Metal+Clay+Workshop

Metal Clay Workshop, Summer 2010
In order to expand on my instruction in the use of metal clay jewelry, a recent addition to the Sculpture and Design curriculum at the high school, I participated in a two-day workshop, Silver Jewelry with Metal Clay, at the South Florida Arts Center. The instructor, Bernadette Denoux, a veteran craftsperson and metalsmith, has been working with metal clay since its development in the 1990's. The workshop covered a range of fundamental, beginner-level techniques; from forming, cutting and texturing pieces, to kiln-firing, and finally... polishing. The following jewelry items were created, each requiring a variation of a technique or construction method.


 * =====pair of geometric design earrings =====
 * =====bracelet charms =====
 * =====dog tags =====
 * =====patterned pendant =====

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The instructor was extremely patient and encouraging. Each process would be explained and demonstrated before I tried my hand at it. I truly enjoyed the process and have the satisfaction of being able to wear some of my creations! I have no doubt that my sculpture students will enjoy working with metal clay, however, I will need to carefully structure the sculpture studio to facilitate the process. It will require a clean space, separate areas for each stage of the process, and, perhaps most importantly, allow for a limited number of students working at the same time. In order to achieve the latter I will need to have more than one project going on during class, creating "rotations" of some sort. =====

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I intend to take an intermediate level workshop from Ms. Denoux this winter. This will certainly give me more experience and better prepare me for the challenges that will await me this Spring, when I introduce metal clay jewelry to my students. =====