Metal finishing Q&As since 1989

-----

Bronze artist wants a rich black patina

Hi,
I am a new bronze artist. I have been a two dimensional painter and I am really in love with my new medium. I need to find out how to achieve a rich black that is not potash. Also I am trying to find a olive green or a greyed green (not cupric).

Has anyone ever mixed black, diluted ferric nitrate and a touch of white in a container to patina with? If I do this with my paints I get a lovely olive green. Can mixing like this work?

I really appreciate any help you might give me

Thanks a lot,
Gail

Gail Lapins
Artist - Cambra, California
May 3, 2008

---

Colouring of metals is much more complex than mixing of pigments--in USA you can buy lot of good books on that subject,Hughes and Rowe book "The Colouring, Bronzing & Patination of Metals" [adv: this book on eBay, Amazon, AbeBooks] (in fact book about colouring of copper , its alloys and silver,not one word about colouring of aluminum,zinc,tin ,titanium or iron!)) is just one of them.Hope it helps and good luck!

Goran Budija
- Cerovski vrh Croatia
May 7, 2008