Enter the world of making metal jewelry with this Intro to Metalsmithing (Metals 1) three-week session small-group jewelry class in our professional jewelry school in Louisville, CO; no experience necessary! This class lays the foundation for metalsmithing jewelry and is a prerequisite for our more advanced classes.
This workshop is jam-packed with information to get you introduced to the world of metalsmithing without a huge time commitment! In addition to learning safety procedures, students will learn the fundamentals of metalsmithing and at the end of class will have made a textured 7 mm sterling silver ring band with their choice in size and texture and a copper pendant necklace that is hand-sawn and hand-textured.
We will cover:
- Studio safety and ergonomics
- Sawing techniques
- Hammer texturing and stamping
- Filing and sanding
- Basics of soldering
- Texturing metal with a rolling mill and hammers
- How to remove fire-scale
- Patina options
- How to use a flex-shaft
Class Duration: Wednesday evenings from 6:00-8:30 p.m. March 8, 15, 22 (must be able to attend all three sessions. No makeups allowed.)
Prerequisite: None
Last day to cancel for a full refund is February 28, 2023. Please review our FAQ page for directions and dress code. By registering for the class you agree to our policies and dress code.
Tools and Materials
Tools needed: You will need to bring your own KN95 or N95 mask to use while polishing. If you do not have one, we have them for sale for $5 (limit 1 per person).
Materials kit: $25 (silver, copper, solder, flux, saw blades, and use of all tools and equipment)
About the instructor, Chris Weston
Chris Weston graduated from Haywood Community College in North Carolina with an A.A.S. degree in Professional Crafts/Jewelry. He also has a B.A. in English from Dartmouth College and an M.A. in TESL/Secondary Education from the University of New Mexico. He has taken workshops around the country from notable jewelry artists that include Charles Lewton-Brain, Carrie Adell, Julia Turner, Chris Darway, and Sarah Obrecht, among others. In 2000, he attended The Istituto Pietro Selvatico, in Padova, Italy, where he studied goldsmithing with Graziano Visintin.He began his teaching career in Japan in 1985, and eventually transitioned from teaching English as a foreign language to teaching high school art in 2001, when he became a high school art teacher for Las Cruces Public Schools. While in Las Cruces, he also started teaching adult jewelry classes in the continuing education program for Dona Ana Community College.
Since moving to Colorado in 2016, he has taught jewelry workshops for Boulder Metalsmithing Association and Lifelong Learning. He is currently teaching specialty workshops at Silver Peak Studio.