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Chasing and Repoussé: A Feast of Textures
In this demo-rich three-session virtual course students will learn the unique and exciting processes of chasing and repoussé. Chasing means adding detail and texture to the front of a sheet of metal or metal casting using steel chasing tools. Repoussé means to punch up from the back of the sheet to give it form and volume, ready for texturing and detailing. Students will learn the traditional approach of working the metal while held in pitch (a pine resin-based material), which has been practiced for hundreds of years around the world. Chasing and repoussé without using pitch will be demonstrated as well. This class is process and skill oriented, with samples shown of finished jewelry and sculptural forms.
The use of chasing tools and other related tools such as chasing hammers will be demonstrated and discussed in all three sessions. Different chasing tools match different students’ needs and artistic expressions. The instructor will cover a broad range and style of tools made by some of the finest tool makers and available for purchase. The last session will include a demonstration on how to make a liner, a texture tool and a tear drop tool in your own studio.
Students can expect to take away a deep and practical knowledge of the tools involved in these techniques. They will learn how to use these techniques to enhance and expand their studio practice whether they are jewelry, vessel, or small sculpture focused. The instructor will include lots of samples of the techniques covered in class and discussions on how these samples were made, which will add to the students’ repertoire of textures and forms in metal.
Please note: Safe studio practices will be emphasized, including how to handle the tools correctly so that students can chase and repoussé for many years.
Meet the instructor
Nancy Mēgan Corwin is a jeweler/metalsmith, teacher and writer in the field of art metals. She teaches workshops around the United States, Canada and England including Penland School of Crafts in North Carolina, The Haystack Mountain School of Crafts in Maine, Arrowmont School of Crafts in Tennesse and at West Dean College in Chichester, England.
In 2009 Mēgan published a book on the techniques of chasing and repoussé, titled “Chasing and Repoussé: Methods Ancient and Modern,” which is in it’s second printing and is currently available for purchase through jewelry suppliers and Amazon.com. The October 2009 issue of Ornament magazine featured Mēgan with her piece “Tiara” on the cover and with a lead article. She has curated two shows in conjunction with the book: “Metal Magic, Chasing and Repoussé” with Facèré Jewelry Art Gallery in Seattle, WA 2009 and the 2010 exhibition “Chased + Repoussé” at Velvet da Vinci Gallery in San Francisco, CA.
In 2010 Mēgan exhibited with Facèré Jewelry Art Gallery in Seattle, WA as part of the exclusive series titled “Signs of Life.” This annual exhibition is the brainchild of the owner, Karen Lorene. She chooses nine nationally known jewelry artists and the same number of well-published novelists and poets, and produces a magazine in which the writers receive an image of one of the artists’ works and uses that as inspiration for a creative piece. These magazines are beautifully produced and are archives of jewelry art and literature. Mēgan has work in a number of private collections throughout the United States, in The Victoria and Albert Museum, London, England, The State University of New Mexico Art Gallery at Las Cruces in their permanent collection, and at the Tacoma Art Museum, Washington in their permanent collection. Mēgan exhibits her work at Facèré Jewelry Art Gallery in Seattle, WA.
Materials & Tools
A suggested list of items/materials has been provided by the instructor. To access the list, click HERE. Student participation during or in-between class sessions is not required - observers are always welcome.