CLASSES AVAILABLE:

Instructors:
William E. Churlik,
Master Silversmith
Emilie Berls,
Assistant Plus Invited Instructors

Beginning Silversmithing Advanced Silversmithing
Concentrated Silversmithing
Introduction to Gravers
Keum Boo
Open Studio

Cold Connections
No Solder Jewelry

Fold Forming
Small Scale Fold Forming
Introduction to the Hydraulic Press and Metal Corrugation

Torch Setup & Safety
Cuttlebone Casting

Lost Wax Casting
Broom Straw Casting

Argentium Sterling Silver
Argentium Granulation
Silver Granulation               w/Argentium

TubeSetting & Bezels
Chasing & Repousse
Advanced Mounting
Forged Bracelets
Flex Shaft & Finishing
Tool Making
 

Instructor: Joan Bazzel:
Introduction to Enameling
Riso Silk Screen for Enameling

Instructor: Q Evon:
Mission Possible Marketing in the New Economy
Beginning Etching
Reticulation

Additional Workshops Available

You may call 828-678-9038 to sign up, or send a message from our contact page

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The following classes for Fall 2010 are scheduled to take place at
Earthspeak Arts’ Studio at 375 Depot Street, Asheville, NC.

To Register, please call 828-678-9038, or send a message from our Contact page.
Our office hours are Friday thru Sunday, 11 am until 5PM

Summer 2010 Schedule

Beginning Silversmithing
Advanced Silversmithing
Concentrated Silversmithing
Fold Forming

Lost Wax Casting
Broom Straw Casting

Beginning Silversmithing

Saturdays: Sept. 11th thru Oct. 30th, 2010, 2 pm until 5 pm.

Class fee includes all materials needed.

    · The class is limited to 6 students.
    · The school will provide the necessary tools.
    · Fee for 8 sessions is $429.00
    · Emilie S. Berls: Assistant Instructor for the Saturday class.

The purpose of this class is to teach the student the basic torch soldering, hand tool usage, metal forming skills, and safety awareness that are essential to jewelry making and keeping the instructor happy. We will start with shop safety then move to soldering. The purpose is to learn heat control. The goal is to melt and flow the solder and not the work piece. The next project is making a silver chain. This will involve learning to anneal wire, draw it down to size, form the links, assemble, and finish with a handmade clasp. The final project will be a ring with a bezel set stone. These projects will give the student the foundation necessary to move on to more complicated projects.

 

Forge Cooking 00903PHOTO: Here is a view of Bill demonstrating the proper use of the new gas forge, making S’mores.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Advanced Silversmithing

This class has been restructured into 3 units. Each unit is a related group of techniques or skills. You can take just one unit or take all 3 as a package and save money.

Topics covered:

Unit 1: Introduction to basic tools and techniques. (4 sessions)
Sundays:
Call dates.

  • Making friends with your jeweler’s saw
  • Texturing hammers, punches, rolling mill, and torch
  • Scrolls: proper design and forming
  • Forging & Forming: what to do with all those hammers
  • Unit 2: Valuable Skills. (4 sessions
  • Sundays, Call for dates
  • Findings: how to make ear wires, simple bails, and catches
  • Cold connections: how to join pieces that cannot take the heat of soldering
  • Flex Shaft & basic Finishing: learn to use and maintain your Flex Shaft and what all of the polishing stuff in the catalog does
  • Record Keeping, Drawing, Pricing your work and marketing options.
  • Unit 3: Advanced Techniques. (4 sessions)
  • Sundays, Call for dates
  • Fusing: how to texture and shape, and join metal without using solder.
  • Tube Mountings & Advanced bezels: how to make tube mounting for small cabochons and faceted stone; how to shape and finish bezels for stones that are not round or oval.
  • Reticulation: how to prepare the silver and use the torch to do a controlled melting of the surface of the metal to create dramatic surface textures.
  • Basic Tool making: how to shape and heat treat steel to make punches and forming tools.
  • Soldering skills required for this unit
  • Fees: Unit 1 $259.00 Limit 6 per class. Materials included.
    Unit 2 $269.00 Limit 6 per class. Materials included.
    Unit 3 $335.00 Limit 6 per class. Materials included.

    Package Price, All 3 Units, $776, SAVE 10% have LOTS of FUN!

Concentrated Beginner/Intermediate Class

This class is now available as a week long private class to better fit your schedule. Contact Bill to arrange your class.

    · The session will run from 11 am until 6 pm Monday thru Friday.
    · (30+ hours)
    · All materials included.
    · Limit 3 students.
    · Fee: $629.00

  • This class is for the person who wants to learn the basics of jewelry making and metalsmithing but does not have the time, or who lives to far away for the regular 8 session program. This will be a fast-paced class that will teach the basic soldering skills, fabrication, texturing, forming, proper hand tool usage, shop safety, using the flex shaft, simple findings, and finishing fundamentals. We also look at some useful design tricks and basic record keeping that will help you in pricing your work. We will complete several simple projects; a chain bracelet, pendant, earrings, etc. based on the techniques learned.

Introduction to Gravers

· Materials and tool kit provided
· Limit 5
· Fee: $260.00

This workshop will teach you how to begin working with Gravers. Think chisels for metal. You will learn how to fit them to your hand, shape, sharpen, then begin to use them to cut designs into metal surfaces. We will look at the many uses of these amazing tools. Some of the uses are lining, lettering, carving, and stone setting.

Your kit includes 7 gravers, handles, sharpening jig, and hand vise.

Keum Boo

· Materials and tool kit provided
· Limit 5
· Fee: to be announced

Keum Boo is an ancient Korean technique used to apply 24 karat Gold to the surface of silver objects. This is an excellent way to give your work the look of gold accents without the cost of working in solid gold. This technique works well with Precious Metal Clay and Enameling.

 

New Studio Pictures 012PHOTO: This is a view of the studio and some of the equipment available to the Open Studio participants. We have recently added two kilns for enameling , a small sales area, 3 cubicles for monthly rental. What you see here is only a part of the studio.

 

 

Open Studio

The Open Shop Workshop is for the person needing a place to work and only occasional instruction or input from the staff.

Studio time will available in 12, 24, and 36 hour blocks. The hours must be use within 6 months of purchase. The studio will be available to you Friday thru Sunday 11 PM until 5 PM. You can come in as often as you like. The only time the studio may not be available is during the breaks between the scheduled school sessions. Each time you visit the studio, your card will be punched for a 3 hour session. When the hours are used up, you purchase a new card. Your card will always be at the studio.

    12 Hours....... $96.00
    24 hours...... $192.00
    36 Hours..... $288.00

Please read!

    · Canceled classes will be made up the following week.
    · Classes missed by the student will be made up at the instructor's discretion.
    · All efforts will be made to be accommodating but the school is not responsible for making up classes missed by the student because of personal schedules, observances, or illness.
    · In event you have to cancel out of a class, we do not give refunds. We will give you a certificate of credit that can be applied to any class or workshop. This will be good for one year.

     

Introduction To Enameling

    · Saturday and Sunday, Nov 13th & 14th, 10 am until 5 pm.

    . Joan Bazzel, Instructor. www.joanbazzel.com
    · Materials and tool kit provided.
    · Limit 6
    · Fee: $320.00

This class will introduce you to vitreous (glass) enamel fused to metal (copper in this class). We will learn how to correctly prepare the copper, apply the enamel powders to flat and raised surfaces, how to use the kiln hardware, enameling tools, translucent enamels, frit, threads, and metal foils. Various techniques of application and effects will be covered. Joan will demonstrate the techniques and provide handouts. The students will have hands-on experience and will complete several jewelry pieces during this class.

This continues to be an exciting class. It will prepare you for the more advanced classes coming after the first of the year. Contact Bill for more information.

 

Riso Silk Screen for Enameling

· Joan Bazzel: Instructor
· Materials provided
· Limit 6
· Fee: $187.00

This workshop will teach the technique of screening designs in enamel using a special material called Riso Screen. This technique allows the artist to duplicate designs for fast and efficient production. We will cover how to make and frame a Riso screen and various ways to use the screen with enamel applications and firing techniques.

Previous enameling experience encouraged.

Fold Forming

  • Saturday, Sept. 25th, 10 am until 5 pm.
  • Materials provided.
  • Limit 5
  • Fee: $150.00
    Charles Lewton-Brain invented Fold Forming in the mid 80's. This technique lets you develop surface textures and organic shapes quickly and easily. The secret is learning the plastic nature of the metal and the tools to make it move. You will learn the basic folds and their application to jewelry and sculptural objects. This will be a 6 hour workshop.

Small Scale Fold Forming

Charles Lewton-Brain invented Fold Forming in the mid 80's. This technique lets you develop surface textures and organic shapes quickly and easily. The secret is learning the plastic nature of the metal. You will learn about the basic tools needed, annealing the metal, and how to form several basic shapes that will work well with cold connections.

Introduction to the Hydraulic Press and Corrugated Metal Forming

  • Saturday, To be announced
  • Materials provided
  • Limit 5
  • Fee: $160.00

 This workshop will introduce you to the hydraulic Press and its forming possibilities. You will be working with several simple forming dies to quickly create three dimensional shapes. You will also learn to use a tube wringer and corrugated rolling mill to create unique textures then form these pieces into three dimensional objects. These pieces will also have great enameling possibilities.

We will be working with copper and silver.

Cold Connections

Instructor: Kim St. Jean www.expressive-impressions.com

Kim will be introducing the technique of making jewelry without solders. We will use hammers and pliers to shape and texture our metal pieces then learn how to use rivets, screws, and wire to fasten the pieces together. This technique is especially useful for organic materials and found objects that could not survive the heat of soldering. This technique will open the door for many more possibilities for your artistic explorations.

No Solder Jewelry

This workshop will explore making jewelry without using a torch. We will learn to make ear wires and hammered copper earrings, twisted wire bracelets, and a few pendants We will use copper and silver sheet, and wire. You will go home with a handful of new tricks and several pieces of jewelry.

Torch Setup and Safety

This workshop is designed to teach you how to safely set up your torch and tanks. We will look at the safety and insurance issues of bottled gases, types of tanks, regulators, and gas combinations: Air-Acetylene, Oxy-Acetylene, and Oxy-Propane. We will learn what hoses, connections, and safety valves are necessary for each combination and how to connect them. Finally we will look at what to ask for when you buy a torch set.

Cuttlebone Casting
Saturday, Postponed! We are waiting for more cuttlebone! The cuttlefish have migrated.

  • Materials provided
  • Limit 5
  • Fee: $130.00

Cuttlebone has been used for centuries to make molds for jewelry and art objects. This technique is inexpensive and requires little equipment. You will learn to prepare the cuttlebone, carve a simple pattern, and safely pour the silver into the mold. 1 oz of Silver will be provided. Bring your scrap silver for more castings.

Wax ModelLost Wax Casting

Sunday, Sept. 19th thru Oct. 24th, 1:30 until 5

  • Materials and tools provided
  • Limit 6
  • Fee: $369.00
  • We will learn the wax carving and wax build up methods of making simple wax models. We will then learn to safely mix the investment powder, burn out the wax, and cast the model. We will cast at least 2 models. 1 oz of silver will be provided. You may also use your own material.

PHOTO: This is the wax model for a silver bowl that was cast in the Lost Wax Casting Class. The finished bowl was about 3 inches across and weighed over 9 ounces. It was hand sculpted. Quite an ambitious project.

Broom Straw CastingWater-Straw Casting

Saturday, Oct 16th, 1 until 5

  • Materials provided.
  • Limit 5.
  • Fee: $128.00

This workshop will teach you how to safely cast molten silver and bronze into broom straw, rock salt, and ice water. The technique produces delightfully random abstract and organic shapes. These pieces can be used to make pendants, rings, and bracelets. This is a great way to utilize your silver scraps and cuttings. Bring your scrap gold and silver. No experience necessary for this workshop.

Safety Glasses required!

Argentium Sterling Silver

  • Materials included
  • Limit 6
  • Fee: $175.00

This workshop will give you an introduction to working with the new Argentium Sterling Silver alloy. It does require some different skills and attention not required for traditional Sterling Silver. The non-tarnishing, no fire scale, fusing, forming, and hardening characteristics of this material will make it a valuable addition to the artist-jeweler’s supply box.
Prerequisite: You must have basic soldering skills to take this workshop.

Argentium Granulation

This workshop is an introduction to granulating with Argentium Silver. We will learn to make and attach the granules of Argentium Silver and 18 karat gold to an Argentium Silver base. This is an effective way to add gold and silver accents to your work.

Silver Granulation with Argentium

You must have advanced soldering skills to take this workshop. This is a difficult technique. We will learn how to prepare the silver granules, prepare the silver surfaces so that the granules can be fused in place, and learn the visual cues to achieve fusion instead of a meltdown. This will give you a starting point for you design experiments.

Tube Setting & Bezels

This workshop will explore making tube style mountings for cabochons and facetted stones. We will also look at making bezels for odd shaped stones.
Bring your bezel problems and stones.
Prerequisite: Basic soldering skills are required for this class.

Chasing & RepousseClassChasing 1a

    · Saturday & Sunday,
    · Materials provided
    · Limit 6
    · Fee: $200.00

  • Chasing and Repousse’ are very ancient techniques. Designs are created by moving the metal into high and low relief with special punches and chisels.

The workshop is a two day class. You will learn to prepare the pitch bowl to hold the metal, trace a design onto the metal, and with special punches “raise” the design. We will do at least 2 designs. You will be working with copper and silver.

PHOTO: This is a view of the Chasing workshop. We learned to make our own tools and how to use them.

Flex Shafts & Finishing

This workshop is designed to help you understand how to care for and make the best use of your flex shaft polishing unit.

We will learn how to maintain the tool to give it a long working life. Then we will look at various finishing wheels, brushes, and compounds that can be used to make finishing our jewelry projects and art objects much easier and of much higher quality. We’ll learn a few new tricks along the way.

Tool Making

One of the basic skills needed by every jeweler and metal worker is the ability to make the custom tools for special tasks or designs. Knowing how to make your own tools will be a skill that will serve you well.

In this class we will discuss tool steel selection and sources. You will learn to shape and finish the steel. You will learn the art of heat treating steel to bring it to the proper hardness and toughness to be a good tool.

We will be making a selection of punches suitable for texturing, chasing, and repousse’. If you have specific ideas or needs, bring them in and we will guide you through the process of making the tool.

Forged Bracelets

  • Materials Provided
  • Limit 5
  • Fee: $120.00

This workshop will have you hammering out a bracelet from square silver wire. We will practice on copper first. You will learn basic forging techniques and how to anneal the metal. No experience is necessary for this workshop. Additional silver will be available for purchase.

Advanced Mountings

This workshop will be 2 sessions in length. it will explore making wire mountings for faceted stones. This class will require advanced soldering skills. We will look at a round, oval, and octagon cut stones.

 

Mission Possible- Marketing in the New Economy

Instructor: Q Evon

  • · Lunch provided
  • · Information kit provided
  • · Fee: $250.00

“ Having my own jewelry design/production/fabrication business for over 15 years has been a continuous learning curve. I’ve had to reinvent more than I’d like to admit, but I’ve developed a way of working that enables me to use my creativity and earn a good living.

“I’ve learned to never depend on any one income stream and have diversified my work/business to survive in almost any economy”

The class will cover the following and much more.

  • Understanding the many avenues for selling your work
  • How to avoid expensive mistakes
  • Creating the promotional tools to market your work
  • Identifying your customer base
  • Appropriate pricing of your work and labor
  • Production vs. “one of a kind”
  • Design a “collection”
  • Setting realistic design, production, and income goals
  • Perhaps most importantly, understanding exactly what is required to meet those goals.

Beginning Etching

This workshop is designed to give you an introduction to etching. We will be working with copper and brass sheet. All of the techniques we will be exploring are applicable to Sterling Silver by using a different etchant.

The first day we will cover the safety concerns and the setup of the equipment for the process. You will learn about the various etchants and resists that can be used. We will explore different methods of transferring your designs to the metal in preparation for etching. This will include direct application to the metal using paints and inks as well as transferring computer generated images. We will have time for you to make several samples.

Reticulation

Reticulation is a technique used to produce dramatic surface textures. It is a controlled melting of the metal. The technique seems to have been developed in Scandinavia in the 1860s. Faberge’ used this technique for dramatic effect on many of his pieces. This workshop will give you an understanding of the technique and several pieces to use in your jewelry designs.
Required: Safety glasses are required for this course.

 

  • Please read!
  • · Canceled classes will be made up the following week.
  • · Classes missed by the student will be made up at the instructor's discretion.
  • · All efforts will be made to be accommodating but the school is not responsible for making up classes missed by the student because of personal schedules, observances, or illness.
  • · In event you have to cancel out of a class, we do not give refunds. We will give you a certificate of credit that can be applied to any class or workshop. This will be good for one year.
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