About this course
Create personal designs in coloured enamels on silver. Receive expert tuition in the techniques of cloisonné, champlevé, plique-à-jour and the use of foils.Course Description
Learn, improve and develop your enamelling skills, including how to design and construct jewellery and small-scale silversmithing suitable for enamelling. Explore traditional techniques of champlevé, cloisonné, painting enamel, and the use of foils.
If requested, you will also be shown non-traditional methods of using enamel. Learn how to prepare the metal and enamel with a focus on the correct use of the equipment and tools. Finally you will gain an understanding of how to finish enamel with different surfaces.
By the end of the course you should have produced work that builds on your own personal voice, and you will have a better understanding of how to design and make the metalwork to achieve a good enamel outcome.
Technical worksheets, list of suppliers and videos will be supplied so that you can continue developing ideas in your own workshop.
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, 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 tutor will supply some enamels, gold/silver foil and silver stampings for use by the group. If additional supplies are required they should be purchased separately from the tutor – this charge should be paid to the tutor before the end of the course, by cash or cheque.
What students need to bring
- As time is short it would be useful if all participants could bring some jewellery pieces already made up on which to work. If this is not possible the tutor will have silver stamping pieces suitable for jewellery on sale. Please read the guidance notes, especially about construction and soldering for enamel pieces.
- Apron/overall
- Something to tie your hair back with, if it is long
- Shoes that cover your feet (no sandals or flip flops or high heels)
- Any jewellery tools especially fine tweezers and scissors
- Painting palettes or flat containers (lids)
- A fine pointed paintbrush
- Any enamels
- Sketchbook ideas and drawing materials
- Any pieces of enamel work you have created and wish to discuss.
- Prepared pieces to enamel if you can as time is short.
Available to buy
- Available from shop:
- We have a generously stocked craft shop, which opens daily from 8.30am–2pm.
- For any materials you need to purchase from the shop, we suggest you do so during the first morning of your course, after having discussed with your tutor.
- Fine paint brushes 0 or 1
- Carborundum sticks
- Copper sheet
- Silver sheet – up to 1mm thick
- Art materials
- Jewellery hand tools will be on loan if needed
Tutors
First degree in textiles, and then retrained at Sir John Cass metalwork department in jewellery and enamel. Founder member of British Society of Enamelers and director of Studio Fusion Gallery for the last 18 years where her work can be seen. Has had work published in numerous books on enamel and jewellery, both in the US and UK.
Accommodation
Residential option available. Find out accommodation costs and how to book here.
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