Sculptural sustainable wood jewellery with Sarah King

Ref: SWE32467

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About this course

Learn how to make contemporary sculptural jewellery by transforming sustainably sourced wood and found wooden objects with surface treatments and inlay. Suitable for beginners or those with some jewellery experience who want to broaden their material possibilities.

Course Description

This course will take a sustainable approach by using wood from the United Kingdom and found wooden objects to make sculptural, contemporary jewellery. You will shape and transform bog oak, oak and found objects with linking mechanisms and cold connections to make finished pieces. You will think about how the ideas, materials, construction and finishes all need to be considered in conjunction with one another to make a successful piece. You will look at a broad range of surface techniques, including silver inlay, paint, ebonising and Shou Sugi Ban that allow humble woods to be transformed into exciting jewellery pieces. There will be guided exercises, which you can adapt to your own designs, so you will have completed pieces or, if you prefer, a range of samples. There will be step-by-step handouts that include guidance on how to source sustainably orientated supplies. You are encouraged to bring your own found wooden objects or wood offcuts to use for experimentation.

You will also look at the amazing range and diversity of jewellery made in wood by a range of internationally renowned studio jewellers.

This course is suitable for all, from complete beginners to experienced jewellers who would like to broaden material possibilities, with only minor adaptations to current hand tools.

Timetable

Arrival Day - this is the first date listed above

Courses start early evening. Residential students to arrive from 4pm, non-residential students to arrive by 6.45pm.

6.45pm: Welcome, followed by dinner (included).

8 - 9pm: First teaching session, attendance is essential.

Daily timetable

Classes 9.15 - 5pm, lunch is included.

From 6.30pm: Dinner (included for residential students).

Evening working - students may have access to workshops until 9pm, but only with their tutor's permission and provided any health and safety guidelines are observed.

Last day

Classes 9.15am - 3pm, lunch is included.

Residential students are to vacate their rooms by 10am please.

(This timetable is for courses of more than one day in length. The tutor may make slight variations)

Course Materials

Included

  • On this course, the College will supply most of the materials.

What students need to bring

  • Apron and something to tie your hair back with, if it is long
  • Sketchbook
  • Optional: found wood objects (spoons, handles, drumsticks, skateboard off cuts, old rulers)
  • Acrylic paints/inks and brushes
  • Wood offcuts

Available to buy

  • Available from shop:
  • Silver can be purchased from the College Shop which stocks a range of sheet, wire, rod, tube and findings. These will be available in set sizes and lengths suitable for a wide range of projects.
  • Sarah King’s book, ‘Creating Jewellery in Wood’
  • Available from tutor:
  • Additional materials will be available that you may wish to buy from the tutor.

Additional information

Please wear appropriate clothing/aprons for the workshop or studio. This includes stout covered footwear, i.e. no open-toes or sandals.

Tutors

Sarah King

Sarah King specialises in mixing precious and non-precious materials in jewellery. She has pieces in numerous public collections (including Crafts Council and British Council) and books on contemporary jewellery. She won the Association of Contemporary Jewellery Prize and several Goldsmiths' Craftmanship and Design Awards. She has over ten years' teaching experience and also teaches at Central St. Martins and Morley College.

Accommodation

Residential option available. Find out accommodation costs and how to book here.

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