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Carve, Cast, Forge, and Repeat
Students will learn an approachable casting technique using carved graphite molds and silver. We will begin class with a presentation of my work and the casting process to familiarize students with possible outcomes. Then I will demonstrate how to carve graphite by hand and using a motorized hand tool. Finally, I will cast silver ring bands in graphite molds using silver casting grain. The molds can be used to make replicas or adapted to alter the outcome. Once the rings are made, I will demonstrate how to planish and size the rings simultaneously. Students will leave the class with the knowledge to carve, cast, and size rings of their own.
Meet the instructor
Jolynn Santiago has been pursuing a career as an artist, jeweler and educator for twelve years. They graduated Summa Cum Laude from Kent State University (KSU) with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Jewelry/Metals/Enameling in 2013. While at KSU, they received the Research and Scholarly Activity Grant with Kathleen Browne. They worked as a bench jeweler in New York City for two years.
In 2017, they enrolled in SUNY New Paltz where they received the State University of New York at New Paltz Master of Fine Arts Scholarship, in addition to two Creative Project Awards. They were a Teaching Assistant for Myra Mimlitsch-Grey, and assisted Lynn Batchelder at Arrowmont School of Arts and Crafts in 2018. Shortly after, they were chosen to be the Instructor of Record at SUNY New Paltz where they graduated Magna Cum Laude with a Master of Fine Arts in Metal in 2019.
After graduating, they were an artist-in-residence at Arrowmont School of Arts and Crafts before moving to Baltimore, MD for two years where they taught at the Baltimore Jewelry Center and was an adjunct professor at Towson University and Montgomery College. In 2023, they moved to Vermont where they continue to experiment and create new work. They are also an instructor at the Shelburne Craft School and the Generator in Burlington, Vermont.
Their work has been exhibited nationally and internationally. Recently, several of their rings were selected for Schmuck 2023 in Munich, Germany and Melting Point Valencia in Valencia, Spain. Published in Metalsmith Magazine, On Offer and Autor Contemporary Jewelry Magazine to name a few.
Materials & Tools
The following supplies will be used for course demonstrations and objectives. A suggested item and/or vendor has been provided below for reference. Click the vendor name to be redirected to a page where you can view the item. The quantities needed for each item are listed first. If ordering, please be aware that some items may come in larger quantities than needed for this class. We recommend not opening an item's packaging until the day of the workshop. Student participation during or in-between class sessions is not required - observers are welcome.
Raw Materials/Consumables:
1x Small Saw Cut Graphite Blank 1.625" x 2-1/4" x 1/2" PMC Jewelry Supplies
1x ozt .999 Fine silver grain RioGrande
1x Piece of thick (card stock/chip board, manilla folder) paper for template Amazon
1x Wooden dowel OR a graphite stir rod (buying an entire package is optional) Amazon OR PMC Jewelry Supplies
Tools/Equipment:
1x KN95 dust mask or respirator (if carving graphite w/flex shaft) Amazon
1x Small circle template Dick Blick
1x Bee-hive kiln 3.5" diameter RioGrande
1x Set of mini carving tools or dental tools 5.75" long PMC Jewelry Supplies
1x Ring sizing band if you don’t have a ring gauge Amazon
1x Steel Tapered Ring Mandrel 14-1/8"L (358.8mm) RioGrande
1x Set of cutting ball burs Amazon