Classes at the Georgian Bay Centre for the Arts in Owen Sound!
I have a number of metalwork and enamel classes coming up this fall at the Georgian Bay Centre for the Arts in Owen Sound (GBArts for short).
Stacked Gemstone Rings will be offered on Sunday, November 13th, 2022, from 9:30am - 3:30pm.
In this beginner class, students will make three simple and stylish sterling silver stacking rings with colourful gemstone accents. The class will focus on simple tricks for making rings with round sterling silver wire and will also go over the basics of stone setting using pre-formed fine silver bezels. The class will go over texturing and finishing techniques such as how to achieve a high polish, hammer texture, or satin finish to the ring. This is an excellent course for people who are interested in taking the first step in learning how to bezel set gemstones.
Stacked Gemstone Rings
Easy Custom Findings will be offered on Sunday, November 20th, 2022, from 9am - 12pm.
Sterling silver head pins, jump rings, and a copper toggle clasp, ready to be added to beaded jewellery!
This is a great class for people who have done some beadwork, and are interested in learning to make custom metal components to include in their jewellery. Students will learn the basics of using a jeweller’s butane torch to create custom ball-head pins. Students will also learn how to make their own custom jumprings using a jeweller’s sawframe and how to solder and fuse jumprings closed. Lastly, students will learn the basics of how to create a beautiful custom toggle clasp from sheet metal and wire. Copper, brass, and silver wire included. Sterling silver can be purchased for $10 per square inch.
An example of earrings that can be made using head pins and jump rings and an assortment of pearls, crystals and sterling beads.
Half-Drilled Accents on Patterned Metal on Sunday, November 20th, from 1pm - 4pm.
This beginner course will cover how to create a simple post setting for half-drilled pearls or crystals to create a project of custom stud earrings or a textured rosette pendant. There will be half drilled pearls and crystals to purchase from the instructor for $8 to $12. Copper and brass are included in the class. Sterling silver will be available to purchase for $10 per square inch.
Examples of simple pearl stud earrings, and a patterned metal pendant.
Graphite Enamelled Charm on December 4th, 2022, from 9:30am - 4:30pm
This is a wonderful beginner enamelling class for people who enjoy drawing (or even tracing!)! Students will learn how to incorporate their own graphite drawings into vitreous enamel. In the class, students will make simple charms or components that have been decorated with their own drawings and then delicately coloured with transparent glass enamels. Students will learn wet-packing enamel techniques with a focus on effective colour shading. Preparation of the enamel surface for graphite drawings will be covered, as well as kiln firing methods.
Example of how a panel of graphite and enamel can be used in jewellery. This piece is set into a base-metal setting. Similar settings for enamel can be found of Catherine Crowe’s enamel supply website Emporium Vitreum.