Metals
People have worked with metals almost since the dawn of civilization, and in turn the metals have shaped entire civilizations (think bronze age and iron age). Metals have been prized not only for their strength and durability, but also for their beauty. While precious metals such as silver and gold may be too precious for your budget, check out the ways more common metals such as copper and aluminum are used to make works of art.
Metal Art Links
Copper art by Cheryl Safren: http://www.safren.com
(The piece to the left is a sample, used with permission.)
Distressing copper with "liver of sulfur": http://www.doityourself.com/stry/copper-distress
Liver of sulfur gel (commercial site, but good tips):
http://www.cooltools.us/ProductDetails.asp?ProductCode=POL-800Parent&CartID=0
Patina Formulas for Copper, Brass, and Bronze:
http://www.sciencecompany.com/patinas/patinaformulas.htm
Sewanee University Chem & Art Course: http://www.sewanee.edu/chem/Chem&Art/
Anodizing (or anodising, as the British say) aluminum:
http://www.creative-chemistry.org.uk/activities/anodising.htm
Anodizing titanium: http://mrtitanium.com/anodizing.html
Electrochemistry: Electroplating, Coloring, and Etching Metals echemjewels02.pdf
Turning copper silver and gold: The_Penny_Lab.doc