Cloisonné Cabochon with Aurelie Guillaume
Join Aurelie Guillaume as she pushes the ancient art of cloisonne enamels into groundbreaking territory. Cloisonné is often used for small jewelry, but its precise lines and forms hold incredible potential for graphic, illustrative, whimsical, and narrative work. With cloisonné wire we will “draw” and create patterns, adding color and detail with ink pens, various underglazes, and bold, opaque colors. We will also troubleshoot the technical issues of these complex pieces.
**Note: This class requires a kiln. No torch firing for this class. **
Techniques taught:
- How to prepare a piece of copper to apply cloisonné on top
- How to shape and bend cloisonné wire for a perfect fit to your design
- Wet packing
- Various finishing techniques (grinding and sanding )
- Using underglaze and metallic lusters for surface design
- Various tips and tricks for problem solving your cloisonné piece (taking care of bubbles and cracks, design consideration etc.)
A kit of materials is included with this class.
A handout is included with the class. A pdf of the handout is sent to students before the first day of class.
Recordings of this class are available for 30 days from the final class session.
Tools for this Class
This is a list of tools you’ll need to practice the techniques shown in class. A list of tools with recommended suppliers for the best prices will be sent to you after registration If you have questions about the tool list, please contact us.
**This class requires a kiln, no torch firing for this class. **
- Kiln
- Mesh firing rack
- Firing fork
- Old magazines or glossy pages that can be destroyed
- Paper towels (no brown paper, no toilet paper, no tissue, no fabric)
- Scotchbrite
- Jar for water
- Jar for enamel run off from washing
- 80 mesh sifter SM-2
- 8 (or more) colors of Opaque enamels, approx. 1 oz each
- Small ceramic plate (like a dessert plate or bathroom floor tile, something smooth made of ceramic)
- Klyrfire A-1
- Lavender oil
- Trivet TP-275 or similar size
- Heat protective gloves
- Precision tweezers
- Glass brush or similar
- If you have a flexshaft or dremel:
- 3M diamond velcro disc set
- Set of Diamond burs or similar
- If you do not have a flexshaft/dremel:
- Diamond Hand Polishing Pads- 200, 400, and 800 grits
- Chain nose pliers
- Round nose pliers
- Half round/flat forming pliers
- Fine tip sharp scissors or cutters
- Flat hand file
- Dawn blue dish soap
- Fine pumice powder
- Fine tip sharpie
- Dust mask
- Old toothbrush
- Paint stick or some sort of wood piece- large enough to hold your metal but narrow enough so you can easily grab the piece from underneath
- Safety glasses
A computer, phone or tablet to use the free Zoom app for class
Read what students have to say about our online classes on the testimonials page.
Prerequisites:
Students should have a basic enameling skills such as: cleaning metal, sifting, countering, know about the different tools, how to properly fire a piece etc. They should also have a basic to intermediate knowledge of metal working (sawing, filing, polishing etc.). We will be using pliers and tweezers to bend wire so dexterity and attention to details are important.
Instructor:
If a class is online, or is a combination online and in-person session, all students receive a link to a recording of the class demonstrations. In-person only workshops are not recorded. For staff instructor classes, students have access to the recordings for one year. For guest instructors, access is 30 days.
If a kit is included with the class, online students will have them mailed to them. Kits for in-person students are delivered at the beginning of the first class. More information about the kit is included with the supplies list which is emailed after registration.
International students may be charged an additional amount for shipping, because of the increased cost to ship abroad. Also, shipments to other countries may incur a tariff payable by the student. International students are welcome to contact us re: these costs and options for their materials. Please be sure that the address with your payment is the correct one for shipping.
If this class is offered online, it uses the Zoom app/website. Through Zoom, you’ll be able to see demos and follow instructions, ask questions and interact with your instructor. Zoom is easy to use and free for students to use for class, and works on most devices, like phones (iPhone, Android, etc), tablets (iPads, etc), and computers (Mac or PC).
Your instructor is also available during free Zoom office hours for questions and help.
For classes that include work time, online students work at home or in their studio. All of our recommended tools and the kit materials are chosen to be home studio friendly. Links to preferred vendors are provided in the supplies list sent after registration. Some classes, like our short demo only classes, don't require tools or materials to attend.
We remain committed to keeping everyone as safe as possible while continuing to move forward and adapt to the current circumstances for our in person classes and open studios.
We recommend that in person students be vaccinated, but it's not required.
Face masks are encouraged while at the school, but no longer required. Students must bring a particulate face mask (N95, KN95, KF94 or similar) to protect against dust and particles when needed and required during class work time.
If you have tested positive for COVID, have symptoms that could be COVID, or feel ill, please don't come to class. Contact us for more information.
And now the fine print. Payment in full for class fees is due at the time of registration to reserve your place. We accept Visa, MasterCard, American Express, Discover, and PayPal. Checks and cash are accepted only if you register at school. If you mail a check, your registration is not processed until it clears and the class may fill during the wait.
If the workshop is canceled by our school for any reason, all class fees will be refunded, or you can transfer to another class, or you can keep a credit on account with us for future classes or purchases,
Students can cancel, receive a credit or refund, or transfer to another class up to 21 days before a workshop, whether it is online or in person. No cancellations are accepted after the 21-day deadline, however, we will do what we can to try and sell your place to a qualified student. If we can sell your place, you can receive a refund less a $50 cancellation fee, keep a credit on account with us, or apply your fees towards a transfer to another class.
If you can’t make it to class, you may send a participant who has the necessary prerequisites in your place. Please call or email us immediately with any changes in the student participant information. If a class includes an online section, your class will be recorded and you can watch later to make up a class you miss.
Students must be at least 15 years old to attend a class, and students under 18 must have a legal guardian sign our liability waiver form. We have had younger students attend classes, on a case by case basis. If you’re interested in enrolling your child, please call or email us.
If you sign up for a class and fail to have the required prerequisites as listed in the class description, you are still subject to the 21-day cancellation policy, listed above.
Lodging and meals are not included for in person classes.
If you don't come to class, there are no refunds, credits or transfers.