Plastic smithing – creating jewellery with waste plastics with Bronwen Gwillim

Jewellery

Ref: SWE11808

Suitable for all £268
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About this course

You will look at the types and characteristics of waste plastics and learn a range of safe, cold-working and hot working techniques to create colourful, contemporary jewellery and other small objects.

Course Description

The aims of this course are to provide you with the basic skills and confidence to explore the use of waste plastic as a material for making jewellery. During the two days you will learn about the types and characteristics of plastics readily available as waste and a range of safe, cold-working and hot-working techniques that can be used to create jewellery and other small objects.

The sessions will be structured around a series of short talks and practical demonstrations and there will be an emphasis on creative experimentation and sharing ideas and discoveries. You will be set a design challenge to focus your learning and to ensure you leave with a well considered, completed item, be it a brooch, earrings, necklace or other small item.

Practical sessions will ensure you learn about the following:

• How to use a range of tools and techniques to texture, cut, carve, form, melt, laminate and join plastics.

• The importance of health, safety and environmental issues and the precautions required for safe working.

• The possibilities offered through use of supplementary materials such as resins and glues.

By the end of the course you will have:

• Produced a series of sample pieces to be used for future reference.

• Designed and produced an item of jewellery of your own design.

• Taken away useful handouts and resource lists.

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 tutor will supply most of the materials including:
  • Waste plastics, resins and glues.

What students need to bring

  • Students are asked to bring sketchbooks/pencils and a range of domestic waste plastics. All other tools and materials will be provided.
  • An apron
  • Something to tie your hair back with, if it is long

Available to buy

  • Available from shop:
  • Silver wire for the making of jewellery findings. Also emery paper for sanding and finishing.
Please wear appropriate clothing/aprons for the workshop or studio, this includes stout covered footwear i.e. no open-toed shoes or sandals.

Tutors

Bronwen Gwillim

Bronwen Gwillim trained at Sir John Cass, Camberwell School of Art and Bath Spa University where she explored the use of plastics as part of an MA. She is an experienced teacher, a member of the Gloucestershire Guild of Craftsmen and has exhibited widely. In 2019 she won awards from Madebyhandonline and Design Nation.

Accommodation

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

Courses of interest

Interested in a career in metalwork?

Our Foundation Degree in Metalwork will enhance your employment prospects, give you the skills to set up as a self-employed craftsperson or allow you to continue to higher education. Encompassing both silversmithing and blacksmithing, you will learn practical skills, material properties, placing your work in a broader context and historic metalworking techniques. Find out more

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