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Spray, Brush, Dip, and Sift: Liquid and Jewelry Enamel on Steel
Vitreous enameling - fusing glass onto iron plates - was developed in the mid-1800s and used to create enameled signs which were referred to as “street jewelry.” In this class, you will use steel tiles to learn how to properly spray, brush, dip, and sift liquid and jewelry enamel to create your own “street jewelry,” or “enameled drawings.” In addition, students will learn how to properly mix and rehydrate liquid enamel, as well as how to compare proper and improper application methods to help build problem-solving skills in the studio. After completing this course, students will have the knowledge to apply these techniques to steel and other alloys independently.
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.
Metal/raw materials:
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5 x 2"x2" 0.3" (0.8mm) Mild Steel Square (Send Cut Send)
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1 x 1.7-2mm High Speed Drill Bit (Optional if you want to turn your steel squares into pendants) (Rio Grande)
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1 x 4oz Bag Liquid Form Enamel - Ground Coat for Enameling Iron (Cobalt Blue, GC-16) (Thompson Enamel)
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1 x 4oz Bag Liquid Form Enamel Colors (Your Color of Choice) (Thompson Enamel)
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1 x Air Powdered Spray Gun, Critter Item Number 03K0301 (Lee Valley)
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1 x 2oz Enamels for Copper, Gold, and Silver - Medium Temperature - Medium Exp. 80 Mesh (Your Color of Choice) (Thompson Enamel)
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1 x Air Compressor Specs: 3 cfm at 90 psi, minimum of 3/4 hp (Harbor Freight)
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1 x Heat Gun (Harbor Freight)
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2 x Approximately 2" Diameter 3-point Trivet (Thompson Enamel)
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1 x Alundum Stone 220 Grit (Optional) (Thompson Enamel)
Hand Tools:
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1 x jewelers saw (Rio Grande)
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1 x pack saw blades - 2/0 (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 center punch (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)
Forming Tools:
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1 x ball peen hammer (Rio Grande)
Kiln Setup:
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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 sifter set - 60, 100, 150 mesh (Rio Grande or Enamel Warehouse)
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1 x steel screen - for your kiln size (Rio Grande or Enamel Warehouse)
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1 x steel trivet - for your kiln size (Rio Grande or Enamel Warehouse)
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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 sink or large tub of water - for cleaning enamel
Other/Miscellaneous Items:
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Lint-free towels
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At least 1 KN-95 Mask
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Respirator (for spraying enamel) with filters for particulates and vapor
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1 pair of latex gloves
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Acetone
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At least one scotch Bright or other non-metal abrasive sponge
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Simple Green
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Silicone Paint Brush at least 1" (can be another type of brush)
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Small (3mm or smaller) paint brushes without plastic bristles
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At least one 16oz Ball jar
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At least 2 large plastic containers at least 6"x6" (containers without grooves in the bottom are best)
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A metal spoon long enough to fit in the Ball jar
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Food scale or scale with ounces
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Binder clips, rubber bands, or something to pinch a bag closed