[Jewelry making - Article 00473] - Re: [Orchid] Article: Minimal Metalsmithing

[lora hart]

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    I've calmed down a little since my first posted response to Nanz'
    original negative statements and thought that part of the reason why
    the goldsmiths on the list (and elsewhere) are so touchy about metal
    clay is that they might not have enough information and are uneasy
    about new materials and methods of jewelry making. 

    First, let me say that metal clay was invented by scientists at
    Mitsubishi Materials in the early nineties. This first product was
    named Precious Metal Clay (PMC). The original formula took two hours
    to properly sinter and shrank 30% allowing for the wonderful
    textures users were experimenting with to become extremely sharp and
    detailed. 

    If this product is not fired according to directions, it is indeed,
    very porous, fragile and liable to break. Used correctly it was a
    breakthrough and is now recommended to be used in earring parts (that
    don't need much strength) or possibly as casting models. Then Aida
    Corporation developed Art Clay Silver (ACS), a very similar, but
    different formulation of the same material - except that theirs
    shrinks between 8-12 percent. Later Mitsubishi created two more
    versions that shrink 12-15 percent. All of these clay like products
    must be fired at the correct schedule to be properly, safely and
    completely sintered. PMC and ACS are brands. The material is metal
    clay. Like Kleenex and Scott are tissues, even though we have learned
    to use the word kleenex to mean any tissue in general. It would help
    both brands/companies if we all started to call the material metal
    clay. Soon enough the patent will expire and many more metal clay
    brands will come on to the market. Metal clay is a unique material
    into itself. It's not a poser or wannabe. Used wisely, it doesn't
    want to look like or duplicate smithed metal. It can't. In my opinion
    there isn't a talented metal clay artisan anywhere who could come
    close to replicating one of James Millers exquisite creations. But
    they could create something equally as impressive, complicated and
    labor intensively finished as his work. 

    Many of you say that you can look at a piece and know it was made
    with metal clay. So What! It IS metal clay. It doesn't want to look
    like repouse or fabrication. Most of us could do that if we wanted to
    (with varying degrees of skill). We choose to use metal clay as some
    artists choose gold, platinum, copper, or steel. It's all metal. Yes,
    even metal clay is metal. Fine silver or 22k gold to be exact. I just
    melted an unsuccessful piece to use in a casting and it's as lovely
    and strong as any other casting I've made (although I admit, I
    haven't made many). 

    Some of you have also admitted that while there is some awfully
    crafty looking metal clay work being made and sold (someone likes
    it), there is also some pretty shoddy work being created utilizing
    more traditional methods. Likewise there are some folks whose work
    rises to the top, just as in traditional work. And many degrees of
    skill in between. Please try to remember that while traditional
    jewelry making techniques have had six thousand years to grow and
    develop, metal clay has had only ten. 

    As to it's ease of use - yes, the learning curve is shorter, but
    still present. I know that the main reason some of you are
    uncomfortable with it is the fact that you spent a lot of time,
    effort and money to grow your craft to your current level of
    expertise, and are threatened by the fact that metal clay can more or
    less be mastered in a much shorter time frame. It is easier to use as
    a modelling material. In some cases easier to perfect than wax. There
    are some things that metal clay can do better and easier than more
    tradtional methods, and some things it should never be expected to
    do. But ease of use isn't a reason to hate it. There was controvery
    when lost wax casting became popular after World War II, there's
    still controversy about whether CAD/CAM has a place. There will
    always be controversy when a new material enters the marketplace.
    There's controvery within the metal clay community itself (although
    not as heated) about a new company making the pure silver powder
    available and giving instructions on how how to make your own metal
    clay at home. Search You Tube for the video if you're interested. 

    Metal clay can be considered a gateway material though, and that is
    only good for the jewelry making world in general. I was a make up
    artist for 17 years. Then I was forced into idleness during a six
    month actors strike. I started playing with semi precious beads,
    stringing and simple wire wrapping. That led me to want to make
    "real" jewelry, but as I was out of work, education in my area was
    too expensive. Then I discovered metal clay and fell in love. After
    the strike, I let my make up career slowly fade into the background
    (I was sick of the politics anyway) and now teach and make jewelry
    full time. 

    Metal clay has led me to more affordable fabrication and casting
    classes and I use traditional methods to turn my metal clay focal
    pieces into finished pieces of jewelry. Will I ever make it as a
    bench jeweleri Not by a long shot. But that's not my goal. I'm awed
    by the skill and careful consideration that it takes to create one of
    James' amazing works of art. I'm impressed with the art of many other
    goldmiths work as well. But while I think that I can definitely use
    more educaton in smithing and it's family, I know my work in metal
    clay can stand with the best of them who have been creating for the
    amount of time I have. More to learn with metal clay tooi You betcha.
    But I'm so proud of our community, where we've come from and how far
    we've gotten. Let's hold off our opinions and open our minds for
    another ten years before we denigrate any other new material and
    method. 

    The whole discussion reminds me of a song from the musical Oklahoma,
    and I'll end my discourse with a quote from that. Thanks for
    listening!
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