Painting Coppercraft Guild Items?

[tammy]

I found these 2 items at the flea market. At least one of them is made by the CopperCraft Guild. I checked for them on ebay and as is they really don't get high or many bids. I don't believe that they are considered as antiques but I'm not sure. Anyway, my question is this. I would like to paint them or paint on them tole paintings. Maybe try to sell them on ebay like that.
Does anyone know if you can paint on copper items like these. I'm almost sure you can. If so, and I tried to sell on auction afterwards do you think it is okay even though they were made by Copper Craft guild. I would not advertize them as such if I painted them. Or...maybe I should? What do you think.
I guess that part of this question really needs to be in the Art business forum huh?
Anyway, do you think I could paint on these being copper. Surely with Acrylic? Any thoughts? Thanks. Picture is below.

[TeAnne]

I think if you cleaned off any oil residue ie from handling and gave them a couple of coats of sealer I think they would come up great. What pics do you have in mind for them?
Don't know about the ebay question.
I did a search for you.
Painting in Enameled Copper Plates (http://www.folkart.com/lobo/)

[tammy]

Originally posted by TeAnne
What pics do you have in mind for them?
Don't know about the ebay question.
]

Not sure yet as hubby bought them awhile back and I've put them on the back burner so to speak.

Thanks for the link but it didn't really help much. I think priming with metal primer will probably work. I think my main concern is basicly redesigning (by painting) an item that is made by someone else then selling it.
Copper Craft Guild is in Mass. and they've made many many different kinds of items. Several are up for auction on ebay as themselves, but they don't get much attention as far as bids and those items are in much better shape than mine.
Like one of mine is a coffee or tea server and I just want to paint designs on it so perhaps someone might use it as a flower holder instead of what it was designed to do. The lid is missing a knob.

[leesmith]

Hi Tammy,

I like your copperware, will your painting completely obliterate all the copper?

If you leave some of the copper showing, I don't see why you couldn't include the Copper Guild name. If I had Hepplewhite chairs and I painted them, I would still list them as Hepplewhite.

Have you done any handpainted watering cans, the metal kind?

Lee

[tammy]

Lee,
So far I guess the coal bucket is the closest that I've come to a watering can.

Actually I was thinking of completely priming and painting the Copper Craft vessels.

Do you think leaving the copper would look better? I'm open to suggestions.

[leesmith]

Hi Tammy,

If you're going to sell these either locally or on ebay, why don't you do one of each and see which sells first?

On the one that you leave part copper maybe you could prime a circle or oval and paint your design within that shape. On the edge of the painted circle you could overlap the edge with either scrolling or a small vine with leaves. If you degrease the copper metal, oil paint would probably stick to the copper where the design overlaps. Some people love to collect copper anything, even if purely decorative. Some like the patina copper collects over time, the tarnish, you could even spray clear coat over the entire piece to prevent darkening. I like a little tarnish and a little brighter copper on the " high" places. Copper can sometimes develop beautiful colorations of pink blue and green.

On the one that you entirely paint you could hit a few areas with fine sandpaper to reveal a little copper, you know like distressing or aging it a little. On some of my handpainted pieces the design looks almost too vivid and fresh and I will even LIGHTLY sand a painted design a little to make it look worn off a bit. People seem to like that old, worn look. When you finish a piece, will you post it here for us to see? :D

Lee

[tammy]

Originally posted by leesmith
Hi Tammy,
When you finish a piece, will you post it here for us to see? :D

Lee

Will try if I ever get to them. I have about a million things on the burner at the moment, Painting and personal stuff going on too.
Wow, how did I ever have time for the regular 40 hr a wk paying job I once had I'll never know! :D