Stencils and Etched Glass

Stencils and etched glass were the focus of the SSC Library's First Friday Art Club in June. This project used clear glass plates, bottles and votive candle holders that I had in storage. Recycled jars from jams or sauces can easily be used to upcycle an object into a piece of art, in case you want to try this method.  Re-usable stencils were purchased to show students the difference between a hand cut stencil and a purchased stencil.  The library's Makerspace, the SSCL Creation Station has a Cricut Machine, which also aided in creating one-of-a-kind stencils with a professional appeal.

Feather stencils and Armour Etch cream

Glass artists etch with engraving tools or sandblasting machines, but the beginner approach is using an acid etching cream.  We took advantage of Armour Etch, which works it's magic on the glass within 10-15 minutes.  Engraving tools and sandblasting machines require lots of skill, time and practice.  

Cricut cut stencil, weeded and placed on the glass

After cutting a stencil for my demonstration piece, I had to "weed" out the elements that were unnecessary to the design.  Any space that reveals the glass and has the etching cream applied will turn a hazy, cloudy appearance--that's the acid etch cream doing it's job!

Armour Etch applies to the "open" spaces

Once the cream was applied with a tool (ie. very high tech cotton swab), the waiting game begins.  If your surface is curved, like the bottle pictured, you need to keep a close watch that the cream stays in place and does not drip.  As mentioned, any place the etching cream touches will have a hazy, cloudy appearance if allowed to sit for a few minutes.  Students who took part in this class had their patience tested!

Flat surface and purchased stencils

The students naturally gravitated toward the plates, which helped them as beginners. (Curved surfaces test patience!)  Although I cut several stencils on the Cricut machine (I had a lot of "Happy Father's Day" stencils prepped in consideration of the pending holiday), everyone wanted to get creative and set up their own designs.

Students creating stencils on the Cricut

One thing about designing in Cricut Design Space (and really any digital design work) is the time needed to train yourself in the software.  Then there is the time needed to get your vision accomplished.  Beside that bulk of time required, there is the cutting time taken by the Cricut machine.  The process is much slower than printing a sheet of paper.  This slowed our progress to a degree.

Luckily students became self sufficient and proficient with the "Gloopy Stuff" ("gloopy stuff" = Armour Etch!) and these are a few projects which were produced:

"Lobster" from the Armour Products stencils

Hand cut stencil with Armour stencils in the mix

The Crystal display for June

These projects are on display in the library for the month of June.  Corning, New York is the "Crystal City," renowned for it's rich glass history.  The Glass Art Society (G.A.S.) Conference met in Corning from June 9-11, 2016.  The First Friday Art Club welcomed the G.A.S. Conference participants who visited the library with their own glass art.

YOU can make this with tools in our Creation Station

Teaching students how to create a hand cut stencil and how to proceed in the acid etching process is quite a challenge in under an hour and a half class, with 19 students on hand. Results were achieved, but I would prefer to split up this class into two sessions.  Hind sight is always 20/20.  Nonetheless, this project worked well and many visitors have stopped to enjoy the art on display.
If you would like to create something like this, let us know!  Our Creation Station is open to the public during library operating hours.  Just a quick registration and tutorial will give you access to a world of creating.  I hope to see you soon!  

  Check back in July for our Cosplay Costumes event recap.  We are gearing up for another fabulous Library Unmasked on July 15, 6-8 pm. 

MARK YOUR CALENDARS!

Thanks for visiting,

erica