[Jewelry making - Article 00050] - Re: [Orchid] Trying to find funding to set up a studio

[Michael Honeycutt]

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    Jen, You are well on your way to having a studio the minute you set
    your mind on making a great deal of the items you will use in your
    shop. Charles Lewton-Brain has many very good articles in the
    archives here at Orchid on doing that very thing as well as mining
    industry for tools and so on. Very informative stuff for those on
    tight budgets with an urge to create. I have learned a great deal
    about a variety of subjects in jewelry making by simply trying to
    manufacture the tools needed for various projects. I can tell you
    that, although I don't have a huge set-up (yet), I have already
    saved hundreds of dollars in costs on tools by simply researching
    certain techniques (e.g. repousse', forging, chemical etching...),
    identifying the tools used in these operations ( looking long and
    hard at pictures in catalogs as well as on various websites), and
    getting busy making reasonable counterparts. To be sure, there will
    be some items beyond your ability to manufacture for yourself.
    However, the money saved on many other tools will greatly assist in
    the purchasing of those tools you can't make for yourself. I am
    fortunate in already having a history in metal working (all self
    taught) but I've found that my artistic matal working capabilities
    have greatly benefitted from the practice I got while making some of
    the tools I need. There is also a great sense of accomplishment
    associated with knowing a tool intimately because you made it
    yourself. By all means, pursue whatever grants or sources of funding
    you can find, but research those things you can make for yourself so
    you can put that money into the items you simply can't manufacture
    for yourself. I frequently find myself heating small bits of metal
    over our gas range or sitting and watching the tube while polishing
    a tool for the shop. It maximizes the time for me. Your BFA will be
    of great value in all of this because you will be utilizing that
    education from the very beginning. 

    I learned a great deal from looking here on Orchid at the bench
    exchange section. Amazing work is being produced from very humble
    looking benches and shops. 

I wish you every success.
Mike

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