-
Image
-
Image
-
Image
-
Image
-
Image
Introduction to Jewelry Making
Looking to dip your toes in the vast waters of jewelry making and metalsmithing, but don’t know where to start? Look no further than this perfectly honed "crash-course" workshop focused on teaching you jewelry basics in a condensed time frame!
This 3-day workshop aims to teach a few metalsmithing fundamentals through the creation of a finished ring with a round or oval bezel set stone and a textured band. Students will learn basic fabrication skills including soldering, texturing, ring sizing, bezel setting a cabochon stone, and putting the "finishing" touches on your ring by sanding and polishing it to perfection!
Please be advised: Due to the need to order supplies, we customarily close registration for our on-site offerings one week before the start date. If you wish to join the class after registration closes, please contact us at [email protected] or 781-891-3854.
Meet the instructor
William Vanaria is a Massachusetts based artist with a penchant for oddball materials. His work utilizes traditional metalsmithing techniques and a wide verity of non-traditional materials to produce jewelry which both questions and comments on notions of romanticism, value, fakery, and the hierarchy of materials present within modern day consumer culture. Through his work he pushes for a broader system of value which has been formulated though experience, consideration, and critical thinking.
William received a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree from the Massachusetts College of Art and Design with a concentration in "Jewelry & Metalsmithing" in 2012. Afterwards, he spent time working within the jewelry industry and volunteering as a teacher's assistant for various art institutions. He found that the latter was much more fulfilling, so he went on to further his education within the arts and to pursue a career in teaching. William received his Masters of Fine Arts degree from the University of Massachusetts: Dartmouth in 2016; once again with a concentration in "Jewelry & Metalsmithing."
Materials & Tools
There is a $93 materials fee for this course which is payable upon registration. The materials kit includes 20ga sterling silver sheet metal (one 1"x1" square); 20ga brass sheet metal (one 2"x2" square); 18ga copper sheet metal (one piece of 1"x4"); 1.5mm sterling silver rectangular wire (4" length); fine silver bezel wire (4" length); cabochon stone; rotary components; and other miscellaneous items needed to complete the course objectives.
- closed-toe shoes - required in the Metalwerx studio
- OPTIONAL: any round or oval cabochon stones they like - must be flat-bottomed
- notebook or sketchpad
- pen or pencil
- lunch - Metalwerx has a fridge, toaster oven, and microwave