Enameling Techniques Workshop

Work featuring Champleve enamel by Erin House

We are really excited about the February workshop: Enameling Techniques. Enameling is a great way to add color to jewelry and metal work. Not only does it produce incredible results, the process is fun as well. In this workshop NCMAG members Erin Austin and Erin House will lead students through basic enameling techniques including choosing and preparing metals and enamels, using the enameling kiln, and finishing enameled pieces. Sifting, Stamping and Champleve enameling techniques will be covered. Each student will leave with at least one finished piece and will have plenty of time for experimentation!

Materials Required for this workshop:
   Face Mask with Respirator
   Your favorite rubber stamp 

February 18th and 19th
Time: 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM


For more information or to sign up for this workshop please visit the workshop page!
As always if you have any questions please contact us at ncmetalartsguild@gmail.com.

Fun with Cuttle Bone Casting!

Randy Terra

Last weekends Cuttle Bone Casting Workshop was so much fun! Erin House started off the workshop with a look at some very inspiring work from metalsmiths using the technique in their work and then we dove right in to making molds. Although this process can be somewhat messy, it's relatively quick and cleans up without too much hassle.

Here students create a flat surface by rubbing two pieces of cuttle bone together and then press objects into the mold. Randy is using a swizzle stick out of his incredible collection that we had a great time looking over. Thanks for sharing Randy!

Next Erin House demonstrated how to melt the metal (the fun part!). We used sterling, bronze, and copper to create several different alloys.

 

Here's Randy making his first pour! And the results from that swizzle stick:

On day two we moved on to three part molds. A bit more challenging, but they allowed for undercuts and a more developed second plane. Here's a two finger ring using a three part mold from the assistant Erin Austin:

And since we had the equipment out, we decided to run next door to the hardware store for a broom so we could try out some broom casting. Everyone agreed that the resulting forms were from another planet (krypton perhaps).

For information on upcoming workshops check out the Workshop page of the blog. Next up: Enameling!
http://northcoastmag.blogspot.com/p/workshops.html

January Exhibition

 Hibernation and Rebirth

Erin Austin, "Clutch", Sterling Silver, Brass, Silk, Wool, Thread

In 2012 we plan on putting on a mini exhibition every month in the NCMAG Studio! Whether the exhibitions work around a theme or feature a guild member, we hope that they will inspire members to create new work and the public to come out and see it. This months exhibition, Hibernation and Rebirth, will feature work from NCMAG members Erin Austin, Erin House, and Lia Sharp. Opens tomorrow, January 13th during Arts Arcata at Hunter Plaid Gallery, 90 Sunny Brae Center.

Cuttlebone Casting Workshop

Learn an ancient casting technique using the soft, carve-able bone of the cuttle fish with NCMAG member Erin House. You might recall this technique illustrated at the beginning of The Lord of the Rings, when the infamous ring was made. Students will learn to cut, carve and cast into the cuttle bone. Everyone will make a ring or pendant that showcases the unique texture of the cuttle bone using bronze that will be provided.

Dates: January 21st and 22nd
Time: 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM
Sign up deadline: January 13th


Materials Required for this workshop:
   Splash Safety Goggles
   Waterproof Sandpaper (400 and 600 grit, one sheet each)
   Needle File Set

Student Work from Erin's last cuttle bone workshop (before cleanup):

To sign up for this workshop please visit the Workshop page of the NCMAG blog or drop by the
NCMAG studio in Hunter Plaid Gallery, 90 Sunny Brae Center, Arcata, CA Wed-Sat from 12-5pm. For more information please email us at ncmetalartsguild@gmail.com.

Here's a look at our other upcoming workshops!