SCULPTURE: Miniature 3D with Precious Metal Clay

~With Victoria Serrao

Event Type: Workshop
September 19 , 2010 (Sunday)

Time: 9:00am - 4:00pm

Tuition: $95 (Member), $95 (Non-Member)

Level: Beginners - Intermediate

Enrollment: 13 seats remaining

Miscellaneous:
Dates and information subject to change. Please call ahead for confirmation.

Any additional jewelry making supplies will be assessed at a small additional fee. For example- leather cord, sterling silver wire, decorative beads (these will be available for purchase at a modest fee)

Workshop Description
The first day will include basic learning techniques for working with precious metal clay (including paste, syringe and paper) with demonstrations in slab, coil, textures, mold making, joints and bales. Books will be available for inspiration and students can decide if they would like to work independently or as a group to make a one of a kind piece. There will be hand outs for information on where to obtain materials needed for purchasing and working with precious metal clay.

The second day will include the basic techniques for finishing the piece after it has dried (sanding), firing without a kiln (torch), burnishing, and applying patina, as well as techniques for making the fired form into a wearable piece of art by adding chains, leather, and clasps. There will also be some additional instruction for advanced forms which cannot be fired by torch, but may be fired in a small jewelry kiln. These would include hollow form pieces, pieces with gems and rings.

Concept of Workshop
Introduction of the basics tools and techniques in working with Silver precious metal clay in order to form one or more pieces of wearable art by the end of the session. Educate students in how to go about setting up their own precious metal clay studio. A guide on where to obtain precious metal clay and the other tools needed to get started on their own.

About "Precious Metal Clay"
"Precious Metal Clay" is a product developed in Japan from recycling the silver from exposed photography, medical and veterinary film. Gold metal clay is recycled from electronics and post mortem dental work. The silver and gold are extracted and then mixed with a clay like medium to produce a pliable clay material and slip. The silver and gold clay can be used employing any of a variety of hand building techniques much in the same way as using conventional clay, just on a smaller scale. After firing to a temperature of 1500 - 1565 degrees, the clay medium burns away, shrinking the fired piece by 12-15% and leaving a piece of art which is 99.9% pure silver or gold.

SCULPTURE: Hypertufa

~With Elena Garcia

Event Type: Workshop
September 25 - September 26, 2010 (Saturday & Sunday)

Time: 9:00am - 4:00pm

Tuition: $150 (Member), $150 (Non-Member)

Level: Beginners - Intermediate

Enrollment: 12 seats remaining

Miscellaneous:
Guest Instructor- Gerald Lucena

Course information is subject to change. Please call ahead for course confirmation.

Create container forms using hypertufa. Hypertufa is a porous and attractive pot choice for many potted plants. Hypertufa construction is an old and highly desirable skill to have. Once you learn the basics of mixing ingredients, building molds and curing your project, you can design and produce custom containers at home. This 2-day workshop will focus on container making, safety, recipes, molds/forms, technical process, and surface treatment. The approximate size of container each participant builds in the workshop it 18" long x 12" wide x 10" high. The price of this workshop includes membership to the Donkey Mill enlisting you to receive their informative newsletter and discounts on upcoming classes.

SCULPTURE: Concrete

~With Randy Shiroma

Event Type: Workshop
October 8 - October 10, 2010 (Friday ~ Sunday)

Time: 9:00am - 4:00pm

Tuition: $200 (Member), $200 (Non-Member)

Level: Beginners - Intermediate

Enrollment: 14 seats remaining

Miscellaneous:
Guest instructor- Elena Garcia

Course information is subject to change. Please call ahead for confirmation.

Cement is an amazing medium in which to generate large forms easily and rather inexpensively. One just has to look around to see the ubiquitous use of concrete. This workshop will help generate a sensitive use of the material. Activities will cover the generation of forms and the layered process of building up the form with cement/concrete. There is a potential for quickly realizing large 3D forms. A general overview will be presented, as well as a conceptual framework for viewing cement as an artistic medium and the methods and techniques of working. Please bring your excitement and willingness to work & experiment.

Come prepared to turn your imagination loose in this intensive, high-energy class. Beginners and advanced students are challenged to explore the possibilities of creating spontaneous paintings and three-dimensional sculpture in concrete. Discover its unconventional use as an expressive medium as we work in the liquid, clay-like, and solid states of concrete as it solidifies. Exciting effects will be achieved by methods of layering and building up surfaces, hand forming, building over armatures of various materials, textural effects and basic surface finishing. Develop your concepts and inspirations using various substrates, armatures, colorants, aggregates, imbedding objects and sanding and carving down through layers. Students will leave confident to continue their work at home and expand the possibilities of this medium in future workshops.