Intro to Sculptural Wax Carving for Jewelry

Design possibilities of wax are endless! Not bound by the rigidity of metal, your ideas for what jewelry can be are able to be unleashed through the medium of wax working!

This in person workshop is an introduction to the carving of hard wax models for pendants, earrings, and rings of you own design. Students will learn the wax carving process in full. Starting with fundamental design and layout strategies, they will will then move on to the carving techniques and methodologies for varying jewelry formats - earrings, pendants, and rings. Preparing a wax model for casting and how to judge the final metal weight of the piece will also be covered. Lastly, we will discuss options for outsourcing the casting process.

Students will be introduced to the varying types of tools used in the wax carving process, their functions, as well as proper tool use and maintenance. Class time will be split between teacher demonstrations and hands on carving time, with individual attention given to each student. Participants will work to create 2-3 wax models of their own design and gain a solid base of understanding for the hard-wax carving process so they can incorporate this transformative technique into their own studio practices. Student will walk away with a solid foundation and understanding of wax carving and the many paths they can take towards creating their own unique sculptural pieces!

Previous experience with wax carving is not required but some jewelry making knowledge is highly recommended.