[Jewelry making - Article 00022] - Re: [Orchid] Jewelry design - what & where to learn

[Helen Hill]

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    I've noticed a common thread among this topic's responses. Those who
    teach classes in jewellery design/making and those who went to
    college to learn such things, all seem to think it absolutely
    essential to have classes from a knowledgeable and qualified teacher
    of such things. I would say they are a tad biased. 

    KPK said the other day that the view that one could read simply
    Orchid and become a jeweller was rife. I responded to him offlist and
    onlist (twice) but my reply didn't get through for some reason, even
    though there was nothing untoward in my post. I said that his
    statement is unfair and that everybody learns in a different way.
    Also, everyone has different personal circumstances and one isn't
    always in a position to be able to take classes, whether it be for
    financial reasons or just from a practicality point of view. 

    As a community of people, Orchid is made up of people from many walks
    of life and who learned to make jewellery in different ways. Some
    went to art school and learned their craft. Some started in the trade
    via the apprenticeship route (which I think is a fantastic, real
    world method of learning), and some have taught themselves to make
    jewellery. And it is worth noting that all methods of learning have
    produced very good jewellers who make very good, salable jewellery.
    By the same token, I'm sure that all methods have also produced
    people who are not so good. 

    There is no one way to learn. We all pick up things in different
    ways. I learn best by doing it myself - hence I am self taught (and I
    have people who want to buy my jewellery). I don't learn well by
    watching someone else do things - it's not until I get my own hands
    on something, that I start to learn. Yes classes would be great but
    if I'd taken classes, I would never have been able to afford my
    bench and all my tools, equipment and materials, and therefore I
    would never have been able to make the jewellery I've made and
    continue to make. If I took any classes in making jewellery, it would
    be in stone setting, as while I'm now happy with bezel setting and am
    doing that every day, I would love to learn prong setting, channel
    setting, pave, etc, etc. 

    One of the more valuable comments of this topic (or perhaps it was
    another thread) has been that it would be invaluable if such college
    courses that teach jewellery design/making, would also teach some
    sort of business classes alongside the art part of the curriculum. I
    agree wholeheartedly with this sentiment and it is this side of
    things where I feel I am lacking. I have an ever growing list of
    things I have to make for people, and have people asking me to make
    custom pieces for them - but I haven't got a clue when it comes to
    business or accounts and things such as pricing. I've just spent
    three days constructing a bracelet for a friend and because she's a
    friend I've merely charged her for the materials - ie a pittance. I
    still have about two days worth of work to do on the bracelet so
    I've sold myself really short. It's this type of thing that people
    who go to college also need to learn. 

Helen
UK
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