Jewellery Making
Precious metal clay: make a ring
An all-level jewellery-making class using demonstrations and practical work to create a silver clay ring and practise fundamental metal clay techniques.
Choose a date before booking
Upcoming classes
1 class
About this course
Participants explore the properties and handling of precious metal clay while developing a ring design. They first test ideas in polymer clay, then apply techniques including rolling, piercing, wrapping, texturing, firing, sanding, polishing and patination to a silver clay piece. Teaching combines demonstrations, practical work, examples, technical notes, advice and guidance. The course also covers setting up a work area and understanding how basic tools are used.
What you'll learn
- Identify properties of different types of metal clay and appropriate handling methods
- Use metal clay tools and equipment to develop a jewellery piece
- Apply textures and design techniques to metal clay
- Fire a metal clay piece using a hand torch
- Add colour with a patina
- Sand and polish metal clay
Is this course right for you?
The course is intended for beginners, experienced jewellers incorporating metal clay into their work, and learners seeking a refresher. Participants should be able to follow written and verbal instructions, engage in group discussions, and carry out simple measurements and calculations.
- May suit bead makers and clay artists
- Includes participation in group discussions
- Requires attention to demonstrations, handouts and health and safety information
Before you go
- General tools and equipment, polymer clay for practice pieces, 10g of art clay and metal clay slip are supplied.
- Bring an apron, an empty film case or clean pill bottle, a notebook and pencils, and cheap fine-tipped paint brushes.
- Optional items include clay shapers, badger balm, small cookie cutters and objects for creating texture.