Create a beautiful stacking silver ring set. Techniques covered include designing, sizing, forming, piercing, texturing and soldering. Looking at repeated motifs, textures and surfaces will inform your finished set of rings.
The course aim is to get you to consider how a stack of rings will work together before making your ring set. You will be exploring textures, surfaces and/or repeated shapes. You will be looking at the design problems and solutions that come with making a set of rings to be worn together.
Your sampled textures and/or repeated shapes will be undertaken in copper before working on the finished silver ring set.
Following a demonstration, everyone will explore surfaces and textures. You will then be encouraged to explore your ideas with the tutor, by reflecting on these samples and your design ideas. You will make the shank (bands) of your rings after this sampling, following a full demonstration of sizing rings, measuring and how to make a ring in a step-by-step demonstration with notes.
The principal material used on this course is silver, but you may incorporate materials such as copper, and brass in your design. You can also bring broken or unloved pieces of gold jewellery from home, to incorporate into the rings using granulation.
You will be encouraged to create a number of samples during the course showing textures and shapes. As well as your finished rings, you will have a selection of ideas to incorporate into future projects should you wish. You should produce a beautiful set of two or three silver stacking rings.
At the end of the course, we will have a short review of the work everyone has made.
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)
Laila Smith is a studio jeweller and tutor. Her mathematically inspired geometric jewellery is sold across the UK. She trained at Manchester Metropolitan University and then undertook a 15 month Fellowship in The Jewellery Quarter, Birmingham. She has 17 years teaching experience, both in further, higher education and leisure classes.
Residential option available. Find out accommodation costs and how to book here.