Mixed Media Techniques For Jewelers and Metalsmiths
In this fun and experimental class, Diane leads students in an exploration of a variety of non-conventional materials as they relate to jewelry and small-object making.Problem solving sessions focus on creative solutions to the technical challenges of mixed media fabrication. Discussions address the relationship between content, form, materials and technique while emphasizing sound craftsmanship.Students are encouraged to create samples, not finished pieces.
Through demonstrations and actual hands-on participation, students are introduced to the properties and working characteristics of a wide variety of non-metal jewelry materials. Man-made materials such as Corian®, Color-Core®, acrylic plastics, epoxy resins and putties, glass, papier-mâché, polymer clay; and natural materials such as wood, shell, mother-of-pearl, coconut shell, bone, leather and eggshell are just some of the materials covered.Students may choose to try various techniques for manipulating these materials, such as carving, mosaicing, laminating, inlaying, heat forming, and texturing.
The applicability and suitability of fine arts media, such as paint, pigmented hard wax, colored pencil, metal leaf, art markers, etc., are examined in their role as color and texture elements for art jewelry. Easy patinas using safe and readily available supplies are also presented.
Special fabrication strategies for mixed-media jewelry are investigated. Class demonstrations and handouts cover inventive cold-joining techniques (methods not requiring torch heat) for the many materials presented in class. Many types of traditional and non-traditional, mechanical and non-mechanical joining methods are explored -- riveting, pegging, bolting, pronging, clamping and adhesive bonding are just a few. For many students, the highlight of the class is learning to make their own nuts and bolts.
Throughout the workshop, short brain-storming sessions focus on solutions to the technical challenges of combining unlike materials.For this aspect of the class, students are requested to bring three found object jewelry components that present fabrication challenges.
