Beginning and Intermediate Hand Engraving for Jewelry with Paul Lowe
You may know him as @sp_hand_engraving and we are thrilled to have him teach his craft here at MAA!
In this 4 day class of beginning and intermediate jewelry hand engraving for jewelry and precious metals, you will learn the different pneumatic systems, proper workbench set up, graver preparation, microscope set up, work holding, how to make burnishers, scribes, transfers, cutting straight lines to curves, how to properly use you vice, lettering and scrolls. This class will give you strong foundations for working in the jewelry trade as a hand engraver.
Saturday Class:
Beginning Hand Engraving July 6, 13, 20, 27
Weekday Classes:
Beginning Hand Engraving Sept 4-7
Intermediate Hand Engraving Sept 9-12
August 13-15 ONE SPOT LEFT
October 12, 19, 26
Intro to Chasing: Jewelry
In this 3 day introduction to the small scale of jewelry chasing, we will be using die struck jewelry as our canvas. Topics include an introduction to the tools needed to chase, how to make the tools and how to use the tools in a way to bring your piece to life. The skills learned can be applied to hand fabricated pieces, cast pieces, and CAD alike.
Prerequisite: Bench skills required (saw piercing and filing)
Tuition: $325
All materials and tools are provided. Punch sets may be purchased after the class.
Punch Set: $270 plus tax
Anticlastic Bracelets with Alexandra Hart
Join us September 28-29 for an exciting class with Alexandra Hart, learning the techniques of anticlastic raising. The focus is on the bracelet form, using stakes and hammers to obtain shape and texture.
Goldsmiths Apprentice Program
During this comprehensive training program, equip yourself with the skills needed to enhance your jewelry techniques or if you are a beginner, start your journey in the jewelry trade.
With a focus on fine jewelry fabrication, GAP (the Goldsmiths Apprentice Program) is designed to train the student as an apprentice, as it was throughout history when apprentices were taught the age-old practice of repetition to develop and master a skill while working under a master craftsperson.
GAP students will learn skills such as sawpiercing, filing, soldering, hand fabrication, stone setting, wax carving and casting, finishing, polishing and tool making, all with the focus being on fine jewelry.
Monday-Friday Program
Tuition: $2250
For more information, dates and to apply, contact metalartsacademy@gmail.com
Vessel Raising Workshop
May 21-23, 2024
$525 Tuition
Two Week Intensive Chasing Workshop
June 18-28, 2024
$1800 Tuition
The above photo was taken in 1982 or 83 at Van Craeynest, Inc. in San Francisco. This is where I apprenticed for 6 years under Larry Van Craeynest. Larry passed away on January 15, 2021. He was my teacher, my mentor and my friend. When I began my apprenticeship at Van Craeynest, Inc., I was 18 years old. I studied under Larry and so many other talented craftsmen at that factory. My days started an hour before everyone arrived when I would prep the shop for the day, it was my job to warm up the die ball for the die cutter, and my days ended an hour after everyone left. I would mop and sweep and make sure the shop was just so for everyone for the next day. I would spend the first few weeks of my apprenticeship just watching. As per Larrys instruction, I would sit next to each craftsman and study….then I would practice what I had witnessed. When I had become proficient, Larry would have me move on to the next skill, all the while practicing. Repeating the skills until they were in my body and my brain. This went on for years and years. Larry and all of the talented craftsmen that I learned under shaped who I am as an artist. It is an immense loss to the craft of handmade jewelry to lose Larry who was such a dedicated teacher and skilled craftsman, not only in jewelry fabrication but in woodworking and tool and die making.
The craft of handmade jewelry is such a gift. I am thankful for the training that I received as an apprentice. In the photo above, I am on the far left, Larry is the one looking to the side, and each one of us are there because of him. We were all there to do our part in the process of jewelry fabrication. It was a golden age.
I miss talking to and learning from Larry.... but in his honor, I continue to reach to the past and teach for the future.
Sincerely,
Michael R Kosinski
How long does it take to master your craft? 60,000 Hours. Below, find a fascinating documentary on the Japanese Takumi, the master craftsmen and women who have devoted 60,000 hours + to their craft.
How do you add value to your everyday life? Do you create? Do you harvest? Do you render? Do you build? Share your handmade story, let us all create a dialogue for a handmade future.
Photo of Aidan Breen and Michael in Ireland. Learn more about this wonderful artist at
https://metalartsacademy.com/irish-adventure
Student Gallery
Photos of students working and photos of their work created during workshops and classes.
