ENAMELLING - BEGINNERS / ALL LEVELS Courses
How to book: email me for a booking form
Course Description and aims
Aims of the course
(Please email me in advance if you have any questions about the course)
This course is an introduction to enamelling. It is suitable for everyone. You don't need to have previous experience of enamelling and you will learn a variety of techniques to allow the addition of colour to your jewellery or other projects.
Together, we will cover the basics of vitreous enamelling. You will learn how to apply enamel to copper shapes, or to a small copper bowl. You will learn how to apply pattern using prepared stencils to create bespoke designs for jewellery, brooches, earrings, buttons, or panels for framing. You will learn about sifting, champlevé, cloisonné, etching, and cutting your own unique stencils for enamelling.
The enamelling course is progressive and will build your skills in new areas each week. No previous experience of either enamelling or jewellery making is assumed, but if you already have some experience, this course will allow you to experiment and to continue to explore and perfect new techniques. The course is therefore suitable for complete beginners and also for those who have some previous experience of making jewellery or working with metal, and would like to extend their skills to include enamelling.
Enamelling can involve a lot of fine work, and lamps with magnifiers are provided. Having steady hands will help with some of the processes.
What to bring to your classes
If you wish to cut your own stencils, you are welcome to bring your favourite scalpel or craft knife (with a new blade: size 15A) a 6 or 12-inch steel ruler and a self-healing cutting mat (A4 size is sufficient), if you have them. However, some of these will be available in the studio for you to use. Please do remember to bring close-up glasses if you need them.
A small sketchbook is helpful for sketching your design ideas, keeping a photographic record of your work, and for recording dimensions & measurements, as well as firing temperatures, favourite makes of enamels, and your enamelling results. Workshop tools are available in the studio for you to use. There will be copper discs and some squares and other shapes provided for you to enamel, make buttons, pendants, or earrings.
As your experience increases, it is likely that you may wish to move towards working in silver. You will be given a list of suppliers for tools, enamels, enamelling equipment, and bullion. Fine silver is recommended for enamelling. Please discuss with your tutor, who can advise on purchasing precious metals and other materials.
Small A5 sketchbooks will be available to purchase at the studio.
Small sets of powdered enamel colours will be available to purchase.
What to wear
It is a sensible precaution to wear strong/closed shoes to protect your feet. Wearing an apron and/or old clothes is advised. Long hair will need to be tied back in the jewellery studio.
How to book: email me for a booking form
Course Description and aims
Aims of the course
(Please email me in advance if you have any questions about the course)
This course is an introduction to enamelling. It is suitable for everyone. You don't need to have previous experience of enamelling and you will learn a variety of techniques to allow the addition of colour to your jewellery or other projects.
Together, we will cover the basics of vitreous enamelling. You will learn how to apply enamel to copper shapes, or to a small copper bowl. You will learn how to apply pattern using prepared stencils to create bespoke designs for jewellery, brooches, earrings, buttons, or panels for framing. You will learn about sifting, champlevé, cloisonné, etching, and cutting your own unique stencils for enamelling.
The enamelling course is progressive and will build your skills in new areas each week. No previous experience of either enamelling or jewellery making is assumed, but if you already have some experience, this course will allow you to experiment and to continue to explore and perfect new techniques. The course is therefore suitable for complete beginners and also for those who have some previous experience of making jewellery or working with metal, and would like to extend their skills to include enamelling.
Enamelling can involve a lot of fine work, and lamps with magnifiers are provided. Having steady hands will help with some of the processes.
What to bring to your classes
If you wish to cut your own stencils, you are welcome to bring your favourite scalpel or craft knife (with a new blade: size 15A) a 6 or 12-inch steel ruler and a self-healing cutting mat (A4 size is sufficient), if you have them. However, some of these will be available in the studio for you to use. Please do remember to bring close-up glasses if you need them.
A small sketchbook is helpful for sketching your design ideas, keeping a photographic record of your work, and for recording dimensions & measurements, as well as firing temperatures, favourite makes of enamels, and your enamelling results. Workshop tools are available in the studio for you to use. There will be copper discs and some squares and other shapes provided for you to enamel, make buttons, pendants, or earrings.
As your experience increases, it is likely that you may wish to move towards working in silver. You will be given a list of suppliers for tools, enamels, enamelling equipment, and bullion. Fine silver is recommended for enamelling. Please discuss with your tutor, who can advise on purchasing precious metals and other materials.
Small A5 sketchbooks will be available to purchase at the studio.
Small sets of powdered enamel colours will be available to purchase.
What to wear
It is a sensible precaution to wear strong/closed shoes to protect your feet. Wearing an apron and/or old clothes is advised. Long hair will need to be tied back in the jewellery studio.