I teach small classes from my home studio near Shelton, Washington.
Introductory
Sessions:
Each
session will begin with a discussion and demonstration of metal clay
techniques followed by time to work on your projects with me available to
answer questions as you are working.
The projects will guide you through rolling, cutting, drying,
texturing with rubber stamps and texture sheets, burnishing and tumble
polishing, setting gemstones with premade bezel cups and patination with
liver of sulphur. Demonstration
and discussion will cover such topics as keeping clay hydrated, making
slip (paste) and reconstituting dry clay. We will also cover making
texture sheets and molds. You will begin with a project that will give you
the basic skills for creating your first piece of jewelry.
After completing the first project you may choose from a set of project
sheets which will include an illustration of
the piece and instructions for completing it, leaving plenty of room for
your imagination and enabling each student to progress at their own pace.
Each
session is $50 plus a materials fee*.
Tools will be provided.
There are two sessions per day:
Morning session: 10:00 am – 1:00 pm
Afternoon session: 3:00 pm – 6:00 pm
Beginning students must complete all 4 introductory sessions
before moving on to the open studio or enameling sessions. (Experienced
metal clay artisans may skip the introductory sessions upon approval from
the instructor).
Open
Studio Sessions:
Each session is $50
plus a materials fee*. Students
may bring their own tools or use my student sets.
There are two sessions per day:
Morning session: 10:00 am – 1:00 pm
Afternoon session: 3:00 pm – 6:00 pm
The open studio sessions are not limited to specific levels or projects. Students may work pieces of their own designs or select from the project sheets provided by me. I will be available to answer questions and offer guidance in the completion of your work. This is a perfect opportunity to increase your knowledge of advanced metal clay techniques. An experienced student could work on more than one project ( possibly completeing 3 or 4 depending on their difficulty level ) at a time during a set of 4 sessions. The instruction will be adjusted to your needs and interests. Open Studio projects are not limited to metal clay. There will be polymer clay, rubber stamping and handmade paper instruction available as well.
Please contact me to
schedule either an introductory or open studio session. To give each
student plenty of individual attention, class size is limited to 3
students.
Enameling Sessions:
Each session is $75
which will include use of enamels and tools.
You can provide your own metal clay or purchase it from the
instructor.
There are two sessions per day:
Morning session: 10:00 am – 1:00 pm
Afternoon session: 2:00 pm – 5:00 pm
During the
first two sessions I will instruct you in the preparation of silver pieces
for champleve, bas-taille and plique-a-jour enameling techniques.
You can choose from project sheets
that I will have available or create work of your own design.
During the
third and fourth sessions you will enamel the pieces that you created in
the first two sessions. Instruction
will include preparing enamels for use including safety precautions, wet
packing enamels, layering colors to achieve graduated shading, firing and
finishing techniques. The
enamels we will be using are Japanese leaded.
Please contact me to
schedule an enameling session. To give each student plenty of individual
attention, class size is limited to 2 students.
Private Lessons:
I offer private
sessions for those who prefer one-on-one instruction.
You decide what projects you want to work on, either of your own
design or chosen from my introductory or open
studio project sheets and I will guide you in completing them.
Private lessons are $125 for a 3-hour session, which will include
use of tools. You will
provide your own metal clay. You may schedule one or two sessions per day.
Introductory Projects Open Studio Projects Enameling Projects
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*The material fee ( which covers findings, fine silver round and bezel wire will be determined the week before the class based on the price of silver, gold and gemstones at the time and your choice of projects ). PMC3 clay and paste will be available to purchase.
My studio is located on a lake a short distance from the town of Shelton, Washington. I encourage students to bring lunch, snacks and beverages with them to class. You can spend the break between sessions eating and socializing out on the deck overlooking the lake, browsing through my extensive collection of art and craft literature or chatting with me about topics such as jewelry photography and resources for metal clay and other craft materials.
Accommodations in the Shelton area consist of the Shelton Motel (pretty bare bones) and the Littlecreek Resort (very nice) about 20 minutes from my studio.
Students attending a Thursday, Friday, Monday, Tuesday series of sessions might want to spend the weekend sightseeing in Seattle or Port Townsend. The closest airport is in Seatac, about an hour and a half from Shelton.