Copper Patina Art - DIY - corrosion, etching, torching

After some interest in one of my instagram posts, I decided to make a video detailing how I got the same effect. Here I show the materials I use, technique, chemicals, etc. and show you results based on how long you leave it in to corrode.
The only thing I didn't show was pouring the ArtResin on it and torching out all the bubbles. There's tons of videos on that out there already

[@mattdenison658]

Very cool. Thank you for sharing your process with us. Really appreciate your chill delivery of all the necessary information, tips, opinions, warnings, narration, etc. at about the perfect level of detail. Really good video.

[@jeremyfagergren]

Thanks so much!

[@germanayala6175]

Exelente gracias mil

[@thybigballs]

Great demo.

[@kkseastar]

Thank you for your video. I'm inspired and will be trying this.

[@Nomad_Paws]

Amazing work! Thank you for the tutorial and sharing your knowledge!

[@jeremyfagergren]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@Andreawright-ci5dc]

Can't wait to try this for some of my resin projects. Stunning results :)

[@jeremyfagergren]

Thanks so much 😊

[@Nomad_Paws]

Amazing work! Thank you for taking he time doing this tutorial and share your knowledge with us.

[@jeremyfagergren]

Glad it was helpful!

[@FIZZGIG-RARF]

That's some amazing color! I love the variations created by the torching! Great job! Keep it up!

[@jeremyfagergren]

Thank you! Will do!

[@dianacarter_art]

Thank you! Can't wait to try this!

[@user-gg4of8kj6y]

Did it work for you?

[@gregames8872]

Outstanding method teaching and beautiful outcome

[@jeremyfagergren]

Many thanks!

[@dianecomtefrost]

Great videa ! Very inspiring thx

[@minihappyart]

This is so interesting!😮

[@jeremyfagergren]

Thanks!

[@kathiekarancz964]

Wow! Love it. Thanks 🐢🌮

[@RCBOSS1969]

Thank you!

[@jeremyfagergren]

You're welcome!

[@noelmurphywoodproducts9]

Hi Jeremy.. love yer work and your delivery.. I do a version of what you do but I'm not able to achieve the wonderful results that I see here today.. I will keep referring back to this video.. thank you.. be well Noel

[@jeremyfagergren]

Thanks! :)

[@murohabana9899]

Aplausos¡ Bravo¡¡

[@casteretpollux]

Just what I want to do, thanks

[@jeremyfagergren]

you're welcome! :)

[@CraigHollabaugh]

Looks like I should have paid attention in chemistry class. Thanks man, very informative, love the time lapse presentation.

[@jeremyfagergren]

Glad it was helpful!

[@lelasart]

I imagine your work sells for quite a bit because it is so beautiful -- probably some of the nicest work I've seen in a long time with metals - thank you for sharing - where do you exhibit - and sell -- it seems like these videos are from a while ago - are you still doing the metal work? Thank you for sharing - it's very inspiring

[@jeremyfagergren]

Thanks, so much! The pandemic put a real halt to art sales and exhibits, so I started focusing more on my leatherwork, which REALLY took off and kept me busy. I still do metal art and sell my originals through Etsy. Looks like 2023 is going to have more art events, so I'll probably be seen around.

[@sethprice241]

Word up.

[@lenastiward8657]

Gorgeous art piece! I am just getting into torching now and have done the beautiful textured ammonia patina. Excited to combine the two fir some earrings. Have you tried flame painting? That may hold your colors better from the torch??? This reminds me of a sunset coming down to the ocean. You have my mind reeling now!❤

[@jeremyfagergren]

yes, I've tried some flame painting, but only a smidge, nothing fancy or complicated.

[@krish-ut9de]

thabk you sir

[@jeremyfagergren]

No problem!

[@migidymarsh]

Have people ever tried heat distressing copper and bronze scales? If you've ever soldered something, you'll have seen the reds/blues it makes.

[@sharebeautifulthings2342]

Beautiful. Thank you for sharing this. Would you consider a how to/diy how to etch metal?

[@jeremyfagergren]

Maybe. I've thought about it. You're actually the first to ask. :) It took me over a year of trial and error, and plenty of $$$. Testing different tools and techniques. There's so much setup and measuring and tedious steps. I've even thought about doing a streaming, "live" event to show what I do, but It's not very dynamic and exciting to watch.

[@ovetaalexander3425]

​@jeremyfagergren I'm sure it would be worth watching! You have such a soothing voice and did a very informative video here! Thank you!

[@lowkaren1709]

Thank you so much to share this Artwork, may I know what finishing coats you’re using.

[@jeremyfagergren]

I think I mention in the video. I used ArtResin to coat it.

[@milliem1508]

Great results! I have a piece of copper in right now. Any tips for the Flame designs? Some of mine work, others not.

[@jeremyfagergren]

for the flame colors, I use a small torch. Like you'd use to make creme brulee. and then slowing make repeating passes over the same area until I get the colors/effect I want.

[@milliem1508]

I will give it a try, I’ve been using the largest most powerful torch I have. I will try this.

[@julietevelyn6466]

Did you just use a tabletop resin? Any particular brand you prefer? Love your work!❤

[@jeremyfagergren]

I haven't tried the marine epoxy resin that I've seen other artists use. I've always used ArtResin, because it doesn't give off fumes, it doesn't yellow, it's easy to work with and clean after it sets. It's a bit more expensive than other brands, but I think it's worth it.

[@KrusinTheSierra]

Beautiful! What did you do to etch the copper first? Also I’d like to know if I did a vinyl stencil would this process just eat the vinyl off? I’d like to try this process the same way I do my rusted steel art

[@jeremyfagergren]

I first etched the copper with a disc sander. But since I later used a propane torch for some of the color at the top, I would avoid using vinyl. But If I used the vinyl, I'd not use the torch.

[@KrusinTheSierra]

@@jeremyfagergren thank you for your response! I love your art

[@zimago]

Wow. How do you etch is that way

[@jeremyfagergren]

Thanks! Directly etching on the metal, I use various hand tools. Other than that, it's just the corrosion or torching with a small butane torch.

[@dianacarter_art]

How did you do the cool etching design?

[@jeremyfagergren]

Angle Grinder

[@Elle-gc6fh]

Were you able to get those colors on the top half just by torching it or did the ammonia fumes it had been sitting in contribute to the metallic rainbow effect. Thanks for showing us this technique!

[@jeremyfagergren]

The colors on the top are only from torching, which i did several hours AFTER doing the bottom half. I've done that type of coloring on several pieces, so I can say that the ammonia fumes had nothing to do with the outcome.

[@Elle-gc6fh]

​@@jeremyfagergren Thanks for the reply. The peice in the thumbnail kind of looks like the ocean and horizon. It's quite nice.

[@babettes2141]

Can you flame paint it before corrosion? And How did you etch it? A grinding wheel on dremel? I work with leather as well so its cool to find like minded artists! Very cool!

[@jeremyfagergren]

Torch it before doing the corrosion? Sure. And on this small of a piece, yeah, I used a dremel attachment. Larger pieces, I use larger wheels.

[@babettes2141]

Thanks!​@@jeremyfagergren

[@Envinrude]

Can i use only good protective oil rather a resine ?

[@jeremyfagergren]

I haven't tried using anything else, just because I know the end results will be what I need.

[@suegallagher808]

Loved this demo, inspired. How did you achieve that etching design?

[@jeremyfagergren]

I used an angle grinder at low RPMs

[@endtimeguitarist]

I just picked up patina work for an architectural company and I can’t find information on this type of work anywhere. Do you have any recommendations? Also have you ever been concerned about working with the chemicals and spraying processes involved in patina work?

[@jeremyfagergren]

As for recommendations, if I were to be doing this on a larger scale and larger pieces, I'd say get larger tubs, better equipment, and a space with LOTS of ventilation. Maybe even some type of air extractor. I haven't pursued it even further since I'm just doing some smaller pieces for artwork.

[@asher4556]

hello wanna ask instead of resin can i just spray clear coating on it?

[@jeremyfagergren]

You could I guess. But, with clear coats, sometimes you get what they call "orangle peel" and it's not smooth like glass. Prior to using ArtResin, I used like 7-8 coats of clear coat, and I HATED it. Orange peel surface that I'd have to sand and clean, and the fumes were awful.

[@ellakelly2208]

What kind of etching did you use?

[@jeremyfagergren]

angle grinder

[@OsmerDevere]

In other videos I have seen there is some talk about neutralizing the acid using baking soda water, but didn't see anything of that sort referenced in your video. So two quick questions would be 1. After resin-coating, is there any chance that the vinegar will continue to eat through to the other side, or is that not really a concern using this method? and 2. Do you use the resin on both sides, or just the patinaed side?

[@jeremyfagergren]

I still have both the smaller piece and the larger artwork with me. The acid hasn't continued or grown at all. It's been this long, and it still looks the same. I think once the resin seals it in place, it must stop. And I only applied resin to the etched side, not the back.

[@CaptainTwitchy]

@@jeremyfagergrendid you brush the resin on our pour it somehow?

[@jeremyfagergren]

ArtResin comes in part A (the resin) and part B (the hardener). So I typically just mix and pour over my artwork. Specially small pieces. But some bigger pieces, I lightly brush a layer of resin, and then do a pour. This way it helps avoid all the F-ing micro bubbles.

[@CaptainTwitchy]

@@jeremyfagergren excellent. Thanks for the reply

[@Hornyforsilver]

Can this process work on silver?

[@jeremyfagergren]

ya know, I'm not sure. A google or youtube search might turn up something?

[@ficusthetoasterboy9661]

Can you do this without the ammonia? Because I don’t have any and am wondering

[@FIZZGIG-RARF]

There are many ways to create patina on copper and they all have different color results. Ammonia is honestly the best and cheapest way and has the most colorful results, though. You can even get some at your local dollar store. Liver of Sulphur is another way, but, well, it smells like Sulphur, aka rotten eggs. There's a video by The Crafsman (no, that isn't a typo) that shows a bunch of different ways. Let me see if I can find it....

[@FIZZGIG-RARF]

Found it! kzbin.info/www/bejne/r52ZaK1sjdKBn7M

[@hansblanc1684]

looks very nice, but it is probably toxic...

[@StinkyDustyBird]

He says twice so far to use good ventilation