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Cloisonné Enamels
Have you done a little enameling? Want to kick it up a notch? This virtual course jumps fully into the technique of cloisonné enamel. In cloisonné, thin wire is used to create walls and line work within enamel and can allow for a sharp separation of color, creating high contrast imagery. Within the “cells” created by the wire you can use one or multiple colors, opaque and transparent enamels. Offering a myriad of design possibilities and results!
Participants will be shown step-by-step how to create their first cloisonné piece, bending the wires, firing, wet packing, and how to finish the enamel surface. Problem solving your design in cloisonné wire will be discussed as well. Participants should expect to work out of class and follow along with the demonstrations, so they can come to class with questions.
For more information about virtual courses, visit our Virtual Course FAQ page.
Please read the Materials & Tools tab!
Meet the instructor
Jennifer Wells is a studio artist and educator originally from the U.S but currently living in Italy. She holds an MFA, in Metalsmithing & Jewelry Design and has completed artist-in- residencies at: Arrowmont School of Arts and Crafts in Gatlinburg, TN, Pocosin Arts in Columbia, NC and the Jentel Foundation near Banner, WY. She has worked for several U.S based Craft Schools, in a variety of roles.
As an educator, Jennifer has taught for and been a visiting Artist at Universities throughout the U.S and for study abroad programs based in Italy. She serves on the Board of Vita Institute and teaches short workshops on various enameling and metalsmithing techniques throughout Europe and the U.S. In recent years she has curated multiple international exhibitions focused on jewelry and enameling.
Her works are in the collections of the Enamel Arts Foundation, Racine Museum, All Russian Museum of Decorative Arts, Arkansas Museum of Fine Arts, Yale University Art Gallery, Crocker Art Museum and Private Collections.
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 (in red) to be redirected to a page where you can find 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 strongly encouraged but not required - observers are welcome.
Metal/raw materials:
- 36" min. x cloisonne wire (Rio Grande)
- 3 x 1"-3" sheet metal / discs - 18g to 24g (Rio, Etsy, Etsy)
Enamels (Note the enamels below are suggestions - if you have a collections of Thompson enamels, you can use those. Instructor will be using W. G. Ball enamels):
- 2oz min. x 1010 Foundation White (Etsy)
- 2oz min. x 2020 Clear Flux (Etsy)
- 2oz x 2520 Transparent Aqua (Etsy)
- 2oz x 2310 Transparent Peppermint (Etsy)
- 2oz x 2340 Transparent Glass Green (Etsy)
- 2oz x 2820 Transparent Pink (Etsy)
- 2oz x W. G. Ball 432 Turquoise Blues (All Craft)
- 2oz x W. G. Ball 7493 Light Olive Green (All Craft)
- 2oz x W. G. Ball 7488 Olive Green (All Craft)
- 2oz x W. G. Ball 7528 Rosewood (All Craft)
- 2oz x W. G. Ball 7524 Medium Dusky Rose (All Craft)
Hand tools:
- 1 x round nose pliers (Rio Grande)
- 1 x chain nose pliers (Rio Grande)
- 1 x flat nose pliers (Rio Grande)
- 1 x snips / flush cutters (Rio Grande or Rio Grande)
- 1 x jewelers saw (Rio Grande)
- 1 x pack saw blades - 2/0 (Rio Grande)
- 1 x burlife / bee's wax (Rio Grande)
- 1 x bench pin (Rio Grande)
- 1 x half round hand file - #2 cut (Rio Grande)
- 1 x dapping block - wooden is fine (Rio Grande)
Enameling setup with kiln:
- 1 x fireproof area - steel sheet, tiles, etc. (Amazon or Home Depot)
- 1 x kiln - mini or full size (Rio Grande or Rio Grande)
- 1 x sifter - 60 or 80 mesh (Etsy)
- 1 x 000 sable paint brush - aka "fine" point (Etsy)
- 1 x fine point tweezers (Rio Grande or Rio Grande)
- 1 x steel "paint spatula" - aka palette knife (Etsy)
- 8oz or less x Klyr-fire - optional (Etsy)
- 1 x mica sheet (Etsy)
- 1 x alundum stone (Etsy or Etsy)
- 1 x glass brush (Etsy)
- 1 x steel screen - for your kiln size (Rio Grande or Enamel Warehouse)
- 1 x steel trivet - for your kiln size (Rio Grande or Enamel Warehouse)
- 1 x firing fork / spatula (Rio Grande or Enamel Warehouse)
- 1 x tongs or tweezers - for moving hot objects (Rio Grande)
- 1 x crockpot or lidded glass container - for pickle (Amazon)
- 1 x pickle - sodium bisulfate or citric acid (Rio Grande or Amazon)
- 1 x copper tongs - for pickle (Rio Grande)
- sink or large tub of water - for cleaning enamel
Enameling setup with torch:
- all enameling items listed above - minus kiln
- 1 x torch setup - Silversmith or similar style (Rio Grande)
- 1 x #2 or larger torch tip - if using Silversmith (Rio Grande)
- 1 x striker or lighter - Silversmith system has one (Rio Grande)
- 1 x tripod or fire bricks with screen (Rio Grande)
Other/miscellaneous items:
- hard work surface
- fan and open window or ventilation system
- safety glasses
- ear protection
- pencil and notebook - note taking
- rags/towels
- paper towels
- old toothbrush
- distilled water
- old magazines
- Elmer's glue
- ajax / bar keeper's friend
- square / block eraser
- dust mask - N95 suggested
- 2oz jars with lids - 1 for each enamel
- pliers with different noses - to help bend wire