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April 11, 2013 1 Comment
This is a piece I designed and made for the Guild of Enamellers annual conference. We always have a theme and this year it was ‘All the fun of the fair’ set by Tilly Wilkinson who will be teaching a couple of enamelling classes here in my studio on the North York Moors later in the summer. For more information on classes see my website
March 10, 2013 Leave a comment
I still have a couple of places available on this wonderful masterclass with the very talented metal clay artist Joy Funnell
29th and 30th June 2013 – Colourful Carnival Masks with Joy Funnell
£385 per person including materials
On this 2 day workshop you will learn how to create your own unique silver mask using Art Clay Silver. Joy will cover how to add wires to the mask for decoration before enamelling them to create your very own colourful carnival mask pendant. You will learn tips and tricks including creating the best surface on the silver for the enamel, making a three dimensional mask shape, making bails and decorating the reverse of your piece including setting small stones.
Once the masks are fired and polished you will learn Joy’s unique Enamelled Accents technique for adding wires to make free standing cells for enamel. After covering how to prepare the enamels to get the brightest clearest colours you will learn how to wet lay them onto your piece and how different colour enamels can be used and blended together. Finally we will use patination to accentuate the bright enamel colours and the textures. During this workshop you will have a rainbow of enamel colours to use that you will be able to take home with you afterwards. Some previous experience with silver clay is necessary.
Email me for more information and for booking. I can let you have details of local B&B accommodation and it is a great place for a short break as my studio is on the glorious North York Moors and close to Whitby, so loads to see and do!
February 15, 2013 Leave a comment
On a brighter note I have finished this Moth Pendant.
It is the first of a series of pieces of enamel jewellery with moth and butterfly designs. I made the pendant using art clay silver a few weeks ago but then had to wait to send it off with a batch of other pieces for hallmarking. I prefer to have work hallmarked before enamelling and finishing (although don’t always) but it lessens the risk of it being chipped or damaged in transit.
I have also stoned back and refired this enamel ring that was hallmarked in the same batch. These do show off the beauty of the vibrant colours possible in vitreous enamel jewellery.
If you would like to learn to enamel then please get in contact as I am always happy to teach enamelling and pass on some of the techniques of this wonderful tradition.
February 15, 2013 Leave a comment
One thing I know about enamel is that you really need to pay attention to what you are doing at every step of the process.
Here is the bead I have been working on in stages over the past couple of weeks. It is constructed in art clay silver, then fine silver wires were added as outlines for flower petals. The next step was to enamel what was going to be the back in a variety of shades of green followed by the front in pinks and reds. It was going so well, too well perhaps – until having stoned it smooth I put it back into the kiln to flash fire the gloss back and then answered the phone. The result is the whole thing got much too hot and the reds and pinks turned a variety of shades of brown and toffee. I made an even worse mess by then adding fine lines of painting enamel to the petals and firing it again….. The lesson is to let nothing, and I mean nothing, distract you from the kiln when you are enamelling!
I really should stone it back to tidy up the lines again but it doesn’t seem worth the extra work now.
You can see quite clearly though that the greens survived beautifully……
January 19, 2013 2 Comments
Inspiration can come from all kinds of places. A few days ago I received an email from Macclesfield telling me about the Barnaby Festival Art Trail. It included a call for entries into The Button Project. Artists and makers are invited to put their creative imaginations to work and make a button for a vibrant exhibition, taking place in Macclesfield from 14 June – 8 August 2013. The deadline for submissions is 4 March 2013 and you can download an application form here.
Any buttons entered will be part of a display of highly collectible contemporary buttons presented alongside Macclesfield Museum’s internationally important silk costume collection – that also happens to include a classic display of Macclesfield Silk Buttons. Macclesfield was the heart of UK’s historic silk industry, and handmade silk buttons was where it all began. From a cottage-based enterprise, it grew into a flourishing silk industry and helped to make the town what it is today. The buttons exhibited will be tiny works of art and the festival organisers suggest taking the opportunity to explore the theme for the Barnaby Festival this year, ‘metamorphosis’. This does seem like a fantastic chance to showcase miniature artwork in the UK’s premier silk attraction and celebrate our skills and heritage.
I have decided to attempt to make my button on the suggested theme, partly as it fits in with my love of moths, I have many of them doodled among the pages of sketchbooks over the years.
In order to be a wearable and durable button I have decided to make it slightly thicker than I would usually work and have begun by making a large number of tiny sketches to work out the layout of my design within this small circle. I did contemplate making an irregular shape – but decided to work within the formality of the circle. Here is my little paper circle into which I have impressed the background lines of my design so that they are raised up when I roll out the silver clay. The two impressions are made using Art Clay Silver; one will become the button and I am thinking of making the other into a pendant (the slightly thinner domed version). Obviously I still have a lot of work to do on these but am happy with the progress so far.
If you are a maker then why not join in this interesting project? If you would like to learn to enamel or to make your own jewellery then I have lots of classes organised for 2013, see details on my website or email me for further information and to book your place.
December 30, 2012 Leave a comment
My studio is based in the beautiful village of Glaisdale, about 12 miles from Whitby in North Yorkshire. It is a well equipped workshop dedicated to metal clay and jewellery making. Over the winter 2011/12 it was completely refurbished, including removing a dividing wall to open up the teaching space. There are all kinds of exciting classes for 2013 so please keep checking as you will need to book early to secure a place.
Introduction to enamel on copper £140 with Lynne Glazzard
Wednesdays by arrangement from January 23rd, 2013
Learn to create your own small copper panels, this course runs from alternate Wednesdays by arrangement and includes a small amount of copper and enamel, additional copper will be available to purchase on the day. It is also available as either a morning or afternoon session.
This class is also scheduled for Sunday 10th March 2013 £140
Sunday 24th March 2013 Introduction to Art Clay Silver £155 with Lynne Glazzard
Thursday 28th March 2013 Introduction to Art Clay Silver £155 with Lynne Glazzard
Sunday 21st April 2013 first day of Art Clay Silver level 1 certification
with Lynne Glazzard. This is run by me as a four day course following the syllabus set out by Aida Corporation and can either be four consecutive days, two pairs of two days or four separate days within a one month period. I only run this twice a year at the moment so please contact me as soon as possible if you are interested.
Saturday 27th April 2013 Landscape into Enamel with Tilly Wilkinson
£150 per person plus cost of copper available to purchase on the day.
Using a range of enamel techniques produce a landscape based wall panel from your own images.
You will incorporate a range of techniques including sifting, scrafitto and stencilling to produce your own personal response to a landscape that you love. You will learn how to prepare, counter enamel and finish your copper. A range of enamels are included in the price. Copper in various sizes will available to purchase on the day.
Memory of Scampston, enamel on copper by Tilly Wilkinson
11th & 12th May 2013 Herbarium pendant with Anna Mazon
(see website)
Saturday 25th May 2013 Introduction to Art Clay Silver £155 with Lynne Glazzard
Sunday 26th May 2013 Introduction to enamel on silver clay £170 with Lynne Glazzard
Saturday 1st June Introduction to enamel painting with Tilly Wilkinson
£175 per person including all materials – During this 1 day class you will learn how to create your own miniature piece of enamel painting. You will be provided with pre prepared copper bases and a range of stimulus material to work from. You will look at techniques for transferring your chosen design onto the fired enamel surface prior to painting. Using finely ground enamel pigments you will be shown how to prepare them for your palette and how to apply them to your prepared base.
No experience is necessary but some interest or ability in either oil or watercolour painting will be helpful.
On the weekends of 8th & 9th June and 15th & 16th June Lynne will be taking part in North Yorkshire Open Studios so the studio will be open to visitors
(Enamelling Wednesdays will be available during the period of open studios, advanced booking essential)
29th & 30th June 2013 Carnival masks with Joy Funnell £385 per person, including materials
(see Website)
Saturday 13th July 2013 Introduction to Art Clay Silver £155 with Lynne Glazzard
Sunday 14th July 2013 Rings in silver clay £170 with Lynne Glazzard
Sunday 28th July 2013 Introduction to enamel on Art Clay Silver £170 with Lynne Glazzard
Friday 6th and Saturday 7th September 2013 Art Clay Masterclass with guest tutor, more details to follow soon
21st & 22nd September 2013 Enamel painting with Tilly Wilkinson
£325 per person including materials
During this 2 day class you will learn how to create your own miniature piece of enamel painting. We will cover how to press form and prepare a suitable base from copper shim, how to apply a suitable enamel layer on which to paint and how to fire it. In addition we will look at techniques for transferring your chosen design onto the fired enamel surface prior to painting. Using finely ground enamel pigments you will be shown how to prepare them for your palette and how to apply them to your prepared base. Enamel painting is suitable for representing a range of imagery from representational portraits to abstract designs. This class would be most suitable for those who already have a reasonable level of ability in either oil or watercolour painting and some enamelling experience.
November 16, 2012 Leave a comment
29th and 30th June 2013 – Colourful Carnival Masks with Joy Funnell
£385 per person including materials
Joy Funnell is well known for her colourful silver and enamel Venetian carnival mask pendants. On this 2 day workshop you will learn how to create your own unique silver mask using Art Clay Silver. Then we will cover how to add wires to the mask for decoration before enamelling them to create your very own colourful carnival mask pendant. You will learn tips and tricks including creating the best surface on the silver for the enamel, making a three dimensional mask shape, making bails and decorating the reverse of your piece including setting small stones. Once the masks are fired and polished you will learn Joy’s unique Enamelled Accents technique for adding wires to make free standing cells for enamel. After covering how to prepare the enamels to get the brightest clearest colours you will learn how to wet lay them onto your piece and how different colour enamels can be used and blended together. Finally we will use patination to accentuate the bright enamel colours and the textures. During this workshop you will have a rainbow of enamel colours to use that you will be able to take home with you afterwards. Some previous experience with silver clay is necessary.
Terms and conditions £100 deposit required to confirm a place, a further £100 payable two months before the commencement of the class and the balance payable by cheque or cash 14 working days prior to the first day of the class. 14 days notice of cancellation is required so that I can resell the workshop place. In the event of cancellation more than 14 days before the class the deposit can be carried over to another mutually convenient class. Cancellation by the student less than 7 days prior to a workshop will result in forfeit of your deposit and course fee. Each class has a maximum number of places available and a minimum number before it can run. If I have to cancel a workshop I will give as much notice as possible and a place will be offered for an alternative workshop at a future date. Refunds will be given in the event of tutor illness or insufficient numbers booked for a workshop. I reserve the rights to vary these terms and conditions at any time. My studio is based in the beautiful village of Glaisdale on the North Yorkshire Moors, approximately 12 miles inland from Whitby. I can recommend B&B accommodation locally – email me for details.
October 20, 2012 Leave a comment
It is a beautiful autumn day here so I haven’t spent much time in the studio as I am taking advantage of the sunshine and enjoying the beautiful North Yorkshire Moors. I have been and finished the pretty enamelled pendant that I started yesterday. It is quite small, only 25mm by 17.5mm so my photograph makes it seem much larger than it really is! I love the transparency of the enamel and using art clay silver I have been able to combine a delicate textured background from a photopolymer plate I made last week together with fine silver cloisonné wires. In this piece I have used wires of different thicknesses to try out the effect – though its not particularly evident unless you look very closely.
I am happy to teach enamelling on art clay silver and still have a place available on next Saturday’s introduction to art clay silver, if you think you would like to make a few special little silver charms as Christmas gifts then please contact me
I am also in the process of putting together a really exciting schedule of classes for 2013 so watch this space!
October 19, 2012 Leave a comment
Here is a little update on one of the pieces I have been working on. This began with silver clay rolled out over a photopolymer texture sheet (see earlier post) and then had an edge constructed before being fired in my electric kiln for 2 hours at 800 degrees centigrade. This gives the maximum sintering so ensures that the piece is as dense as possible, perfect for enamelling onto.
Once fired I give the piece a wire brushing and a preliminary polish. I then attach shaped fine silver wires to the surface and fire the piece again to fix the wires in place.
The photo shows two pieces that have had the wires fixed into place. I then prepare a number of enamel colours by grinding and washing them and apply a thin layer to the surface using water to control the placement of the grains of enamel. I dry the piece before firing it again at around 800 degrees centigrade until the enamel has melted and fused to the silver surface. I apply more layers of enamel thinly, firing each layer in turn, until the enamel is level with the tops of the wires.
This photo shows the third layer of wet enamel, prior to drying and firing. Once I have fired the final layer the piece has its surface ground back so that it is level and smooth before being fired again quickly to get the gloss back on the enamel surface. I can then fully polish the piece to finish it. I used to use the tiny heart and spiral motifs in my work all the time and have enjoyed bringing this fun element back into the current pieces.
I did get to the final firing of this one of the pendants but it was a bit late in the day and the light wasn’t really good enough to take a photograph. I hope you enjoy this insight into some of the working process. I am happy to teach enamelling classes either for small groups or on a one to one basis so please contact me if you would like to arrange something or buy a piece of my work.
September 15, 2012 Leave a comment
To check availability on a workshop please email
The deposit is payable by cheque.
For Terms and conditions scroll to the bottom of the page with the class details
The studio is about 12 miles from Whitby in North Yorkshire & I am happy to send out b&b information if requested
Herbaria pendants by Anna Mazon
11 & 12 May 2013, £325 per person
Carnival masks by Joy Funnell
29 & 30 June 2013 £385 per person
Silver clay & glass combination beads by Lynne Glazzard
8 & 9 November 2012 £360 per person
