The Miracle of Potato Chips

Although I haven't really found time to blog this month, I have at least had time to make a little art! After Jane returned from her vacation/class with Michael de Meng, she got me all fired up on paint and caulk. I went out and bought some fancy new colors and experimented a little in my art journal (pictured below). I put a layer of caulk down on the page first, stamped into it in one place, covered it in gesso, and tried out a few different washes. Although difficult to see here, I love the unexpected textures and patterns that the washes picked up. I can't wait to use it on a bigger project!


On a similar night of experimentation, I was inspired by Metal Craft Discovery Workshop, a book by Linda and Opie O'Brien. The metal techniques they share are really cool, and I fell in love with their patina recipes. It took me a little while to actually find little pieces of copper (patina works on copper and brass), but I managed to find little pieces of copper pipe for $0.39 each at Lowe's. Not ideal (I was looking for flat copper), but I just couldn't wait any longer to try out a patina recipe!

I used the recipe that involved leaving my little copper pieces in a tupperware of salt and vinegar potato chips overnight (there are a few more steps involved, but it's the chips that do most of the work), and my results turned out so cool!

As I stood in my kitchen fumbling around with potato chips and copper tubes, I had to wonder why I was going through all of this (somewhat bizzare) trouble just to make a perfectly good copper tube look like it was stuck in a drainpipe for years. I have some strange hobbies... but I wouldn't have it any other way.