JEWELRY CLASSES

**Minimum of 2 students to hold a class.

Please make sure to read our Cancellation/Refund Policy before registering. Cheers!

 Cancellation/Refund Policy

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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 (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 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 fine jewelry.Sharpen your skill set, strengthen your technique and level up your hand fabrication and finishing.

The Goldsmiths Apprentice Program is a 12 week program structured into 3 week sessions focusing on the fundamental skills of fine jewelry fabrication. Each apprentice is different so the program is designed to be flexible and move at each individuals pace. We meet you were you are at and we take you where you want to be.

Session #1 Fundamentals, Fire + Fabrication

Learn the fundamental basics of jewelry fabrication such as sawpiercing, filing, texturing, soldering, pouring ingots, rolling out metal, pulling wire, make a tool with precision measuring (learning to use dividers), prepare a bench pin. Simple fabrications such as making a bezel and bail for a cabochon stone pendant and setting it, and fabricate and solder a chain link bracelet with a toggle clasp.

Session #2 Ready, SET, Go

Beginning stone setting fundamentals and practice. The key word being PRACTICE. We provide ring blanks for each apprentice to practice over and over until they are proficient to set stones in the rings they have fabricated. Fabricate a tapered band and set a pearl, fabricate a tapered bezel ring, a tapered wave ring, and a wire setting for a pendant. Set stones in wire settings, tapered bezels and wave rings. Begin some ring sizing if time permits.

Session #3 Design, Carve, Cast + Finish

Practice wax carving and the skills needed to produce a finished wax to be cast. Learn the casting process and finishing work, which is emphasized. Finish work is IMPORTANT. No cutting corners. Set stones in the finished pieces. Multiple pieces are made to practice.

Session #4 Advanced Fabrication + Setting

Hand fabricate a three stone ring from stock. Hand fabricate a box clasp and chain. Advanced stone setting such as channel and bead setting.

Monday-Friday Program

Sept 23-Oct 11 -           FULL

Nov 4-22 -                     FULL

Dec 2-20-                      FULL

Jan 13-31-                      FULL

Mar 3-21

May 5-23

Session Tuition: $2250

Scholarships Available

For more information and to apply, contact metalartsacademy@gmail.com

 

 

OPEN STUDIO

Once you have taken a class at MAA, you can attend Open Studio on Fridays to work on projects, use the equipment and bend Michaels ear. Reserve a spot at the bench!

Fridays:

Morning Session 10am-12:30pm     $30

Afternoon Session 1:30pm-4pm      $30

All Day 10am-4pm                             $55

*Please check the calendar, sometimes we have a class scheduled on a Friday*

Open Studio

Beginning Jewelry Fabrication 1        $390          3 Days

In this 3 day workshop, learn the basic skills of jewelry fabrication including sawpiercing, soldering, filing, forming, texturing, annealing, and polishing. Technical vocabulary, tool and equipment use and shop safety is taught. Students learn the properties of metals such as copper, brass and sterling silver. This is a beginners class for those who have never had any jewelry instructions and for those who have had some experience and want to further their skills.

*Materials and use of tools included*

10AM-5PM                   

Oct 22-24     FULL

Jan 11, 18, 25

April 1-3

Beginning Jewelry Fabrication 1

Beginning Jewelry Fabrication 2        $490         4 Days

In this 4 day continuation of BJF1, learn more comprehensive skills in basic fabrication such as disk cutting and doming, then piercing out the piece, as well as an introduction to stone setting and making a bezel. The skill of fabricating and filing a half round ring is also taught.

Prerequisite: BFJ1 or equivalent experience with sawpiercing and silver soldering.

*Materials and use of tools included* 

10AM-5PM                                                   

Feb 4-7

April 8-11

Beginning Jewelry Fabrication 2

Wax Carving + Intro to Casting           $620             4 Days 

In this 4 day workshop, learn to create a wax model by layout, carving, sawing and wax build-up. An introduction to casting includes making a plaster mold, burn out and casting in sterling silver.

Prerequisite: BFJ1 or equivalent experience with sawpiercing and silver soldering.

*Materials and use of tools included*

10AM-5PM   

April 28-May 1

Wax Carving + Intro to Casting

Stone Setting 1       $390   3 Days 

Learn the basic skills of stone setting, including prong, flush and tube setting in this 3 day class. Also set a solitaire in a 4 prong setting.

Prerequisite: BFJ1 and BJF2 or equivalent experience with sawpiercing and silver soldering.

*Materials and use of tools included*

10AM-5PM

Feb 11-13

Stone Setting 1

Stone Setting 2    $490   4 Days

Continue to learn new skills in setting shared prong stones and channel round stones in this 4 day class. Also set a square V prong setting.

Prerequisite: BJF1 and 2 and Stone Setting 1 or equivalent experience.

*Materials and use of tools included* 

10AM-5PM      

Feb 17-20

Stone Setting 2

Introduction to Bead Setting  $595    4 Days

Introduction to Bead Setting including how to shape and sharpen your graver, stone layout, setting in a flat plate, setting in a ring, and finish work.

*Tuition is $595 for the class and Tool Kit. Kit Includes 6 gravers, 6 handles and a beading tool.

Prerequisite: Stone Setting 1 or 2 or equivalent experience.

10AM-5PM

February 24-27

Intro to Bead Setting

Soldering 101   $325   3 Days

Learn the basics of silver soldering in this three day intensive class. Tackle and learn how to solve different soldering situations that may arise. Learn how to solder wire to wire, end to end, wire to plate, sweat soldering, etc. Instruction of when and why to use different solder is covered with practical soldering knowledge and technique being the focus. Silver soldering, using propane/oxygen torches.

*Materials and use of tools included

10AM-5PM 

March 25-27

SOLDERING 101

Intro to Chasing: Jewelry   $325 

3 Days

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)

Materials and tools needed are included in the tuition.

Tuition for the class: $325

If interested, Tool Kit may be purchased:

9 punches in the kit    $270 plus tax

10AM-5PM  

May 27-29

 

Intro to Chasing: Jewelry

Craft Jewelry Workshops 

3 Hours    Tuition: $75

1. "Wire Wrapping with Lacey" 

1. This 3 hour craft class introduces the student to the basic skills in the art of wire wrapping jewelry. Stones and wire all included. There is an additional cost of $20 to use Sterling Silver. Leave with a beautiful piece made by YOU!

 $75 Tuition/Materials Included

2. "Copper Craft Jewelry" 

2. Copper has begun to see a revival. Join us for this 3 hour craft jewelry class where you will be learning skills such as cutting, forming, filing, texturing, making earring wire, forging bracelets, hammering, stamping and using a foredom flexshaft to do clean up and polishing. All materials are included, metals used are copper and brass. There is an additional cost of $20 to use Sterling Silver. Everyone will leave with a completed project, focusing on earrings, bracelets or pendants.

$75 Tuition/Materials Included

 *minimum of 2 students needed to hold class 

3. "Make a Bezel Ring" Coming Soon!

 

DATES:

OCT 20-

Copper Craft Jewelry  10am-1pm

Advanced Wire Wrapping 2pm-6pm

"The Tree of Life"

 

NOV 10-

Beginning Wire Wrapping   10am-1pm

 

DEC 14-

Make A Bezel Ring    TBA

Wire Wrapping   2pm-5pm

OLD TOWN CHRISTMAS EVENT  5pm

 

 

CRAFT JEWELRY CLASSES

Beginning and Intermediate

Hand Engraving for Jewelry   

4 Days    $950

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 introduce a strong foundation to you for working in the jewelry trade. Taught by Paul Lowe (@sp_hand_engraving)

10AM-5PM

Beginning Class:

April 23-26

Intermediate Class:

TBA

 

Beginning Hand Engraving Jewelry Class

Intermediate Hand Engraving Jewelry Class

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METAL ARTS CLASSES

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Sculptural Metalsmithing Workshop      $350

Two Day Workshop with Alexandra Hart    

December 7 + 8

 

“From the instructor”
Using Anti-Clastic Hammer Forming for Sculptural forms, we will connect with our ancestors as we explore the basic concepts and techniques on copper: the first metal worked by humans at least 8700 years ago.*   Get to know the character and control the movement of the metal using the most fundamental and direct techniques of a few hammers and stake forms.  
 
In this class there will be opportunity to hammer form two very 3-dimensional objects from flat copper sheet, larger than jewelry scale.  The second project will build upon the challenges of the first project.   Beginners are welcome- only hammer control is required, and there is no soldering in this class.  Experienced students can use these techniques to create more variations with instructor’s guidance, as class time permits.  The skills learned can be scaled up to whatever your studio, tools and muscles can handle!  As with most metalworking, preparation of the material takes time to create a clean and professional piece. After that you will be working with steel hammers for much of the two days, with coaching on safety including proper position and grip. 
 
*“Copper, one of the few metals that occurs naturally in a usable form, was the first metal humans fashioned into tools and accessories. For nearly five thousand years—from about 9,000 to 4,000 BCE—it was the only metal worked by humankind. From northern Iraq, where a small pendant dating to about 8700 BCE was found, to the Great Lakes region, where Native American cultures were mining and working copper more than 8,500 years ago, copper’s impact was widespread and significant” - quote from Jordan Schnitzer Museum of Art 
December 7-8
10am to 5pm

 

 

Click on the link to Register:

Sculptural Metalsmithing

 

Anti-Clastic Hammer Forming (part#2): Fold, Twist and Ruffle     $350

Two day workshop

From the instructor:
Learn the basic concepts and techniques developed in the Bronze Age in Ireland-“rediscovered” by Hekki Seppä, Michael Good and Brian Clarke-of shell structures and anti-clastic hammering to create bracelets. Get to know and control the movement of the metal using the most fundamental and direct techniques of a few hammers and stake forms.
Beginners can learn every step in the process-there is no soldering in this class, and intermediate and advanced level students can expand the projects to their own levels. In this class the first project will be a fold formed anticlastic cuff bracelet, learning how to preserve the raised seam while forming the bracelet’s opposing curves with attention to design.The second project will be forming a tightly spiraled anticlastic piece over specialized stakes and unraveling it to reveal undulations created by the compression and expansion of the metal.
Experienced students can use these techniques to create more variations and individualized projects with instruction as class time permits. As with most projects, preparation of the material takes time to create a useful and comfortable piece. After that you will be working with steel and plastic hammers for much of the two days, with coaching on proper position and grip. For class we will work with 19 ga and 24 ga copper sheet, but sterling silver and other metals are welcome (it is advised to avoid argentium sterling due to the lack of spring and risk of cracking when annealing)

10AM-5PM 

TBA    

Anticlastic Bracelets with Alexandra Hart

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Coppersmithing Workshop       $150      

"Copper is one of the most important metals mentioned by ancient historians. It was known before the time of Tubal Cain, who was an educator in its works as well as brass and iron. Historians say that Cadmus discovered it and taught its application to his countrymen. It was noticed on the island of Euboea, near the city of Chalcis and this may be why the Grecian's called it 'chalcos', which is the name that Homer and other authors called it. The Romans knew copper as 'aes cyprum' and 'cyprum', names from the island of Cyprus, where some believe the art of working it was discovered. In the mystic nomenclature of alchemists, copper is known as Venus, the sacred goddess of Cyprus." We will start with a square of copper, and then circle the square to begin the process of raising the copper into a vessel or bowl. This project is difficult yet rewarding and fun, we learn through the experience with copper that rhythm does indeed replace power.

- Keith Gelber, Instructor

 10AM-5PM    

October 27th

Coppersmithing

A couple of bowls sitting on top of a tree stump.