Pre-Conference Workshops
September 14-16, 2011
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Steve Artz - Innovative Torch Fired Enamels
This class is a fun and economical way to fuse vitreous enamel to copper.
Fabricate pieces out of manipulated copper then enhance the surface with the luster and depth of vitreous enamel by firing the metal with a portable torch.
Different techniques may be used, from embossing the metal with inexpensive tools and hydraulic press to the application of enamel in both sifted dry and liquid forms.
Other techniques may include, enamel silk screens, sgrafitto, threads, chips, and chunks.
Work out of your comfort zone, try something different!. No experience necessary.
A master carpenter by trade, Steve Artz has been enameling since 1975 when he discovered this luscious medium while attending California State University San Diego.
As a studio artist, he has exhibited locally, regionally, nationally, internationally and in print, and his work is in collections through the world.
He has taught his unique form of enameling to all levels of students.
His use of innovative techniques and unique tools are well known, as are his "play days" with hands on demonstrations and student manipulation of metal which is then enameled using a torch.
Currently he is an ongoing instructor at John C. Campbell Folk School and teaches workshops at Arrowmont School of Arts and Craft, Enamel Guild of Creative Arts Group and Enamel Guild West.
Ricky Frank - Light & Color in Cloisonné
Enamel is glass on metal. The enamel provides the color, but the metal can provide much more than a base; it reflects light. Utilize this magical nature of enamel and learn to use light as a design element in your Cloisonné pieces. Add depth, contrast, and vibrancy to your art by integrating simple Basse-Taille techniques within a wire work framework. Make your enamels seem to glow from within. We will explore enamel preparation, metal surface treatments to increase light reflecting through enamel, and finishing techniques.
Some enameling experience required.
 A self-taught enamelist, Ricky Frank has made and sold his Cloisonné jewelry for 35 years. He creates both production and one-of-a-kind pieces. He has exhibited at prestigious craft shows, including the Smithsonian Craft Show and the Philadelphia Museum of Art Craft Show, and his work can be seen at fine craft galleries and designer jewelry stores across the USA. He is known for his glowing transparent colors, flowing gradations, and the personal imagery of his Cloisonné jewelry.
Doug Harling - Granulation for the Enamelist FULL
This course will investigate and compare various ways of performing granulation. We will cover simple torch firing methods as well as looking at the use of kilns and fusion furnaces. The emphasis will be on learning the “How’s” and “Why’s” of this ancient technique and it’s applications for the contemporary enamelist. We will look at performing granulation in both silver and gold. Working in gold will be strictly optional..
Douglas Harling teaches metalsmithing, jewelry, and enameling at HCTC’s Kentucky School of Craft in Hindman KY. Awards include a Southern Arts Federation/NEA Grant and a North Carolina Artist Fellowship Grant. Work currently touring with “Innovation/Tradition: Masterpieces of Southern Craft” assembled through SouthArts Publications include: “The Art of Enameling” by Linda Darty, and “The Penland Book of Jewelry”, both Lark Book publications. Douglas received his MFA in Metals from Southern Illinois University at Carbondale.
 Jan Harrell - Image Transfer for the Reluctant Markmaker FULL
If you love to draw, you can speed the process of transferring from your sketchbook to fired glass. But if drawing is not your first or second language, these techniques can open up countless possibilities to expand your enamel vocabulary. Explore methods to incorporate fonts, detailed drawings, photos and clip art in your enamel work. The workshop will use laser printed decals, images screened on decal paper, PNP transfer, and carbon paper transfer. Use oxides, painting enamels, sunshine colors, regular grain enamel, watercolor and acrylic enamel to further colorize the image.
Participants will bring artwork that can accommodate these techniques. We will use a scanner, laser printer and the Gocco/Riso process to create personal images on decal paper. This workshop will not be a detailed explanation of the Photoshop program but a computer will be available for participants use.
Jan Arthur Harrell has been involved in the enamel medium for over thirty-five years. For the last eighteen years, she has been the enameling instructor at the Glassell School of Art, the teaching school for the Museum of Fine Arts in Houston, Texas. She received her BFA in Jewelry and Enamel from Texas Tech University and recently completed her MFA in Sculpture from the University of Houston. Jan exhibits jewelry scale and small object work nationally and internationally and has been the recipient of numerous awards. Her work is included in several books on enameling and metalsmithing.
Chris Hentz - An Outrageously Thorough Soldering Workshop Especially for Enamelists!! FULL
Through lectures and demonstrations, this workshop will help participants
improve their ability to observe and understand silver and gold soldering. All information is directed toward ensuring that soldering does not become difficult "work".
Topics covered include the application of soldering principles, options for fabrication and setting enamels, creative use of tools AND soldering jigs, a few tricks for making it all easier, and short cuts for accomplishing many tasks.
After taking this workshop, participants should be able to solve most soldering or construction problems previously thought to be “overwhelming, too complex or too tedious".
Open to all experience levels.
 Christopher A. Hentz received his MFA from Cranbrook Academy of Art. He has been the Professor of Jewelry and Metalsmithing at Louisiana State University for the past 31 years.
Christopher researches, from both historical and non-traditional viewpoints, concepts and techniques for complex construction of containers, innovative chain fabrication, inventive settings, hinges and mechanical movements. He has recently explored CAD/CAM.
As a self-employed artist, Christopher has shown in the ACC Craft Shows, the
Smithsonian Craft Show, the Philadelphia Museum of Art Craft Show, and in various galleries and museums in the US, Europe and Japan. Chris is the creator of “Chris’s Cables”.
Sarah Perkins - Line in Enamel FULL
Line is an important element in almost all visual design. It can be used in an expressive way, adding to the impact of the piece. Expand the potential of your work by learning to make different types of line in enamel and by learning to choose the right context for each technique.
We will be exploring different ways of achieving line in enamel using both opaque and transparent colors. We will start with dry work with stenciling and sgrafitto, and by sifting over different wetting agents. Then we will move on to working wet using diamond burs in a variety of ways as well as other wet packing techniques. We will touch on using P-3 and foils for different kinds of lines. We will also address cloisonné lines, finding ways to make them more expressive by making our own wires and by combining techniques on a single piece. The techniques will be learned on flat samples, but formed surfaces will be discussed and all the techniques can easily be translated to formed surfaces.
 Sarah Perkins received her BA at San Diego State University and her MFA at Southern Illinois University – Carbondale and is a Professor at Missouri State University. She is currently serving as a Board Member of the Enamelist Society. She has shown her work in the USA, India, Canada, Europe and Asia. Her work can be seen in Metalsmith, Ornament, American Craft and in the books The Art of Fine Enameling, Contemporary Enameling, The Penland Book of Jewelry and The Art of Enameling, and she was the juror for the Lark Publications book 500 Enameled Objects. She has taught numerous workshops around the United States, including at Arrowmont, Penland, San Diego State University and California College of Art, as well as at Tainan Graduate Institute of Applied Arts in Taiwan and the University of the West of England in Bristol. Sarah has gallery affiliations with Mobilia in Cambridge, Massachusetts; Penland Gallery in North Carolina and Studio Fusion in London, England.
Marcus Synnot - Torch Fired Plique-a-Jour Enameled Flowers FULL
Students will work through the step-by-step procedure to produce various flowers. Emphasis will be on construction design and filigree soldering, torch firing enamel, then finishing procedures. Printed technical information will be discussed as well as various efficiencies that are achieved during each process of creation. To progressively build an exquisite piece of filigree jewelry, then visualize the heating and cooling of transparent enamels is an extraordinary experience.
During his life mainly as a farmer, Marcus Synnot has been intently drawn to the most beautiful things in nature, particularly birds, butterflies, flowers and fish. He first focused on George Jensen style of brooches bangles and rings, being impressed by the classical clean lines of the shapes. He soon moved to design roses and a great range of flowers.To attract attention, he always added a burnished edge and realized the importance of texture to create petals close to nature. Adding color soon became a challenge .In pursuit of excellence, he forged ahead to develop a unique technique of Torch Fired Plique-a-jour, He enjoyed the challenge of resolving difficult procedures so that they became easy. Historically the greatest jewelers, René Lalique, Lucien Gaillard and Louis Aucoc to mention a few, used kiln fired plique-a-jour which Marcus believes is the epitome of procedures for adding color.
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