The following classes for the Summer of 2008 are scheduled to take place at
Earthspeak Arts’ Studio
at 375 Depot Street, Asheville, NC.

Beginning * Intermediate * Lost Wax * Open Studio * No Solder Jewelry * Fold Forming * Argentium Sterling * Keum -Boo *       * Reticulation * Mountings * Class Info* and much more

You may call 828-232-4389 to sign up, or send a message from our contact page.

Our summer offic

Summer Schedule Beginning Silversmithing Saturdays: June 21st thru August 16th, 2 PM until 5 PM No class July 5th 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 . PHOTO: Here is a view of Bill demonstrating the proper use of the new gas forge, making S’mores.           Intermediate Silversmithing Sundays: June 22nd thru August 17th, 1:30 pm  until 4:30 pm. No class July 6th The class is limited to 6 students Class fee includes all materials needed. The school will provide the necessary tools. Fee for 8 sessions is $429.00 Each class session will concentrate on a specific technique: texturing,  sawing, scroll making, pattern layout, forming, and findings. We will also spend time working with cold connections, using the flex shaft, and finishing fundamentals. You will be encouraged to bring in and incorporate design ideas throughout the sessions. With the soldering skills from the Beginning Class and techniques learned in this class, you can effectively start translating your ideas into actual pieces of art.   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 5 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 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.    PHOTO: This is a view of the studio and some of the equipment available to the Open Studio participants.         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 Wednesday 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. We are open Thursday thru Sunday during the summer. 12 Hours.......$96.00 24 hours......$19200 36 Hours.....$288.00 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.             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.                  Additional Workshops          Elements of Design       Thursday evenings:     Session running from 6 pm until 9 pm. Fee: Materials provided. Limit 10 Instructor: Emilie S. Berls Elements of design will provide you with the tools to unlock your design potential. We will be looking at the 4 basic elements of design, the work of successful artists, drawing, and other ways to develop and communicate your ideas. Be prepared to bring your “Art Jewelry” designs and ideas to class.   Small Scale Fold Forming Saturday: Session runs from 11 am until 5 pm. Limit 6 Materials kit provided. Fee: Instructor: Mike Callihan, Kim St. Jean, Asst. 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.   Cold Connections Sunday: Session runs from 11 am until 5 pm Fee: Materials kit provided. Tools and additional materials will be available for purchase. Limit 8 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.   Broom Straw Casting  Saturday: Session runs from 11 am until 5 pm Fee: Materials provided. Bring your scrap silver and gold. Limit 6 Safety glasses required! This workshop will explore casting 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. Bring your scrap gold and silver. No experience necessary for this workshop. Safety Glasses required! Argentium Granulation Saturday: Session runs from 11 am until 6 pm Fee: Materials provided. Limit 5       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. Torch Setup and Safety Saturday: May 31st Session runs from 11 am until 5 pm Fee: $120.00 Limit 6 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.   Future Workshops Argentium Sterling Silver   This is the new Sterling Silver alloy just coming onto the market. This workshop will give you an introduction to working with the new Argentium Sterling Silver. It does require some different skills and attention not required for traditional Sterling Silver. The non-tarnishing, no fire scale, forming, and hardening characteristics of this material will make it a valuable addition to the artist-jeweler’s supply box. You must have basic soldering skills to take this workshop.                                  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. Basic soldering skills are required for this class.       Business Planning and Marketing for the Artist Jeweler Instructor: Q Evon    www.qevon.com “ I began my business 12 years ago. In that time I built my wholesale design and manufacturing company to 400 accounts across the country. While doing so, I made almost every mistake possible, yet still achieved financial success! These experiences and successes have made me uniquely qualified to advise others wanting to embark on a career in the metal arts, jewelry design, and manufacturing.” (Been there --- done that) This workshop is designed to help you grow in your career as an artist. Workshop topics: Defining your your creative and financial goals. Defining the style or type jewelry that you produce. Identifying the demographics of your market. Pricing strategies. Defining a “Collection” instead of a random grouping of pieces. Pros & Cons of a wholesale business and Art/Retail shows. The importance of the Press and Marketing. The importance of professional photography. Booth presentation.   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. Please bring your safety glasses; they will be required.   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.   Flex Shafts & Finishing Saturday: Back in the summer of 2008 Fee Supply kit provided Limit 6 Instructor: Bill Churlik 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.   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. 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.                                      Tool Making  Back in 2008 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. No Solder Jewelry This workshop will explore making jewelry without soldering. We will look at earrings, bracelets, and a neck ring. We will use copper, silver sheet, and wire. You will go home with a handful of new tricks and several pieces of jewelry to give out. Forged Bracelets    This workshop will explore hammering out a bracelet from square silver wire. We will practice on copper first. You will learn basic forging techniques and hoe to anneal the meatl. No experience is  necessary for this workshop. Additional silver will be available for purchase.                                  Cuttlebone Casting                                  Cuttlebone casting has been used for centuries to make molds for jewelry and art objects. This technique is inexpensive and requires very little equipment. It can also provide interesting textures. We will learn how to prepare the the, carve a simple pattern, and pour the metal. 2 cuttlebones and 1 ounce of silver will be provide. You can bring your silver scrap for extra metal.   PHOTO: This is a view of the Chasing workshop. We learned to make our own tools and how to use them.                                Lost Wax Casting Thursdays:   Back in the summer of 2008 Sessions running from 6 pm until 9 pm. Tools and wax will be provided. Metal to be cast must be purchased separately. Limit 6 Fee: We will learn both the wax carving and the wax build up methods to make our models. The goal will to be to make 2 simple models to cast. We will learn how to safely mix the investment, burn out the waxes, cast the metal, and then finish the pieces. We will be able to cast in Gold, Silver, or Bronze. Corrugated Metal Forming Saturday: Back in the fall of 2008 Fee: Limit 6 Materials provide. Additional materials available for purchase Instructor: Bill Churlik This workshop will explore using industrial tube wringers and a specialized rolling mill to produce a corrugated texture in thin sheet metals. We will also be looking at shaping the textured pieces by Fold Forming and a hydraulic press. These textured and shaped pieces can then be used as design elements in your jewelry or as completed jewelry units in themselves. We will be working with copper and silver.                         Advance Mountings Please watch the site or contact Bill for the schedule. 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.          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. We will learn about the tools needed and experiment with the basic folds that will get you started in your experiments with this technique.   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.   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.

e hours are Thursday thru Sunday 11 am until 5 pm 

© Earth Speak Arts ---Mailing address
1020 Coxes Creek Rd, Burnsville, NC 28714 E-mail wechurlik@earthlink.net All Rights Reserved

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