My five week class of Intermediate Silversmithing concluded last night, and what a great group it was. We tackled some complex skills in this course, and it was really fun to see what creative doors opened up for everyone. Starting with charcoal casting, we tackled some complex piercing, a tube hinge, creating step bezels for facetted stones, tube setting, and dabbled in some chain. Here are a few of the spoils of the class.
I rarely do commissions any more simply because my larger story pieces require an understanding of the work and flexibility of the patron to go with where the story leads.
This was one of those cases.
The stone is only found in New Zealand where the recipient was born.
Trick-or-treaters made their way to each artist studio today. Artists in residence got to contribute a pumpkin to a silent auction, each with a little nod toward their craft.
Mine...
Mrs O’Lantern, Dressed to Kill.
Complete with the jewelry accessories.
Very fun.
There are several “advances” in the art of silversmithing that have hit the scene since I began my creative journey back in the ‘80s. Precious Metal Clay (PMC), Argentium, Vacuum Casting, Foldforming, and a whole host of pre-fab findings. Although I have held some of these at arms length in a purist-type attitude, I have made peace with most of them.
except for this one.
I am sure if I was a photographer that experienced most of my artistic joy in the darkroom I would consider the age of the digital camera with dismay.
And so it is for me with the 3D printer.
3D printing is an amazing advancement. In the movie Jurassic Park a 3D model maker creates a replica of a dinosaur neck bone that enables the main character to replicate the whistle of the animal...
yea, it is like science fiction stuff.
These model makers make anything from new product models to gears and widgets, and a variety of other things.
And now jewelry.
In a 3D CAD program you can virtually design your jewelry piece that will then “print” a model of your work that can then be made into a mold, multiple models, and then ultimately cast.
Henry Ford would be proud. But not Henri Matisse.
Keep your muse from getting bored by mixing the act of practice with the act of discovery.
What do I mean?
Making a project that has a repetitive element is a great way to get some practice at that skill. A chain is an example of this. Multiple links means multiple solder joints which also equals practice. It is a good thing but can get a little tedious.
Break the project up with a new technique. A new texture with the rolling mill, or even a little charcoal casting can open up new design options and keep the muse awake.
Just scored a new shipment of potential for the studio, and specifically for the thursday night class.
In this third week the skill learned is...
making a bezel.
I also offer this skill in a skill building workshop called, Using Stones.
The Beginning Silversmithing class is unique. The recipe is essentially this... get eight folk together that typically have high stress jobs in DC, show them how to be creative with silver, put a torch in their hands...
and step back and watch.
What fun!
Seriously, it is a very fun task that I have. Really it is about making people happy, but the challenging part is making sure they succeed.
I take it personally if my students don’t succeed. But success comes in many forms. Creating some great jewelry is one. Another is the process of learning that sometime means melting some metal.
Practice. It is an important part of the learning process.
Melt some metal!
Silver saturdays are always a lot of fun for me. It is an intense day of creativity and discovery...and the students get to learn things too. ;-)
This saturday was no different as I began the class with my usual tool intro and then we were underway with our first projects. Cold forging, texturing, and then on to fire with learning how to solder and make a simple forged ring, everyone took their new found skills in different directions. Although I demonstrate a couple of different options for the final piece, a pendant, or a bracelet/bangle, the majority of this group went with a bracelet.
You guys did great.
A new group of beginners “began” last night and produced some wonderful stuff with our cold forging projects. The first one was all about wire forging and learning what “work-hardened” means. The second project was about texture using the rolling mill. Of course there is always at least one person that notices the letter punch and is off and running with wonderful messages.
Way to go Roxana!
She started with a leaf impression using the rolling mill and then followed up with the letter punch with “peace” and “harmony”.
Everyone did great.
Next week they get to play with fire!
I am excited to report that SilverWorks is adding a few new classes to its roster for fall.
Skill Builders.
These are short workshops that focus on a specific project or technique. They are...
All of these are meant to be a follow up to Discover Silversmithing, a Saturday Workshop, or Beginning Silversmithing.
A little time out as the studio is closed for the week before labor day, and before the next set of classes starting on Sept 9th.
Bryan and I spend some blissful time in Historic Frederick, MD.
A little stroll through this town was a delightful break. As well we discovered a great rock shop.
The spoils of this discovery included some raw rose quartz, citrine and amethyst. But best of all something out of this world...
meteorite.
yup.
Another adventure in incorporating unique materials in my work.
Bringing everything back to “white”. The Glen Echo Park Popcorn Gallery is inheriting our towers. Here we are priming them for whoever decides to use them next.
Tear-down today of what I feel was a successful show. Although the signature piece “Haul Water, Carry Sticks” will remain with me, many of the other works are on their way to good homes. A little part of me going with them, each are sent off with a goodbye kiss.
I got the added treat of having our son Daniel at the closing reception.
And my beautiful South African friend, and gallery sitter, Megan, was amazing to watch (and listen to) as she engaged people in the stories of my work. Every artist needs to have the honor of someone like this representing them. Thanks so much Megan.
So far the show has been met with good reviews, and many of the pieces will be going into private colIections.
I couldn’t be more pleased.
But, I am at that aftermark that so many artists face when pouring themselves out in the creative process. Feeling a little under the weather and totally unproductive.
Guess what.
That is a natural part of the creative process. And frequently ignored by many artists due to a cultural work ethic that forgets what emotional, and physical resource goes into creating good art.
It is taxing. And warrants a little break.
So, I am not producing tons of work for the next few weeks, and look forward to an actual vacation at the end of August.
This Silver Saturday workshop proved to be a very creative (and productive!) class. I am running four torches in the studio now and it is a real hoot hearing the whoosh-pop of all four.
You guys did great.
Opening night was a great time and a bit of a blur for me with so many attending. I loved hearing first hand how the stories “spoke” to different people in different ways.
Thanks so much to all of you who came.
Little red dots showed up on some of the work by evenings end!
The 8 great students of Beginning Silversmithing (June) that let us skip a week of classes to set up the show.
Cozy space but lots of fun.
And look what this group made the very first night!
A couple of days away from opening and it is starting to come together.
All the things that could go wrong have already done so, and are now resolved.
Now there are little details to pull off... finishing touches and...
truffles.
Yea, those “edible silver treats” are handmade brandy truffles laced with silver leaf.
What can I say, my husband is one of a kind.
It takes a number of elements to put together a show with an entire collection. Here are just a few pics to give you an idea.
getting down to the wire now!
Another sneak peek at the work that will be shown at the July show, “The Silver Speaks; Stories in Wearable art”. This piece is called 12 Generations.
Show opening July 3rd 7-10pm!
Doing a piece that reflects one of my paintings called “Finding One’s Self”. This uses the technique of “piercing”, or sawing. Multiple layers of sawed out figures are then soldered together to create depth and dimension.
Another story piece emerging as I do a dance with Pele, the godess of fire.
Limu collected in a situation that is fairly rare is being transformed into “gemstones”. This very fine glass/ash is created when lava hits the ocean. Normally it doesn’t survive the wind, or other surfaces that it comes into contact with, but a chance moment on the deck of a cruise ship, with the help of some family members in collection mode, and I have a little bit of the stuff that I have preserved by encasing it in resin.
It is wonderful stuff.
More scientific info can be found here.
I had a lot of fun with this one and to be honest it will be hard to part with. Chunky and fun and very “Flintstone”-like, I fondly call this one “Wilma”, although its official title for the show is Chain of Events.
The links are made by fusion (no soldering) and it sports an eclectic group of gemstones: Carnelian, Opal, Peach Moonstone, Chalcedony, Moonstone, Black Opal, Jade, & Rose Quartz.
The muse is being very kind. Managed to finish this one today. 21 Gun Salute features a shell from my father’s funeral. Although wearable, clearly the point of this piece is more provocative. This is one of the feature story pieces for my upcoming show in July titled “When the Silver Speaks; Stories in Wearable Art”.
Labor intensive, this piece includes a large section of hand woven chain.
Lots of fun today with the Silver Saturday workshop offered to Mothers and Daughters. Although basic silversmithing skills are touched on in this workshop, I made it a little different... these girls got the added bonus of playing with stones.
And they all did great.
Thanks girls for spending the day in my studio!
