January
Janaury 30 and 31
at Rio Grande, Albuquerque, NM
as part of the Rio Grande Winter Workshop Series
Metal Clay Narrative Frame Necklace
Metal clay proves to be the perfect material to unify dissimilar found objects into a cohesive, narrative piece. Enthusiastic, inventive, clever and—without a doubt—passionate award-winning designer Patrik Kusek will lead this two-day workshop, sharing his love of his chosen medium while giving you the skills and confidence to return to your studio and create your own narrative designs. Learn various techniques for working with metal clay and resin (another intriguing medium!) to explore narratives in jewelry design.
Here’s what you’ll learn in this two-day workshop!
NOTE: We provide all the tools and equipment for use in the workshop (but take a peek at the Materials tab for a glimpse of the tools you will be using and may want to add to your toolbox back at your studio).
• Review the fundamentals of metal clay including how to sculpt, carve and form, and learn about some alternative tools you can use to create texture.
• The construction of this narrative frame pendant project involves many techniques, beginner to advanced, including dry construction, mold making and using and firing Embeddables® findings into your work.
• Learn how to use resin in your metal clay pieces to embed interesting found objects and photos.
What does the workshop include?
• Since classes are held early in the day, you will have time to tour our 180,000 square foot solar-powered facility and meet the people responsible for crafting the thousands of American-made findings on our website and in our catalogs. See what makes us tick!
• Watch demos conducted by industry leaders and experts who will show you how to use the latest technology and tools. These FREE demonstrations are just one more opportunity to ask questions about the processes that can help you grow as a jeweler.
• FREE shuttle service to and from classes is available for registered students. Pickup locations are: Hotel Albuquerque, Hampton Inn, La Quinta Inn & Suites, and Best Western.
• Lunch will be provided.
What you’ll take home with you:
• The metal clay pendant you make in class and lots of great ideas to continue working on back at your studio.
• A wealth of knowledge and the spark to take your metal clay skills to the next level. Maybe take a Rio Rewards PMC® Certification class!
February
February 19th at 8:00 EST on
www.craftcast.com
Join me, Alison Lee and a host of other artists on CraftCast: I Love Tools 5! As usual it will fun, entertaining and you’ll learn lots of great information. PLUS there will be great special offers.
March
Rio Grande’s PMC Certification Workshop
Taylor’s Art and Soul
Sacramento, CA
114 K. St. Sacramento, California 95814 Tel 916-444-0055
March 14, 15 and 16, 9:00 to 5:00
September
Metal Clay by the Bay – Metal Clay Conference
San Diego, CA
September 5 – 8
Color fill resin rings
Metal Clay Frame Narrative Pendant
October
Arrowmont, Gatlinberg, TN
1 week metal clay and narratives exploration.
Oct 12 – 18
Got Scrap?
Instructor: Patrik Kusek
October 25 and 26
The Ranch Center for Arts and Craft
Snohomish, WA
10am – 5pm
Chances are you have a bit of scrap silver laying around from the whoops’s and dangit’s of studio life. Here’s an opportunity to make something fun out of it as you learn the basics of sandcasting. With sand casting you can make multiple designs from one master model. Learn how to take a master to create different iterations of the same design. (All the pendants shown are made from one master!)
We’ll also learn simple methods of wax carving to make an organic double sided medallion flip ring. We’ll forge a ring shank and then rivet the medallion to the ring shank creating a flip ring. To finish the ring we’ll apply a thin layer of UV resin to one side of the ring to add a pop of color – either frosted or clear. In this workshop we’ll make one ring, but students who feel comfortable with the process can make additional rings.
Bring your stash and see it transformed!