-
Image
-
Image
-
Image
-
Image
-
Image
-
Image
-
Image
-
Image
The Cloisonné Bead
Ready to take your enameling work to the next level? Explore the art of cloisonné enamel!
In this three-day weekend workshop, students will learn how to do cloisonné enameling on a piece of copper tubing to create a beautiful and intricately detailed cloisonné "bead." Working on a curved surface presents a unique set of challenges and this course will teach students how to successfully take on this format.
Specifically, techniques that will be taught in this workshop include building cloisonné wire around a 5/8" copper coupling, adding gold and silver foils, and applying transparent and opalescent enamels. Kiln furniture will be built in class. We'll also cover finishing of the bead with demonstrations of finishing techniques and, time permitting, a bead cap will be fabricated.
Please be advised: Registration for our onsite classes closes one week before the class start date.
Meet the instructor
James Carter's love for enameling and metalsmithing as well as his passion for teaching have shaped his life. After teaching at many art schools for several years, he decided it was time to open his own school, dedicated to continuing time-honored metalsmithing and jewelry skills.
Twenty years later, the school and James still navigate this sea of creativity, always looking for new challenges and skills to pass on to others.
https://jamescarterstudio.com/about-james-carter/
Materials & Tools
There is a $80 materials and lab fee for this class that is payable upon registration, which covers the cost of enamels, klyrfire, a surgical mask, steel for creating kiln furniture, distilled water, and other communal consumable studio supplies needed to complete the course objectives. It will not cover items like gold and/or silver foil--which students can opt to purchase themselves, or, small amounts will be available for purchase (at market rate) from Metalwerx. The materials and lab fee does not cover the items listed below.
If students wish to purchase a pre-made kit, which includes the items listed below, there is an additional $60 tool kit fee payable to the instructor during class. The tool kit includes the items listed below. If students prefer to source these items themselves and bring them to class, links for where they can be obtained are provided in parenthesis. If you are not purchasing a pre-made kit from James, please be sure to purchase all the items and bring them with you to the class.
- 1 piece of subway tile or standard glazed bathroom tile - for example 2"x6" subway tile (HomeDepot)
- 1 x fingernail snips - for example (Walmart)
- 1 x scribing knife (Made by James Carter) - dull knife or straight edge which will be used for bending cloisonne wire
- 1 x Blue Heron Stainless Steel Precision 3C Pattern Tweezers - (RioGrande)
- 1 x Precision Straight-Tip Scissors - (RioGrande)
- 2ft of cloisonné wire (Made by James Carter with various thicknesses and heights available) - (various sizes - for example RioGrande)
- 1 x enamel scoop (Made by James Carter) - for example (Michaels)
- 1 x '00' red sable brush from any art supply - (Blick)
- 1 x eyedropper - (Amazon)
- 1 x 5/8" copper coupling - can be sourced online or at a hardware store
James will have thin gauged steel available for purchase for making kiln furniture for the beads!
- Closed-toe shoes - required in the Metalwerx studio
- a pair of sunglasses or kiln-rated for when peering into the kiln (WeisserGlassStudio)
- your own mask (higher-graded than surgical) if you want
- Any gold and/or silver foil you may have
- silver foil (ThomspsonEnamel)
- gold foil (ThompsonEnamel)
- A small glass jar or cup - can be sourced from around your home (MWX studio will also have some)
- Notebook or sketchpad
- Pen or pencil
- Lunch – there will be break for lunch on each day of the workshop. Metalwerx has a fridge, toaster oven, and microwave. There is a deli/sandwich shop within walking distance.