Greetings!
This month I get a little preachy, present a few great resources and feature one of my amazing students. Enjoy.
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Practice Makes Perfect
Just like you have to break some eggs to make an omelette, you have to melt some silver to learn how to smith. Like any other discipline, Silver Smithing is a honed craft that is only perfected by repetition.
No, it is not one of those crafts that you can just pick-up if you have a gift certificate at Micheals. ;- b
It is more like learning a musical instrument. It takes practice. The dilemma is that it can be a costly endeavor to get good. There has to be a commitment to supplies and tools before practice begins, but there is an approach that I have found that works in increasing your skills, while making something satisfying without breaking the budget.
1. Make a linked chain.
This is one of the best beginner projects that allows you to practice the most foundational skill of soldering. The result is a piece of jewelry that you will love and be able to brag about all while practicing something that no one would know was novice. A number of links allows the practice of creating clean, "no daylight" connections which will improve your skills.
2. Make some simple bangles.
Like the linked chain, bangles are great practice without the time dedication of the chain. Plus a set of these will always turn heads.
3. Make mock-ups in copper.
Copper is an economical way to test a design idea or to use for practicing any type of texturing or forging. You can make texture tiles using the rolling mill that can then be incorporated into a pendant, or as links in a bracelet, necklace, or belt. Forging properties in copper are similar to silver and can be practiced the same way. The only drastic difference is that copper is more difficult to see its annealing point (because it is already kinda red ;-)
Continue to explore your art form with new techniques, experimentation, study, and new classes, but always remember that practice is what makes "perfect".
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 | | Forged pendant by Jeff Jones |
Feature Student:
Jeff Jones
It is always interesting to me to see how people's professions inform their art form. Jeff Jones brings his own surgical "twist" to his new found smithing skills. Having taken the Beginning Silversmithing class he was well on his way to new creative horizons. Read more about Jeff. |
 The "Hardness" of Stones; Why Should I Care?
Because. If you tumble an Opal you will ruin it. If you tumble a Garnet you won't. Setting can be a challenge. (I have broken a few opals in my time... trust me, it is a bummer). Gems have different properties and hardness that help inform how we treat them (and in what order) in the process of creating a successful piece. The good news is that a tiny bit of research and we can avoid breaking a stone vs. not breaking or scratching it. Or at the very least make us a little more gentle with the bezel rocker. Understanding that Fluorite is soft means that you will treat it gently when setting it as opposed to a diamond, which can take more force. Frankly, the cabochons that I use in the studio for students are mostly quartz, or chalcedony. Remember that fire and stones don't mix as a rule, so when creating a piece that incorporates a gemstone, the last step is setting the stone. Even after finishing, filing, and polishing. (with a few exceptions). |
Thank you for being a part of SilverWorks Studio & Gallery. I hope that it continues to bring you inspiration. It gives me great joy to see you continue your artistic journey.
Blair Anderson
Director & Instructor |
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Breast Cancer Awareness Month
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Must Have Books!
I couldn't resist an author that is an old colleague of mine, Charles Lewton-Brain, with his exploration and discovery, and awesome documentation into a technique He coined as Foldforming.
more books to  consider... |
Word-of-the-MonthMandrel:The hunk of steel shaped into a form that allows you to shape and forge your work... Ring mandrel, Bracelet mandrel, neck mandrel... read more terms...
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Upcoming Classes
Skill Builder: Using StonesNov 6 10:30-4:30 register here.Discover Silversmithing 1 2-Day Workshop Oct 20 & 21 (Wed & Thursday) 10:30am-1:30pm register here.Beginning Silversmithing 5 Week CourseJan 6 thru Feb 3 Thursday evenings 6:30pm-9:30pm register here.or continue your skills with... a skill builder like Applique. |
About the Director
Blalir Anderson is an artist in residence at Glen Echo Park, MD. read more...
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