etching

Printed circuit manufacturing /  by kelly heaton

Have you ever wondered how I make my printed circuit boards? This video is for you. I design all of my own circuits, artwork, and production files, but I rely on a factory to produce my boards to a high-level of precision. (Soon, I will post video about etching my own boards, and you will see the difference! Mine are poetic and beautiful as works of art, but they are not “perfect” like a professionally manufactured PCB). For the past four years, I have been working with Spring at King Credie Technology Ltd in Shenzhen, China. They have been incredibly patient with my experimental art practice. I am grateful for their support and expert technical ability. Just because they are a factory, doesn’t take away from the incredible skill and knowledge required to produce a circuit to this level of quality. Truly, this is electronic printmaking at a high level. The video shows you how it’s done from start to finish. Enjoy!

The Making of the Flower of Life, 2022

Patch Bird /  by kelly heaton

A new circuit board edition titled “Patch Bird,” 2019. Analog electronics, copper etching, patina, and acrylic on fiberglass panel. The image on the right shows the backlighting turned on.

The Making of a Pretty Bird /  by kelly heaton

The Making of a Pretty Bird, 2019. A series of 3 printed circuit boards each measuring 12” x 18”. Etched copper, gold electroplate, and silkscreen on epoxy laminate.

The Making of a Pretty Bird, 2019. A series of 3 printed circuit boards each measuring 12” x 18”. Etched copper, gold electroplate, and silkscreen on epoxy laminate.

Created for a hotel in Chattanooga, TN, this series shows my process to make artistic printed circuit boards. The first panel contains my schematic diagram for a sound-generating circuit that “sings" like a bird. In the central panel, my electronic design has been translated into conductive copper metal --the essence of a functional circuit. Multiple production layers including copper, solder mask, silkscreen, and gold electroplate are assembled in the final panel to create a work of aesthetic and electronic art as seen here.

This work is available for purchase. For inquiries, please email me.