Archive for enameling

Opalescent Grisaille with Mer Almagro (online)

                       

Join enamellist Mer Almagro as she teaches her specialty- Opalescent Grisaille! In this LIVE interactive online workshop, Mer will walk you through the intricacies and steps of how to create beautiful pieces in the distinctive grisaille style.

Mer will be your guide as you explore a vitreous enamel technique with rich history, grisaille, in its 20th century incarnation developed by Andreu Vilasís. We will utilize beautiful, semi-translucent opalescent enamels to build volume in a delicate low relief on the traditional dark blue background. The results are magical and enchanting.

This is an advanced enamelling technique. Some experience wet-packing enamels is required. Drawing or painting experience is recommended.

Kilns are required for this course. This class uses leaded enamels. 

 

REGISTER HERE!

 

 

 

Mer Almagro trained in artistic vitreous enamel over metals at the Llotja academy, beginning in the early 90’s, under tutelage and mentorship of Andreu Vilasís & Núria L. Ribalta. Barcelona is her hometown, an inspiration growing up. Her greatest muse, however, is always nature.
She is a bit of a nerdy enamelist, and loves how there’s always something more to learn.

 

 

 

 

Workshop Hours:

Saturdays and Sundays 9 AM to 12 NOON Pacific Time, January 15, 16, 22, and 23 2022

Cost: $375

Materials List: Provided after registration

Registration: Maximum of 15

Refund Policy: No refunds unless your workshop position can be filled by another person.

 

Separation Oil in Enamels with Gabrielle Castonguay (online)

         

Join world-renowned enamelist Gabrielle Castonguay for a two-day LIVE online intensive workshop on the use of separation oils with enamels.

Separation oil provokes a chemical reaction on the surface of enamel by modifying its viscosity, forcing expansion of the surface and allowing the underneath enameled layers to show. 

It is a powerful, fun and unique effect that helps enhance contrasts between transparents, opaques, and textures. When separation oil is applied accordingly to the requirements of the material it allows the enamelist to explore and play with stimulating effects of light and surfaces.

Whether you work large or small, separation oil opens up a world of possibilities for your work!

ALL LEVELS WELCOME! Prior enameling experience is recommended, kilns are required for this class.

REGISTER HERE!

Gabrielle S. Castonguay is an enamelist from Montréal, impassioned by enameling since the age of eleven when she started learning the art from one of the lead master enamelists in Quebec, Canada. She studied and graduated from Fine Arts, Theatre and Design programs from local Colleges and Concordia University in Montréal. For many years now Gabrielle has been back working as a full time enamelist, the essence of her true passion and the expression of her artistic engagement.

Her work is well known and well regarded in North America as well as the larger international enameling field. She specializes in enameling wall pieces, sculptures, vessels and integration of enameled metal pieces in design/architectural work. She was a faculty member of the Richmond Art Center, Richmond, California, teaching the art of enamel from 2012 to 2014. She has exhibited in Canada, Europe, the USA and Japan, and her work is part of private collections in Canada, the USA, South America and Europe. She co-curated the national Canadian Enamel Exhibition 2013: “Fire and Fusion”. She has been awarded several grants for her work over the years.

 

 

 

Workshop Hours:

Friday and Saturday 10 AM to 5PM Pacific Time, 1 hour break in the middle of the day. 

September 10 & 11, 2021

Cost: $375

Materials List: Provided after registration

Registration: Maximum of 15

Refund Policy: No refunds unless your workshop position can be filled by another person.

Granular Spray, Sgraffito, and Watercolor Enamel with Alisa Looney (online)

Granular Spray, Sgraffito & Watercolor Enamel with Alisa Looney (online)

       

Expand your artistic tool kit by learning to sgraffito with ease in liquid enamel, and no more chipping! We will work on pre-enameled steel, adding layers of glass with granular spray, sgraffito and watercolor techniques to create colorful, custom surface treatments.  

Join Alisa Looney as she shows us how to use spray application to achieve a buttery smooth surface and create extremely detailed sgraffito designs. Alisa will show you how to add color with watercolor enamels on top of your sgraffito for a rich, layered, and colorful effect!

Design, cut and prepare pre-enameled steel for enameling. Copper shapes can also be used. Learn to apply white liquid enamel with the granular spray technique, resulting in a powdered finish that allows you to sgraffito (scratch) clean lines with ease and control when making marks, textures and/or drawings into the surface. Experiment with several sgraffito tools to create varied line qualities and thicknesses in mark making such as cross hatching, stippling, brushing and combing.  This technique opens avenues for the freedom to work in any virtually any style: loose and expressive or detailed and precise. After firing the white layer, you will add depth and color by painting with Watercolor Enamels. Appropriate kiln-firing temps and techniques for each layer will be covered. You can expect to complete a series of small panels and jewelry elements during this workshop. Live demos and instruction in four separate three-hour zoom sessions will allow plenty of time to practice between sessions.

ALL LEVELS WELCOME! Prior enameling experience is recommended. Kilns are required for this workshop.

REGISTER HERE!

Best known for her award winning outdoor sculptures, Alisa Looney has exhibited in the U.S. and Canada. Her work is in a multitude of private and public collections, including Maryhill Museum of Art in Goldendale, WA, and several U.S. cities in the Northwestern United States. Her enamel on steel sculptures have been exhibited in The Enamelist Society’s International Biennial Exhibitions: Alchemy 4 & 5, and published in The Art of Fine Enameling. Alisa expresses her ideas through sculpture, dance, painting and enameling in her Bend, OR, studio that she shares with her husband, woodblock printer Wade Womack.  She fell in love with metal arts as a silver smith in her early years, received her BFA in Design from Boise State University in 1983 and began welding in 1998.  Alisa returned to Idaho in 2010 to study enameling with her past BSU Professor Emeritus, John Killmaster. This created the opportunity for her to merge metal sculpture and narrative imagery into what she considers her most precious work to date. With John’s blessing, Alisa teaches these enameling techniques in her studio and is currently developing online classes for enamellists near and far.     https://alisalooney.com 

 

Workshop Hours:

Saturday and Sundays  10 AM to 1PM Pacific Time

June 19, 20, 26, and 27, 2021

Cost: $375

Materials List: Provided after registration

Registration: Maximum of 15

Refund Policy: No refunds unless your workshop position can be filled by another person.

Pattern Forming and Enameling on Dimensional Surfaces with Nash Quinn (online)

Pattern Forming and Enameling on Dimensional Surfaces 

In this workshop, join Nash Quinn as we explore the ways a flat sheet of metal can be transformed into a volumetric object using nothing but a jeweler’s saw and a carefully-designed template.  No soldering! Once formed, these vessels can be enameled using low-tech methods for adhering enamel to vertical surfaces. Finally, we will cover strategies for enhancing the finished enameled vessel, including basic silver fabrication and cold connection methods. This versatile technique of forming can be scaled up and down and opens a wide world of possibilities for three-dimensional enameling! 

This online LIVE interactive class focuses on design, technique, and craft.  Nash will walk you through the layout, cutting, forming, and enameling of these vessels step-by-step as you work alongside him in your own studio. Students can expect to complete at least one vessel during the class.

Students of all skill levels welcome, previous experience using a jeweler’s saw and basic enamel sifting and kiln firing is highly recommended. This class is not suitable for torch firing, kilns only– kilns should have a minimum interior firing chamber of 4″x4″x4″.

                             

Register HERE!

 

Nash Quinn is a metalsmith who works with a variety of materials, techniques, and formats.  Originally from Wyoming, he received his BFA from the University of Wyoming, and his MFA from Edinboro University of Pennsylvania. He was a faculty member at Rowan University and Munson Williams-Proctor Arts Institute, and has worked, taught, and exhibited artwork at craft schools and jewelry academies nationwide.

 

 

Workshop Hours:

Saturday and Sunday  10 AM to 5PM Pacific, 2 hour lunch break

February 6, and 7, 2021

Cost: $375

Materials List: Provided after registration

Registration: Maximum of 15

Refund Policy: No refunds unless your workshop position can be filled by another person.

March 8 Play Day at the Annex

Register Now

Join the Center for Enamel Art and KVO Industries in a day of fun and learning with and within the porcelain enamel industry. We will provide materials, tools, and expertise to help you get acquainted with this wonderful medium. You can spray stencil, silkscreen, sgraffito, use transfer materials such as decals, draw, and paint with the enamel. You will be able to fire pieces in the factory’s large kiln which has interior dimensions of 5′ x 8′.

If you have specific projects you would like to work on, this is a wonderful opportunity to work on those projects.
A technical advisor and member of KVO’s staff will be on hand to work with you and introduce you to KVO Industries where the Center’s Annex is located.

We are charging  $135, a special reduced fee, for this inaugural play day only. Starting in April we will be listing our full play day schedules for the rest of the year. Participants will be able to take advantage of discounts for multiple play day registrations through out the year. Stay tuned for more play day information.

The fee excludes any custom work done by the factory including creating silkscreens and custom colors. Additional materials will be available for sale at bargain  prices.

Space is limited to 12 participants per session.

All registrants will receive an email 2 days before the session describing how to prepare.