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Enameling: Cu. vs. .999 / Transparents vs. Opaques
Enamel is an amazing material that interacts playfully with and reacts differently to the varying elemental possibilities it is used with. This demo-focused virtual workshop will explore the numerous ways these interactions and reactions can be attained, refined, and honed. If you’ve never enameled on fine silver, this is a great place to start exploring your curiosity! If you’re wondering about transparent enamels and how to use them with your supply of opaque enamels, this class will be diving deep into this combination - covering all the hows, whys, and what ifs as they relate to transparent and opaque enamels on both copper (Cu) and fine silver (.999).
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 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 not required - observers are welcome.
Enamels (note the following is a suggested list of some frequently used transparent and opaque enamels the instructor uses - they can be found at numerous retailers including Thompson, Etsy, and Enamel Warehouse)
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1010 Foundation White
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1040 Quill White
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1225 Lemon Yellow
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1305 pastel green
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1510 Ozone Blue
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1705 Petal pink
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1820 goldenrod yellow
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1870 Orient Red
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1905 pastel grey
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1996 black
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2110 wax yellow
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2310 peppermint green
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2325 gem green
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2610 sky blue
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2625 winter blue
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2835 rose pink
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2836 raspberry
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2910 elan grey
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2020 clear flux
Enameling tools:
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1 x fireproof area - steel sheet, tiles, etc. (Amazon or Home Depot)
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1 x kiln - mini or full size (Rio Grande or Rio Grande)
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1 x large sifter - 40 or 60 mesh (Thompson or Enamel Warehouse)
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1 x sifting pan set (Rio Grande)
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1 x brushes - 000, 00, and 1/0 (Amazon)
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1 x squeeze bottle (Amazon)
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1 x steel screen (Rio Grande or Enamel Warehouse)
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1 x steel trivet (Rio Grande or Enamel Warehouse)
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1 x klyr-fire (Thompson)
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1 x paint palette with cover (Amazon)
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1 x alundum stone or diamond sanding pads (Thompson or Amazon)
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1 x firing fork / spatula (Rio Grande or Enamel Warehouse)
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1 x tongs or tweezers - for moving hot objects (Rio Grande)
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1 x crockpot or lidded glass container - for pickle (Amazon)
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1 x brass brush - new or almost new (Rio Grande)
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1 x pickle - sodium bisulfate or citric acid (Rio Grande or Amazon)
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1 x copper tongs - for pickle (Rio Grande)
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1 x sink or large tub of water - for cleaning enamel
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1 x paint pallet with cover - optional
Hand tools:
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1 x round nose pliers (Rio Grande)
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1 x chain nose pliers (Rio Grande)
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1 x flat nose pliers (Rio Grande)
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1 x snips / flush cutters (Rio Grande)
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1 x jewelers saw (Rio Grande)
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1 x pack saw blades - 4/0 (Rio Grande)
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1 x burlife / bee's wax (Rio Grande)
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1 x bench pin (Rio Grande)
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1 x half round hand file - #2 cut (Rio Grande)
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1 x rotary tool - flex shaft, micro motor, etc. (Rio Grande)
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1 x set of needle files - #2 cut (Rio Grande)
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1 x center punch (Rio Grande)
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1 x scribe (Rio Grande)
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1 x ring clamp (Rio Grande)
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1 x rawhide / plastic mallet (Rio Grande)
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1 x riveting hammer (Rio Grande)
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1 x chasing hammer (Rio Grande)
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1 x steel block / steel surface (Rio Grande)
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1 x small steel ruler (Rio Grande)
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1 x sheet of sand paper - 220 to 600 grits (Amazon)
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1 x calipers (Amazon)
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1 x dividers (Rio Grande)
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1 x sanding sticks / paint stirs (Rio Grande)
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1 x parallel pliers (Rio Grande)
Metal/raw materials:
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2"x6" x fine silver sheet - 22g (Rio Grande)
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6"x12" x copper sheet - 22g (Rio Grande, Parawire, etc.)
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1 x book of fine silver foil (Thompson)
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1 x 1oz dry P-3 (Thompson)
Other/miscellaneous items:
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distilled or filtered water
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safety classes
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old magazines
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gum erasers
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coffee filters
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large mason jar or vase
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rubber band
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small glass jars - baby food sized