Jewellery making: 20 pieces in 5 days

What is the course about?

Create 20 pieces for a collection, create 20 completely different pieces, or take one design and produce it in 20 differing ways: develop your jewellery practice with this exciting challenge in a dynamic and supportive environment. Each individual, with help from the tutor, will set their own agenda around their 20 pieces.

You will be guided to quickly develop your initial ideas with a series of given exercises and strategies to help progress your designs and there will be technique demonstrations to aid your production methods.

We will work at a fairly fast pace, investigate applicable techniques, materials, processes and produce test pieces. You will use this learning to create 20 pieces in 5 days.

What will we cover?

• Initial ideas, research, and design.
• The design cycle and design principles.
• Strategies and approaches to help with creating 20 pieces in a short timescale.
• Techniques suitable to transfer your designs into products in 5 days
• The correct use of any tools and materials involved.
• Health and safety issues around the workshop equipment.

What will I achieve?
By the end of this course you should be able to...

• Produce designs and test pieces to take your ideas forward.
• Develop strategies to help you generate ideas for production.
• Investigate materials and techniques.
• Make technical notes to support your learning.
• Work with your chosen materials using a variety of techniques to produce 20 pieces of jewellery.
• Discuss what you have learned and apply your new skills and knowledge to your jewellery practice.
• Contribute to a culture of mutual support within the group, and enjoy the profitable exchange of ideas, information and inspiration.
• Work within health and safety guidelines.

What level is the course and do I need any particular skills?

This course is suitable for intermediate levels and those working at a more advanced level who wish push their jewellery in a new direction or just want to have a go at working at a different level.

You should be confident cutting metal, using a piercing saw as well as file and using a torch to anneal and solder. There will not be enough time during the course to teach these skills.

You will need to be able to follow simple written and verbal instructions to support demonstrations, hand-outs and for
health and safety information and be prepared to take part in group discussions. You should be happy using numbers and able to do simple measurements and calculations.

How will I be taught, and will there be any work outside the class?

Through practical demonstrations both to the group and to individuals. There will be plenty of 1:1 help. Group discussions and feedback are encouraged. It will not be necessary to do any work outside the class.

Are there any other costs? Is there anything I need to bring?

City Lit provides almost all the basic tools and equipment you will need, as well as basic materials in reasonable
quantities, such as silver solder and base metals (copper and brass), and other materials such chemicals
(pickle, borax, etc). Saw blades will be available for the first session, thereafter you should bring your own saw blades and emery paper. You may bring your own metal to use if you wish to, and if you want to work in precious metal you will need to supply your own. If you have any materials that you would like to work with, please bring these along to the first session.

You are advised that sensible footwear must be worn in studio 308. For health and safety reasons, no sandals, open shoes & small pumps can be worn – even in hot weather.

When I've finished, what course can I do next?

You will receive regular feedback from your tutor throughout the course, as and when appropriate. At the end of the course you and your tutor are asked to assess the progress you have made.