Terri McCarthy is truly an inspiration! She transformed her studio in the historic Grafton Mill in Grafton, WI and it includes an open studio classroom. I have had the pleasure of taking classes from Terri. Adults who have an interest in fabricating jewelry or small metal objects are welcome in her studio, for individual or group instruction. Terri is a well respected and accomplished metalsmith in her own right as well as a talented instructor. Her teaching style is laid back, she has a great sense of humor and gives each student the time and mentoring needed when questions arise.
Her studio is beautiful and well stocked with every metalsmithing tool you can imagine. She routinely brings in well known artists and instructors for weekend classes. Terri offers ongoing workshops in casting, enameling, fold forming and etching, in addition to her regularly scheduled classes. If you ever get the chance to take a class from Terri or one her invited metalsmithing guests, you’ll learn a lot and have fun too! Terri’s website
One of the classes I took focused on etching metal. This was a first for me. The process was interesting and fun! Now I have some great raw material and ideas for pendants and earrings. I used bronze and copper in this class.
Here are a few photos of some of the etched pieces I created.
Here are a few photos of Terri’s work.
I used the E-3 Etch Kit by Sherri Haab. Cool Tools also carries Silver, Copper, Bronze and Brass Sheet, the perfect blank canvas for etching! Etching metal is an interesting technique that cannot be duplicated in any other fashion. It is achieved by protecting certain areas and leaving the rest open to the action of the acid. The greatest master of this technique was certainly Rembrandt (1606 – 1669). He produced over 300 etchings in his lifetime.
