Ref: SLW41034
The first evening will be spent familiarising yourself with the project. There will be a short demonstration and discussion to show the basic techniques you will be learning, which should leave you thinking about your design ideas for the following day.
Day 1: Discussion of jewellery design ideas for the hollow form project to create an item or items of jewellery of your own choice.
A demonstration of how to use the hydraulic press to create your three-dimensional shapes. Guidance will be given on cutting and making stamps from MDF for your designs and forming of rubber shapes to facilitate the process. You will practise pushing out your shapes in copper and a demonstration of soldering techniques to join hollow forms will also be shown.
You will go on to learn how using the hydraulic press is a perfect method for shape forming with textured metal. Demonstrations on texturing metal using the roller mill with fabrics, metal patterns and watercolour paper will be shown and discussed and we will create a sheet of samples in copper and fine silver.
Day 2: Individual discussions and construction of your final pieces with a chosen texture and your stamp will take place. Your final pieces in fine silver will be constructed.
Day 3: The last day will be spent finishing your pieces of jewellery, attaching any necessary findings and bails, etc., followed by a group discussion and viewing of all outcomes.
The course is intended to inspire you to think three-dimensionally about jewellery making and designing, taking you away from just flat, cut out metal shapes. You will learn about the techniques of metal texturing, which are ideally suited to the process of using the hydraulic press to create sculptural jewellery.
By the end of the course, you will have experimented with roller mill metal texturing using a range of materials, learnt to use the hydraulic press, have finished one or two items of jewellery and be inspired to have a more sculptural approach to jewellery construction.
All the above processes are suitable for beginners or students at intermediate level, and the complexity of the course can be tailored to your individual ability.
On this course the tutor will supply:
The College will supply a basic jewellery kit for use on the course, plus:
Please wear appropriate clothing/aprons for the workshop or studio, this includes stout covered footwear (no sandals or open toes).
Arrival day - first date of course
Residential students can arrive from 4pm, non-residential students to arrive by 6.45pm for registration
Student welcome, followed by dinner: 6.45pm (dinner included)
Teaching session: 8pm-9pm (attendance is essential)
Daily timetable
Course teaching: 9.15am-5pm
Morning session: 9.15am-12.45pm including coffee/tea break
Lunch break: 12.45pm-2pm (lunch included)
Afternoon session: 2pm-5pm including coffee/tea break
Teaching finishes: 5pm
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 - last date of course
Course teaching: 9.15am-3pm (lunch included)
Teaching finishes: 3pm
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.
Annie Ruthven-Taggart trained at Saint Martin’s School of Art and Design and The Sir John Cass Faculty of Art, Design and Manufacture at London Guildhall University, graduating with a BA honours degree in Jewellery and Silversmithing.
Residential option available. Find out accommodation costs and how to book here.
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
