Jewellery making: all levels

What is the course about?

This practical course will guide you in crafting metal jewellery to your own designs. Geared to all levels of experience, simple projects practising basic skills are set for beginners and intermediate learners, while more experienced makers are encouraged to extend their skills and experiment with complex approaches such as chain-making and stone-setting.

What will we cover?

Beginners will learn basic jewellery making skills - piercing, filing, drilling, polishing, annealing and soldering.

Intermediate/ advanced learners will have the opportunity to work on individual projects and to practise, improve and perfect their basic skills. You will have one-to-one advice and demonstrations from the tutor when needed.

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

Beginners
- Cut and form sheet metal and wire
- Anneal, texture and solder metal
- Experiment with materials and finishes
- Design and make a piece of work using skills you have learnt
- Demonstrate awareness of and work to the health and safety guidelines

Intermediate
- Set your goals with help from the tutor
- Sketch out your design ideas
- Use improved jewellery-making skills e.g. piercing, filing, drilling, polishing, annealing and soldering
- Use a new skill
- Make a piece of jewellery to your own design

Advanced
- Set your goals in discussion with the tutor
- Present a sketchbook full of ideas and apply these designs into finished pieces
- Achieve a high standard of design and craftsmanship
- Realise your designs by making use of challenging techniques (e.g. stone setting, wax carving, enamelling, chain
making).

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

For all levels of ability - beginners, intermediate and advanced.

You must be able to follow simple written and verbal instructions, demonstrations, hand-outs and 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 demonstrations, handouts, practical activities, group discussions and individual tuition. There will be recommendations for books and information on current exhibitions which you can visit in your own time.

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

City Lit provides many of the basic tools and equipment for jewellery-making. You will need to provide some items such as saw blades, wet and dry paper, drill bits, paintbrushes and a sketchbook or notebook. Your tutor will give you a handout detailing the list of items and where to buy them - you do not need to provide them before the start of the course.

City Lit also provides basic materials in reasonable quantities, such as base metals (copper, gilding metal etc.) and other materials (paper, enamel etc.) chemicals (pickle, borax etc.) and sundries (etching resist, polishing compound etc.). However, all precious metals (silver, gold etc.) stones and other materials you need for your specific projects must be provided by you. Your tutor will be able to advise you on where to source these.

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

Please bring your own apron and safety glasses.

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

City Lit offer a wide range of short and year-long courses in Jewellery design and making, from beginners to advanced, and for professional development.

Suitable follow-on courses may include:
VV358 - Introduction to stone setting: flush and gypsy setting
VV835 - Jewellery making: all levels
VV415 - Jewellery: electroforming workshop

Your tutor will be able to advise you on your course.