Jewellery making: carving, casting and finishing
Time: 10:30 - 16:30
Location: Keeley Street
- Course Code: VV719
- Dates: 09/06/24 - 07/07/24
- Time: 10:30 - 16:30
- Taught: Sun, Daytime
- Duration: 5 sessions (over 5 weeks)
- Location: Keeley Street
- Tutor: Louise Seijen Ten Hoorn
Course Code: VV719
Duration: 5 sessions (over 5 weeks)
Please note: We offer a wide variety of financial support to make courses affordable. Just visit our online Help Centre for more information on a range of topics including fees, online learning and FAQs.
What is the course about?
In the first 2 sessions you will learn to carve wax. We will cover working with components and making items efficiently for those who are interested in selling their designs.
While your pieces are away to be cast in metal by an external company, you will learn how to recycle metal in a delft clay, cuttlefish and an ingot mould.
In the final session you will be shown how to plan your making process and how to add components such as jumprings and earwires. You will also be shown how to fix imperfections and finish your designs to a professional standard.
What will we cover?
-Creating designs suitable for wax carving
-The lost wax casting process
-Calculating the cost of casting your designs
-Wax carving
-Experimenting with textures and decorative finishes
-Delft-clay casting
-Cuttlefish casting
-Recycling silver
-Fixing, finishing and polishing.
What will I achieve?
By the end of this course you should be able to...
- Prepare a suitable design for wax carving.
- Carve jewellery pieces in wax.
- Calculate the cost of your piece before casting.
- Recognise the methods used for casting multiples, and how this is relevant to commercial jewellery production.
- Reproduce an item by casting in cuttlefish bone or delft clay.
-Finish and polish to a professional standard.
What level is the course and do I need any particular skills?
This course is suitable for Intermediate level jewellery makers, with experience of measuring, marking, piercing,
filing and finishing. It is for those wanting to develop and enhance their practice.
How will I be taught, and will there be any work outside the class?
You will be taught through short demonstrations, instructions and followed by technical tasks. Short group
discussions (show and tell) at the end of each class are part of the course.
Are there any other costs? Is there anything I need to bring?
Waxes are cast off-site in silver or base metal at extra cost. You will learn to calculate the cost in advance so that there are no surprises. As a guideline, a small ring cast in silver will cost around £10 and a large heavy ring about £25.
- You can bring scrap silver and a small object or jewellery piece to reproduce in delft clay or cuttlefish. More
information will be given during the course.
- Bring a sketchbook/notebook to document your ideas and the things you learn on the course.
NOTE: For safety reasons open footwear should not be worn in the workshop, room 308. Please wear appropriate footwear and sensible clothing.
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.
Browse our current offer online for complemtary courses.
Trained at the Royal College of Art, Dutch born designer Louise Seijen ten Hoorn lives and works in London where she creates one-off pieces, small production ranges and commissions from her studio in Pimlico. Louise works predominantly in metal, as well as materials such as plastic and rubber, to create jewellery, objects and small sculptures. To find out more about Louise’s work visit www.louiseseijentenhoorn.com
Please note: We reserve the right to change our tutors from those advertised. This happens rarely, but if it does, we are unable to refund fees due to this. Our tutors may have different teaching styles; however we guarantee a consistent quality of teaching in all our courses.