Acid Etched Flashed Glass #2: Blue glass

I prefer to use a plastic film for large areas of protection, otherwise known as resist.  Once the reverse is coated I then apply more resist onto the working surface, I only apply this to the areas that I do not want to affect by the acid, but I leave more exposed glass than I intend to work on so that I can ensure a smooth gradation and not end up with a tide mark line where the acid hits the resist.I place the strips of glass onto a prop (in this case a paint brush) to cause a slope on the glass.  This slope encourages the acid to run downwards, which helps to create the gradation.  I brush the acid onto the glass and allow it to sit for a few minutes.  I then begin the process of repeatedly brushing the glass with fresh acid, working from the end of the glass (lower end) and up towards the area that has to remain darker.  I start of with small strokes and as that flash begins to thin, I stretch the stroked further up, and start working the next area of glass along with the now thinner section.

This process allows the gradation to start with good control over the finish. The finished glass is thoroughly washed, the plastic resist removed and the glass cleaned again.  It is now ready for inclusion in the panel, or suitable for further processing, such as painting, as some of blue on clear pieces were.

The last photographs shows part of the completed panel incorporating the glass processed in this entry.