Jewellery Techniques 1 (10 credit points)

Course Times & Enrolment

This course is currently unavailable.

Course Summary

This course will introduce and expand students’ jewellery design and making skills using techniques such as sawing, filing, forming and soldering. The focus will be on using riveting and doming incorporated in a more personal project. Students will consider design issues such as the relationship between a two dimensional design on paper and its realisation as a developed three-dimensional form.

Please note - this is a credit course and has an integrated digital component. All students enrolled on credit courses are required to matriculate through the university student system EUCLID. If you do not do so you will not be able to access information provided by your tutor nor will you be able to submit work for assessment. Please read our Studying for Credit Guide, Rules and Regulations for more information.

Course Details

Pre-requisites for enrolment

No previous experience of jewellery making required.
Some drawing or design experience desirable.

Special Information

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

Your glasses if you need them for reading and seeing things close up
Any visual research or recent art and design work you may have done
A notebook or sketchbook
A pen

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

Use of Specialist Jewellery Department workshop, tools and equipment
Including (but not limited to) –
All jewellery hand tools/equipment

Materials and equipment available for purchase during the course:
(Estimated cost: £5-£30 depending of usage and metal prices)

Copper/brass sheet, wire & tube
Sterling silver sheet, wire & tube
Acrylic sheet

Essentials materials and equipment students will need to provide themselves:
(Estimated cost: £10 - £50)

Essential – glasses (if required for close up work)
Optional – apron
During the course students might want to use:
Sketchbook
Pencils/ drawing equipment
Research for personal projects
Additional, specialist materials for the course will be available for purchase in the studio.

Content of Course

The course teaching is delivered over weekly class sessions totalling 27.5 hours. Depending on the specific timetable of the occurrence of the course, this will either be delivered over ten weeks of 2.75 hour class sessions, eleven weeks of 2.5 hour class sessions or five weeks of 5.5 hour class sessions. Over the class sessions the course will cover:

Introduction to basic jewellery techniques

How to use a jewellers saw
How to use a drill
How to use hand/needle files
How to make jump rings and basic chain

How to use a gas torch
How to anneal metal
How to texture sheet metal and wire
How to use doming block & punches

How to solder
How to make wire/tube rivets

Each student will produce experimental test samples which combine a variety of materials and utilise the techniques they have learned from previous weeks.

These test pieces will be the creative foundation for the development of the final design.

Each student will work on their own individual projects with one-to-one discussion with the tutor.

Teaching method(s)

This course will be based and delivered in specialist design studios or workshops 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. Each week, students’ progress will be monitored and supported by the tutor who will negotiate and agree a ‘directed study plan’ for work to be undertaken out with the class hours each week. This will include researching a range of suggested artists or designers and their associated movements to engender a contextual awareness of the discipline being taught as well as how to annotate and evidence this within a sketchbook and practical outcomes. Teaching will include practical demonstrations, one to one tuition, group discussions and critiques.

Learning outcomes

By the end of the course, through attending classes and engaging in directed and independent study, students should be able to:

RESEARCH

demonstrate an ability to research, develop and evidence visual ideas for making basic jewellery pieces

PRACTICE

make basic jewellery using a range of materials including the use of riveting and doming

PRESENT

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

Gale, E. and Little, A., 2000, Teach Yourself Jewellery Making, London: Hodder Headline Ltd.
McCreight, T., 1991, The Complete Metalsmith – An Illustrated Handbook, Worcester MA: Davis Publications Inc.
McGrath, J., 2008, Jewellery Making: A Complete course for beginners, London: Apple Press.
Murphy, K., 2009, Non-precious Jewellery: Methods and techniques, London: A&C Black.
MacDonald, J., 2011, Jewellery from Recycled Materials, London: A&C Black.
Larks Books 500 series: 500 Bracelets, 500 Necklaces, 500 Earrings, 500 Brooches, 500 Lockets & pendants, 1000 rings.

Web Sources

www.craftscotland.org
www.craftscouncil.org.uk/craft-directory
www.photostore.org.uk
www.whoswhoingoldandsilver.co.uk
www.dazzle-exhibitions.com
www.lesleycrazegallery.co.uk
www.caa.org.uk

Class Handouts

Handouts will be provided.

Assessment

Details of the Art and Design assessment requirements can be found on the short course website. Please click on the following link for more information: Submission and Assessment Information

Studying for Credit

If you choose to study for credit you will need to allocate significant time outwith classes for coursework and assessment preparation. Credit points gained from this course can count towards the Certificate of Higher Education.

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.