Enamelling revisited with Sheila R McDonald

Enamelling

Ref: SLW13456

Location: West Dean
£463
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About this course

Expand your knowledge of how to incorporate enamel as a decorative feature in your jewellery or small-scale silver objects. Develop your own ideas and work on existing pieces, or focus on making an enamel brooch.

Course Description

This course will offer those who have already started enamelling the chance to gain further knowledge of the materials and possibilities of incorporating enamel as a decorative feature in their work. This will be a small scale workshop (i.e. we will not be working on bowls or large panels). The aim is to give you individual guidance to develop your own ideas and to offer specific advice to anyone wishing to start enamelling on their own.

Working on test pieces, various techniques will be covered. You will be encouraged to develop your ideas and you can either work on existing pieces or consider a brooch as the main focus of the course.

You should find this course helpful in giving you greater confidence to use colour in your work and to gain much practical advice in areas such as: equipment to buy, preparation of work prior to enamelling and many other particular enamel queries.

Timetable

Arrival Day - this is the first date listed above

Courses start early evening. Residential students to arrive from 4pm, non-residential students to arrive by 6.45pm.

6.45pm: Welcome, followed by dinner (included).

8 - 9pm: First teaching session, attendance is essential.

Daily timetable

Classes 9.15 - 5pm, lunch is included.

From 6.30pm: Dinner (included for residential students).

Evening working - students may have access to workshops until 9pm, but only with their tutor's permission and provided any health and safety guidelines are observed.

Last day

Classes 9.15am - 3pm, lunch is included.

Residential students are to vacate their rooms by 10am please.

(This timetable is for courses of more than one day in length. The tutor may make slight variations)

Course Materials

Included

  • The course fee includes some metal, enamels, silver and gold foil.

What students need to bring

  • Fine paintbrushes
  • Scalpels
  • Small scissors
  • Jewellery tools (especially fine tweezers)
  • An apron
  • Enclosed toe footwear (essential) and a hair tie if your hair is long

Available to buy

  • Available from shop:
  • Copper and silver
  • Silver can be purchased from the College Shop, which stocks a range of sheet, wire, rod, tube and findings. These will be available in set sizes and lengths, suitable for a wide range of projects.
  • Available from tutor:
  • There may be an additional charge for extra materials used. There will be extra copper and silver blanks, some jewellery fittings, gold and silver foil available from the tutor.

Additional information

Please wear appropriate clothing/aprons for the workshop or studio. This includes stout covered footwear, i.e. no open-toes or sandals.

Tutors

Sheila R McDonald: seed head brooch

Sheila R McDonald

Shelia R Mcdonald is a graduate of Glasgow School of Art and the Royal College of Art. She works as a freelance jeweller and enameller, undertakes commissions and exhibits widely.

Accommodation

Residential option available. Find out accommodation costs and how to book here.

Courses of interest

Interested in a career in metalwork?

Our Foundation Degree in Metalwork will enhance your employment prospects, give you the skills to set up as a self-employed craftsperson or allow you to continue to higher education. Encompassing both silversmithing and blacksmithing, you will learn practical skills, material properties, placing your work in a broader context and historic metalworking techniques. Find out more