I’m happy to be teaching at Haliburton School of the Arts again this summer!
Two courses are offered this year: Wire Jewellery (July 13-17, 2009) and Wire Jewellery II (July 20-24, 2009). Course descriptions and registration links are available on my Classes page. Check out the Student Work from last year’s class as well!
I wasn’t intending to post this as my second entry for the YOJ, but it’s now Sunday, the due date for this week, and the piece I actually wanted to post isn’t finished. I’m “tweaking”. It feels very much like I’m doing a science experiment.
So… in the meantime…
I’m going to be teaching at Haliburton again this summer, and I have a bunch of tutorials I need to write in preparation for the class. Last fall I proposed a second level wire jewelry course, which was accepted. One of the projects is going to be the Standard Form Ring, aka Pharaoh’s Ring. (Why it’s called the “Pharaoh’s Ring” is a mystery: I haven’t been able to find any historical examples using wire. References to cast versions, yes, wire, no…). It’s called the “Standard Form Ring” because it’s one of the all-time classic wireworking ring patterns. A version of this ring was published in Moods in Wire by Ellsworth Sinclair, Beginning Wirecraft by Jessie Donnan, and in the Wire Artist Jeweller Magazine (June 2003). It’s a substantial ring, usually worn by men. I started writing my version this week, in between printing off “printing sheets” for Number 2 Son, who likes to do “homework”.
(Edit Jun. 25/09: Thanks to some excellent detective work by Helen Goga, a historical reference for the Standard Form Ring has been found! Mr. Thomas Vincent Phelan received a patent for the ring design (US Des. 150,726) in August 1948. The patent lasted for 14 years, and the design went into the public domain in 1962.)
My own personal artistic proclivities don’t lean towards classical wirework, so I haven’t made this type of ring before. I followed the WAJ instructions for my first two attempts. I often tell my students that they shouldn’t worry about what their first attempt looks like: usually with the first one, you’re just trying to get your head around the steps, so clumsiness is part of the process. It’s no different for me. This ring was attempt number 3… and I’ll likely make at least two more in the process of refining, writing and photographing the steps for the instructions.
There are useful wireworking skills to be learned from doing this project. There are definitely some “tricks” to getting it to look nice. Notes are being scribbled…
Some other views:
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JUST CONFIRMED!
I will be teaching the Wire Jewellery Course at the Haliburton School of the Arts, July 21-25, 2008. Here’s the course description from the Fleming College website:
Wire Jewellery
July 21, 2008Course Number: ARTS0676
Section Number: 41
Please note: This course requires extensive use of hand tools (wire cutters, pliers) and a healthy level of manual dexterity. Start with the basics and learn to create and design your own jewellery using wire. Go from traditional wire wrapping techniques to original, free-form methods, or something in between. Emphasis will be based on creating pieces that reflect your individuality and personal tastes. No soldering is required and you will have the opportunity to incorporate beads, stones, and found objects to make your own unique designs. Basic hand tools and the use of some interesting tricks will enable you to continue upon completion of the course. Personal style and creativity will be encouraged in a relaxed atmosphere.
Please Note: There will be a $65 material fee payable to the instructor.
- Welcome & Material List
- Cost: $252.70
- Hours: 47.50
- Location: HALIBURTON
- Starts: July 21, 2008
- Duration: 47.50 hours
- Day/Time: Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday (09:00AM – 04:30PM)
The wire jewellery classes I’ll be teaching at George Brown College have been posted to my Upcoming Classes page.
Other classes will be listed as they are added, so please check back regularly!
