KatyGee,

For a greenish blue patina on copper, you can make your own recipe form simplehousehold chemicals. I've found that it works just fine, and avoids all the problems associated with the hazardous materials handling of shipping cupric nitrate, etc.

In a quart spray bottle, mix:

2 parts white vinegar
1 1/2 parts non-detergent ammonia
1/2 part non-iodized salt

Spray it on clean, dry copper using a light mist. Allow to sit overnight or longer. If the humidity isvery low, you may want to put the object in a plastic bag, tent, or other container to retain humidity. You can apply multiple times to increase th edegree of patination, but be sure to let a couple days pass between applications and rinse/dry before the next application.

For chemicals, try Santa Fe Jeweler's Supply. Shipping will be slow and expensive because of the haz-mat issues, but that's unavoidable.

In the states, I find a small bottle of either blue/green patina chemical or "Rust" chemical at stores like "Michaels" craft stores. I have also found larger 16 oz bottles at "Ace" and "True Value" hardware stores (who will also order them for me). I use either the rust or verdigris chemicals for either steel or copper (or brass). Somewhere I read that once you get a heavy crusty green or blue patina on a scrap piece of copper, you can scrape off the patina and use it to make your own verdigris mix. I try to be as careful as possible whenever I use any of these chemicals. I suspect that they will absorb right thru bare skin so I use heavy nitrile gloves whenever I do any patina work.

Hi KatyGee,

Check out www.sculptnouveau.com for Patinas and finishes. Ron Young also gives workshops. Although, I'm not sure if he goes out of the country. I know he was trained in Italy on patinas.
I would also try contacting David Ivens in Canada. He's an hour up north of Toronto Canada. Here is his website www.studiointhewoods.ca. He might know of a place to buy what you need for your recipes. I hope that helps...

Cheers,

Jamie Santellano