Basic Powdered Enameling: THE PROCESS OF FUSING POWDERED GLASS TO THE SURFACE OF COPPER OR OTHER METAL
Abstract Enamel Earring Sets (opt to add a pendent)
CRITERIA & STEPS:
- Brainstorm the places you feel most alive and at peace, then find some reference pictures from your own photos, magazines, or the internet.
- Design 5-7 different options on paper before your begin (colored chalk layers and blending). Consider the shape and negative shapes. Consider the micro and the macro within the landscape to inspire your designs. Complete the planning sheet before you decide on your final design.
- Saw out the shape of the earrings (starting with the negative shapes first)
- File and sand edges (bevel if desired) + Slightly Dap or Dome the surface to give it a slight curvature (if desired) Make sure the hole where the jumprings and earring findings will attach is drilled to the appropriate size.
- Following the demonstrations (also videos below) sprinkle the first color of enamel and fuse it to the copper
- Proceed with 2 or more layers using stencils and scraffito to create textures and give your landscapes the desired effects
- Carefully connect the earring findings and enamel parts using jumprings and wire wrapping techniques (see these pages for bead and wire tutorials)
Terms to Know:
- Landscape- all the visible features of an area of countryside or natural setting, often considered in terms of aesthetic appeal.
- Abstract-a summary of the contents, lacking specific detailed or a cropped section
- Microcosm-encapsulating in miniature the characteristic qualities of something much larger (a cell structure or single snowflake or leaf as a representation of the landscape) - zoomed in
- Macrocosm- the whole of a complex structure seen from a great distance, example a planet or the milky way - zoomed out
- Complementary/Contrast- opposites combining in such a way as to enhance or emphasize the qualities of each other.
- Symmetry- mirror imaged -the quality of being made up of exact parts facing each other or flipped around an axis:
- Enamel – Powdered glass fused (by heat Kiln or Torch) to the surface of copper or sterling silver (like glaze in ceramics)
- Negative Shapes (Drop-out) – The interior shapes of a design that are removed to reveal your design.
- Center Punch- A sharp tool used to make a dimple in the metal to guide the drill holes
- Bevel- Filing an edge at a 45 degree angle to make it more finished and decorative looking
- Dapping and Doming (concave/convex)- A block with varying sizes of indents used to curve metal into a Concave (bowl-shaped) or Convex (dome-shaped) form
- Stencil- cutting a negative shape into a piece of paper and using that to mask off the rest of your enamel while you apply a color to a specific area.
- Sgraffito- Scratching through a pattern or line through the top layer of a surface to reveal a foundation layer color
- Jumprings- Carefully made loops of wire coil (all the same size) sawed open and made to interlock and connect metal pieces (a cold connection technique)
- Earring Findings- The part of the jewelry that passes through your ear to make the earrings wearable.
Color Blending (fuse the first layer) then sprinkle the second layer (varying density)
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Stencil- using a paper shape to mask-off the enamel and then allow you to sprinkle another layer inside or outside of the stencil
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Sgraffito - Fuse the first layer then sprinkle the second layer and scratch through lines and shapes (moving the loose enamel)
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Sawing Tutorial & Enamel Do's and Dont's
Kiln Instructions: Fire to 1250-1350 (hold for 2-3 mins)
Firing Notes for Ms. Ferrell -
Overnight option:Program #1: Ramp Hold overnight @ 1200 then bump up
#1, RA 1 = 300 - enter F1 = 1200 (this means it will take 4 hours to reach 1200) Hd1 = hold 12 hrs - enter Segment #2, RA 2 = 9999/full F2 = 1350 - enter Hd =hold time 5 hours -enter (then it will shut off at the end of lunch) |
Morning of (hard to get to temp for 1st)Program #2: Ramp Hold @1350 for 5 hours
Ramp Hold #2) - enter RA 1 = 9999/full Hd = Hold time, 5 hours - enter *may get an error Delay Start Ramp Hold |