Creative Rings and Bangles

Course Times & Enrolment

This course is currently unavailable.

Course Summary

This short workshop-based course enables you to explore your potential as a maker of creative objects by producing an individual, stylish piece of jewellery, beginning with the simple band ring. You will explore different techniques used to texture metal using hand tools and hammers. This course will cover sawing, filing, soldering and roll printing with further experiments into bangle making to consider form and design.

Course Details

Pre-requisites for enrolment

Previous experience of jewellery required.

Special Information

Essential materials you will need to bring to the first class:

Glasses if you need them for close up work
Research for personal projects

Materials and equipment provided for students as part of the course and included in course fee:

Use of specialist jewellery workshop, tools and equipment including (but not limited to);

Jewellers saws
Hammers and Files
Pliers and Hand tools
Soldering equipment and materials
Drills
Disc cutters
Forming tools – e.g. doming blocks, mandrels and staks

Materials and equipment available for purchase during the course:

Copper and Brass – sheet metal, wire and tube
Sterling Silver – Sheet metal, wire and tube
Saw-blades of varying sizes
Sand paper

Essentials Materials and equipment students will need to provide themselves:

Glasses if you need them for close up work
Research for personal projects

Additional recommended materials and equipment students can provide:

Apron
Sketchbook
Pencils/ drawing equipment
Lighter

Content of Course

The course teaching is typically delivered over weekly or weekend class sessions totalling 12 hours. Depending on the specific timetable of the occurrence of the course, this will either be delivered over four consecutive sessions of 3 hours or 2 days of 6 hours sessions over a weekend. Over the weeks the course will cover:

How to use a gas torch
How to anneal metal
How to texture sheet metal and wire
How to size a ring / bangle
How to use a jewellers saw
How to use hand/needle files
How to solder
How to shape a ring/bangle
Each student will work on their own individual projects with one-to-one discussion with the tutor.

Teaching method(s)

The teaching will be based and delivered in a specialist art studio and will typically include a range of practical exercises, introductions to techniques, processes and concepts, and set projects which lead to more focused and personal exploration. Over the course, students’ progress will be monitored and supported by the tutor. Teaching will include looking at books, practical demonstrations, one to one tuition, group discussions and critiques. A small amount of independent study is encouraged and will be directed by the tutor.

Learning outcomes

By the end of the course, students should be able to:

demonstrate knowledge and confidence in making jewellery with specific hand/bench tools and some specialist equipment;
make basic rings and bangles using a range of precious and non-precious metals;
show a developed understanding of the design process for small-scale wearable jewellery by experimenting with sketches, tests and samples and producing finished piece(s).

Sources

Core Readings

Recommended
MacGrath, Jinks 2008. Jewellery Making: A Complete course for beginners. Apple Press.
500 Bracelets, 500 Necklaces, 500 Earrings, 500 Brooches, 500 Lockets & pendents, 1000 rings. (all from the Larks Books ‘500 series’)

Web Sources

www.craftscotland.org
www.craftscouncil.org.uk/craft-directory
www.photostore.org.uk
www.whoswhoingoldandsilver.co.uk

Class Handouts

Course information will be provided on enrolment and further hand-outs may be provided during the course.

Queries

If you have questions regarding the course or enrolment, please contact COL Reception at Paterson's Land by email COL@ed.ac.uk or by phone 0131 650 4400.

Student support

If you have a disability, learning difficulty or health condition which may affect your studies, please let us know by ticking the 'specific support needs' box on your course application form. This will allow us to make appropriate adjustments in advance and in accordance with your rights under the Equality Act 2010. For more information please visit the Student Support section of our website.