Saturday, May 24th: "Chain Gang" Sunday, May 25th: "Junk Drawer Metalsmithing"
Where: Clackmas, Oregon (20 minutes from Portland International Airport and downtown Portland)
"Chain Gang" May 24th, 2008 9:30 am - 4:30 Space available in this workshop.
Wire, earthy baubles, mixed metals and a little bit of sparkle .the perfect ingredients for the chunky chain necklaces you will learn how to make from scratch in this class. Using wire and a torch, you will create your own lumpy chain link necklaces long, short, fat, skinny Ill show you how to do it all! These are not the picture perfect shiny necklaces you will find anywhere. These are earthy yet refined, one of a kind works of wearable art. The focal point of the necklace will be a torched frame that you will make and fill with cast plaster then carve, paint, transfer and more.
No metal-smithing experience is necessary, but even if you are a seasoned jeweler, you will walk away with new techniques to add to your toolbox. The kit fee covers the buldging kit of supplies consisting of an extra pre-made (by the instructor) bezel frame, extra wire, sheet brass, clay for casting, brass bezel wire, super-fine grit sandpaper, plaster and the use of torches, all soldering supplies, and transfer medium. Full day retreat: $130 includes lunch, beverages, kit/some supplies
Metal-smithing, an art of the masters, is presented in an innovative and non-intimidating way making it so you'll never look at metal the same again. Not your typical metal-smithing class, it is designed to show you how to take readily accessible materials and tools to create totally original pieces. Whether you like bright and shiny or aged and earthy, you will love learning to cast your own metal components from your favorite found objects (you'll be amazed at how simple it is!). You will also learn how to fabricate sealed metal boxes to showcase your smaller works of art or to fill with resin, plaster or found objects to incorporate into jewelry, book arts, assemblage and more! Other techniques will be presented including soldering sheet to sheet, creating super simple bezel forms, fabricating rings, and free-hand etching. All this will be taught using basic tools (no, not a fancy torch set up, but yes, using some heat!) in a way that you can easily transfer to your own work space. Sheet brass for box building will be provided by the instructor as well as flux, propane torches, heat safe surfaces and more. Full day retreat: $130 includes lunch, beverages, kit/some supplies
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Materials List for "Chain Gang"
Basic Art kit (scissors, a few tubes of acrylic paints, artist brushes, chalk pastels, favorite gel medium, rag, and water container) Craft Knife A few pieces of sketch paper and pencil 1 roll of Brass and/or Copper wire 16-20 gauge (you can bring both types to mix and match metals) Hammer Steel Block or Anvil Tin snips Wire cutters Needle nose pliers one round tip and one flat tip Beads Found objects A few pieces of smaller imagery (Laser copies are best color or black and white)
Optional items or suggestions to enhance the class project: Sterling silver or copper wire to incorporate into necklace just small enough to thread beads onto
Supplies Provided by the instructor: Torches All soldering supplies including flux, solder, and torching surfaces Metal aging solutions Plaster Clay for casting
Materials List for "Junk Drawer Metalsmithing"
5 foot roll of Sterling Silver wire 1 roll of lead-free solder 1 roll of 18-20 gauge brass wire 1 lb. package of white Sculpey clay - oven dry variety (do NOT bake it!) items with texture to cast (dig through your junk drawer) tin snips wire cutters needle-nose pliers large flat tipped pliers 2-5 clothes pins anvil or steel block (check your local steel fabricator for 1/2" + thick scrap steel) hammer throw-away small artist brush flat or triangular metal file rags Supplies provided by the instructor: Sheet brass and nickel-silver for all students - enough for class projects and to take home flux propane torches heat safe surfaces blackening agents various tools and supplies for all students use