiths and other metal-workers in order to decorate metal items such as guns, armour, cups and plates has been known in Europe since the Middle Ages at least, and may go back to antiquity. Relief etching was invented by William Blake in about 1788, and he has been almost the only artist to use it in it’s original form. Etching is also used in the manufacturing of printed circuit boards and semiconductor devices, on glass, and in the preparation of metallic specimens for microscopic observation.

Rembrandt, Self-portrait, etching, c.1630

In Spain, Francisco de Goya ( ) - one of the world's most influential printmakers - was the undisputed leader of the Romanticism Art Movement. In 1799, he produced a series of 80 etchings entitled Los Caprichos commenting on a range of human behaviour

Etching by Daniel Hopfer, who is believed to have been the first to apply the technique to printmaking

Jamie Spinello Celestial Variation III

Jamie Spinello Occult Moon Jewelry

Scripted Jewelry

Student Examples

Copper Etching Process Saw, file, sand piece of copper into desired jewelry (earrings, bracelet, pendant, etc) Cover all areas of copper with paint enamel Scratch away enamel on areas you want to etch Place copper in acid bath Clean enamel off of copper using steel wool. Sand, buff, & finish piece of jewelry