Learn a decorative enameling technique that yields an elegant and complex enameled surface with a basse taille “look” in fine silver while also gaining essential information and skills for successful enameling using transparent enamels.
Enameling: Embossed Silver Foil and Transparent Color
Participants will learn to create detailed embossed designs in fine silver foil. Sifted applications of transparent enamel colors will be applied to develop depth and definition of the embossed foil designs after the embossed foil has been fired into place on a base coat.
A demonstration will clearly show participants how to make their own embossing plates. During the workshop, students will use embossing plates provided by the instructor.
Enameling: Patterns from Foil and Transparent Colors
Participants will use fine silver and fine gold, foil in combination with transparent enamels, to create detailed foil patterns and larger foil surface areas by punching, cutting, tearing, placing and firing. Dry screen-printing, stencils and scrafitto – used under and over the foil – will allow for building a more complex design with the illusion of increased depth.
Barbara Minor
Barbara completed her B.F.A. and M.F.A. degrees in jewelry and metalsmithing at University of Illinois and Indiana State University. She began enameling during graduate school and continued explorations of enamel processes, with the support of research grants, while teaching at the State University of New York at Geneseo. During this time she began enameling on formed metal, creating enamel jewelry and narrative reliefs in enamel. Barbara now lives in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, where she has focused on her enameled jewelry, enameled beads and small sculptural objects. She recently began devoting studio time to writing a book about making enameled beads, researching experimental enameling techniques and exploring use of liquid enamels and oxide colors on forms made of copper and copper screen. Barbara has exhibited and marketed her enamel jewelry at major juried craft shows and galleries across the U.S. and abroad. She conducts workshops, lectures and demonstrations on a variety of subjects related to enameling on metal, metal and forming, and design/pattern development using enamel color for Crafts Schools, Universities and Guilds. Her work can be seen in 500 Enameled Objects, The Art of Enameling, and Art Jewelry Today.