Archive for the 'Etched Glass Art' Category
Etched glass is a popular and attractive choice for people who are looking to spruce up a room or add some creativity to their house. Etched glass is glassware whose design has been cut into the surface through acid corrosion.
The surface of etched glass will vary depending on what type of acid is used and how long it was on the glass for; it can be rough and frosted, or smooth and satiny, or a combination of the two.
Various methods are used to transfer a design onto glass, but the most common is to coat the glass in beeswax or paraffin, then draw the design in with metal needles. The glass is then dipped in the acid, which etches the design through the grooves.
“The one that got away” is a familiar quote that every hunter or fisherman tells over and over. The story is embellished many different ways, while changing the details and experience to fit the tale. Many times it all starts when a friend asks the question about the hunting decor in the living room or the fishing decor in the den. “Oh, that’s my trophy room,” or ” That’s my favorite fishing trip . . .”
“The truth is, while traveling through Montana, back from a fishing trip to the Great Lakes, we came across this etched mirror of a Muskie, fighting for its freedom. The mirror was for sale and displayed in a restaurant. It’s just like the Muskie I hooked and battled for almost an hour, and “It got away from me!” But, it was still a great fishing trip.
One of my fondest western images was during the summer of 1951. An Old Timer living at Discovery Bay, Washington, told me, “If you go down to the railroad trestle when the tide comes in, you can catch all the Sea Perch you can carry in a ‘gunny sack.’ ” He told me the fish feed on small sand crabs on the beach and to load my fish hook firmly into the side of the crab, and then cast my line close to the edge of the bank.
My dad was working as a heavy duty mechanic on the road construction crew. They paved the highway from Discovery Bay to Neah Bay, located on the south shore of Puget Sound. At the age of eleven, I went fishing between the hours of 3:00 to 4:00 AM, and provided food for the families of the road crew. With fishing gear and burlap sack in hand, and my dog Queenie at my side, I got up before breakfast and went to work catching Sea Perch.
The rule was, my dad said, “You catch ‘em, you clean ‘em.” I did it, too! As I went from cabin to camper, I presented my catch and was paid for my services. The rewards were much more than money. I learned that salt water sea perch are mammals and do not lay eggs to hatch, a magnificent discovery in nature. There is joy in the giving of ourselves for the needs of family and others, and there are many great rewards for working hard: respect, discipline, obedience, and love for my parents.
They don’t call it Discovery Bay for nothing!
In the June 2008 issue of the Field & Stream magazine, page 12, there are three photos of individuals holding their catches of large mouth bass. The first is a 13 1/2-pound bass caught in Lake Casitas in Southern California. The second is a 14-pound, 5-ounce bass, a record catch out of Tyler State Park in Northeast Texas. And the third is a 10 pounder caught in North Carolina. Here are some of my observations that I find interesting and entertaining:
The first two photos are both big, burly guys, most likely experienced fishermen, displaying their record catch. The third is a woman “fisherperson.” (It’s politically incorrect to call her a fisherman or a fisherwoman!) I find it interesting how the larger bass, caught by the bigger guys, appears small; and the smaller bass, held by the smaller woman, appears larger and longer then those caught by the BIG GUYS? And she is just a beginner!
To make it more convincing, the photo of the woman is also smaller than the pictures of the big catch. With this information, I conclude that to convince individuals observing a trophy catch of a large mouth bass, it is best to have the fish mounted or photographed in the proper environment that best produces the desired effects for displaying your wildlife wall art. Another special effect is to place the trophy catch on a small wall, and the effect will appear larger. Get it?