I’m looking for tips on making prismacolor pencils adhere to copper.
In my intro to jewelry at mica, we used prismacolor pencils to
enhance chemical patinas on copper; it works well on those pieces.
However, I am having difficulty getting the pencils to adhere to
roller-printed or smooth copper. I’ve tried roughing the surface with
sandpaper and steel wool? I don’t have access to a sandblaster. Help.
Thanks
Nadine
after you rough up the surface try applying a little gesso. it gives
the colored pencils something to grip to. Penland Book of
Jewelry:Master Class has a chapter on color on metal and talks some
about using colored pencils.
meghan
Ive used workable fixative inbetween layers with some success.
Christine
I'm looking for tips on making prismacolor pencils adhere to copper.
Hi, you mentioned using sandpaper and steel wool, sounds like you
need a much rougher grit of sandpaper. You need 180 or so to
approximate the effect of sandblasting.
There is also a small, inflatable sandblasting booth you can buy! I
have the link on my blog, or maybe you could find it on a google
search. Don’t know if that would work in this application. It’s sold
for sandblasting glass, I think.
Nadine,
I did a semester in school where I focused on this (you can see my
work at http://www.jmwjewelry.com/myth.html), and did use a
sandblaster. However, since I no longer have access to a sandblaster
(oh the things we lose when we graduate!), I have discovered that I
have a lot of success using 220 grit sandpaper, used in multiple
directions, to roughen up the piece. I go horizontal, then vertical,
then diagonal both ways. I’ve also seen tutorials where they added
gesso as well, after the surface is roughed up, but the tutorial
referred to it as more of a way to give a background color, and not
as much for the texture. I have a whole binder full of my research
on this if you would like more help!
Hi Nadine,
Look in the February Orchid Archives, including the 2/22/08 post by
Debby (dhoffmaster1) on Prismacolors on Copper.
Marta
Patina your copper before putting on the pencils. Use very light
coatings of color and build the color up in light layers. The pencils
need a rough surface to grasp before they will deposit color onto the
metal. You might want to check out the current issue of Art Jewelry
magazine for a nice article on color on copper.
Sandra Graves
Stormcloud Trading Co
www.Beadstorm.com
I have discovered that I have a lot of success using 220 grit sandpaper...
I actually meant to say 180 grit sandpaper!
Jen