[Jewelry making - Article 00350] - Re: [Orchid] Teaching techniques

[jwhaley]

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    I guess I should put in my two cents, being as I have been teaching
    metalsmithing for over 25 years. 

    In my classes, I have always taught people who were not involved in
    a university program, in other words, they were not working for a
    degree. They just wanted to make a piece of jewelry that they could
    wear, or give as a gift. 

    I have had a varied background in jewelry making, from ASU, to
    commerical shops in Scotsdale, AZ, to Maui, to San Diego. Being as
    most of my work was done in commercial shops, the finished work
    needed to be produced efficiently to get the desired results in the
    minimum of time. This orientation translated into my teaching style. 

    So, in terms of teaching philosophy, I just use the years of
    experience I have, all the equipment and tools in the studio, and try
    to help each student realize their own idea of what they want to
    make. In other word, I fly by the seat of my pants. No lesson plan,
    to speak of. 

    In the first class, I try to show them as many examples of different
    techniques as I can, and show them good books and resources for
    design ideas. Although I do show them examples of my own work, seldom
    is anyone interested in copying my designs. I try to subtly
    discourage copying of anyone elses work, and tell my students that
    they can usually improve on the designs they like. 

    For the rest of the first class, I help them produce their own
    sterling wire forms from a poured ingot each of them makes, then
    using rolling mills and drawplates to refine their wire shapes. 

    I also do a quick wax carving demo, to introduce casting, and have a
    similar piece to what I've carved already cast and finished for them
    to see how the wax model transforms into the finished piece. 

    Most struggle initially with their first designs, but once I have
    helped them to finalize what they want, and I feel they are capable
    of making what they have designed, then I help them create that in
    the 8 weeks that follow. I try to make sure that they are not in over
    their heads, as I believe everyone should have a successful
    experience. Most work in sterling, and a few work in gold. Many want
    to include gemstones in their designs, which I help them to do,
    although most I send to a professional setter to do the final
    setting, which has worked out quite well. 

    One of the big benefits of having everyone work on their own designs
    instead of all working on the same design, is that everyone gets to
    see what everyone else is doing, and their creativity feeds on that
    experience. With our circus of metalsmithing going on, along with the
    ever present music coming out of our stereo, it makes a fine creative
    stew, and we get some beautiful original work. An above all, it is
    FUN! 

Jay Whaley UCSD Craft Center

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