Is it possible to color the surface of a copper using chemicals?

Question

The artwork is been pressed by drawing lines to give detail and shaped using pen and wood, its a bird and it really looks fantastic but it has only one copper color. I don't want to use paint to do this because it does not look naturally metal but I need chemicals to color copper. Please help me to do this.

Answer 1

Leave the copper in a damp atmosphere and it will eventually oxidise and turn green. You can speed up this process by using a mild acid solution. Wet the copper with the acid soln. and leave to dry then repeat the process. It will take time but it will change colour eventually.



You could also polish up the copper then cover the parts you want to keep shiny (masking tape is good) and leave the exposed parts to discolour naturally, but this would only give you shades of copper.

Answer 2

The prettiest way to do it without chemicals is to heat it up. The surface of the copper will burn and turn black. gentley remove the black flakey soot and it will turn a pretty oxidized brownish redish orangeish color. This is how home made solor cells are made.