This course aims to introduce enamelling skills to beginners and improvers to show how colour, texture and colour ideas can be translated into enamels. Learn how to translate colour and texture ideas, and the techniques of using fine wires and metal leaf.

Starting with a series of basic test pieces on copper, simple techniques are covered. This is a fine enamelling course and you will cover the washing and grinding of enamels in preparation for wet packing. This allows much more scope for controlled and detailed work. You will also work with fine wires, and gold and silver leaf. The tutor will provide a variety of enamel samples, which will encourage you to experiment.

As a beginner, you will follow small steps with copper samples and then move on to working on small silver and copper items. By the end of the course, you will have produced a small simple item of jewellery.

If you have some experience, you will be encouraged to incorporate some other techniques into your samples. You are encouraged to bring examples of your work as a starting point to discuss ideas.

Included

Enamels used by the group as a whole The tutor will provide small colour fabric samples, which will give you inspiration for the test pieces.

What students need to bring

• Apron/overall
• Small glass/plastic containers, to contain wet enamel
• Scissors, cutting tools
• Fine tweezers/pliers
• Any jewellery tools (a kit of basic tools may also be hired from the shop)
• Any enamels you may already have

Available to buy

Available from shop: 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. Copper sheet – 1.2mm Fine paintbrushes Drawing materials Cutting tools

Additional information

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

Arrival day
Residential students can arrive from 4pm, non-residential students to arrive by 6.45pm for registration
6.45pm: Welcome, followed by dinner (included)
8 - 9pm: First teaching session, attendance is essential

Daily timetable
Course teaching 9.15am - 5pm (lunch included)
Dinner: from 6.30pm (included for residential students)
Evening working: students may have access to workshops until 9pm, but only with permission from the tutor and provided any health and safety guidelines are observed

Departure day
Course teaching: 9.15am - 3pm (lunch included)
Residential students will need to check out of rooms by 10am

Please note, the tutor may make slight variations to the daily timetable as required

Terms & Conditions