[Jewelry making - Article 01463] - Re: [Orchid] Self taught Vs Formal training

[R . E . Rourke]

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    In my opinion taking clases validates the teacher more than prepares
    you for the day-to-day trials and experiences you learn on your own.
    Books such as Tim McCreight's 'complete metalsmith' regardless of
    edition, though the pro ed, with a demonstration cd is very useful,
    and his boxes and lockets for learning basic construction
    techniques,Harold O'Conner's 'Jewelers Bench Reference" is
    invaluable for formulas and as a reference to keep at the bench, and
    Charles Lewton Brain's book of bench tricks and tips, and hinge based
    catches and clasps are all excellent essential reading.If you need a
    primer in cold connections, Joanna Gollberg has a book i believe with
    the same title, and then there's Jinks McGrath's books on jewelry
    making and design that you should peruse before purchase because much
    material is simply reorganized - however they are also valuable to
    the beggining metalsmith. Elizabeth Olver is another British
    metalsmith and designer that has a very useful book on design
    organized in a very interesting way based on the metals and
    techniques involved in a particular category or style. Carles
    Codina's first two books, Jewelery Making, and Gold and Silver
    Jewelery Making give you a decidedly european take on the processes
    involved with a slightly different vocabulary and materials list than
    the N. Americans, or British authors mentioned above reference and
    you should perhaps consider at least looking over some of Lark books
    500 brooches, or 500 rings for an insight into modern design trends.
    Alan Revere edited a book I believe entitled Art Jewelery making,
    that showcases some of the most widely recognized professionals in
    the trade and their specializations. That book contains a brief
    biography on the featured artisans and instructions on specific
    excercises/pieces you can fabricate - though some require advanced
    equipment or technique to replicate, they are great illustrations as
    to the steps involved in making a finished piece of high dollar art
    jewelery. Those few titles are a good start! I firmly believe that
    self-taught is an excellent and valid way to go about learning
    jewelry making.It is helpful to take an intensive course in a
    specific aspect- i.e stonesetting, or gold working - but those are
    essentially high priced demonstartions. Once you pay for travel,
    accomodations, materials, and course fees, I feel you'd be better
    off investing ion raw materials, refernce books, and a few dvd's or
    videos on subjects that interest you and the basics so you have an
    adequate foundation before you pick up a torch. And also i would
    recommend starting with.999 silver and working up to gold ( the
    higher karat the better as the karated gold above 14 is much more
    forgiving in terms of being able to correct mistakes or in reclaiming
    precious metals if you use solders that are plumb karated and contain
    only gold and silver rather than alloys that not only contaminate
    your stock but add steps to refining that are easier to master if you
    don't have to remove copper and zinc or other elements from your gold
    or silver, rather just melt and reroll or recast.. If you would like
    more info from me i'll be happy to give you a bibliography, not off
    the top of my head, and some links to suppliers, and
    organizations,schools and teachers that I believe give one the most
    info for the lowest amount of money and in the most objective yet,
    professional manner. feel free to email me off Orchid if this is
    appealing to you and i'll get back to you tuesday with the
    info...butthe bottom line is you don't need to go to a school to
    become proficient or create things in metal. and there are many many
    areas of the art and craft and science that one can study on his/her
    own that, in some senses, yield a purer final product than watching
    someone execute their ideas, or handing you a kit and having the
    entire class make the same things at someone elses pace..If you want
    to make jewelry you will make jewelry.mastering any aspect of it
    comes with practice and experience and experimentation..and while
    some people need observation others do just fine without it. In my
    experience though, after a while people involved in the art and trade
    seek others involved in the art and trade because of the element of
    passion it takes to devote oneself to truly learning the techniques
    and their mastery, as opposed to a factory like application of skills
    where a person may spend twenty years with a pot of paste solder and
    at the same desk assembling semi-mounts that are prefabricated into
    wal-mart style mass produced adornment that lacks that passion most
    Orchideans share, and is realized in the final products that most
    produce. If you go to the homepage and look at the benches of thes
    members, and then investigate thir websites- it will be clear that
    the mass produced low karat made-in-china style is...not here ! To
    continue on in this art for a lifetime means you share in that
    passion that combines fire,metal and colour ain an ever changing
    fashion that you can engage in for money or not but that satisfies
    one's own sensibilities if no one elses...or so i find to be true.
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