Flux Metal Arts will be CLOSED for vacation through Wednesday, August 22.
We will resume normal business hours Thursday, August 23 at 10:00 am.
Take a class or workshop
Spheres
Introduction to Jewelry & Metalsmithing
Soldering Boot Camp
Champleve Enamel on Silver Metal Clay
Faceted Stone Setting Theory and Applications: Fancy Stones with visiting artist Kirk Lang
Hollow Ring
Cloisonne Enamel
Free Form Pod Pendant with visiting artist Molly Sharp (Rescheduled)
Pebble Jewelry with visiting artist Molly Sharp (Rescheduled)
Lost Wax Casting: RINGS!
Hammer Setting Bezels
Mentored Independent Study
Register in person at the studio, by phone (440) 205-1770, or online.
Spheres
Spheres, the ultimate use of 360 degrees of space, offer endless design possibilities for the jewelry and sculpture artist alike. Beginning with copper, form simple flat discs up into hemispheres, then learn the techniques of soldering the hemispheres together to create perfect spheres every time. Join us for the day, and have a ball learning something new in this technique based workshop! This workshop is limited to eight students. Tools will be available for use.
Saturday, August 25 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Basic metalworking skills are required. (ages 16 and up)
Class Fee: $125
Materials Fee: Materials are included
Instructor: Lauralee Hutson
Introduction to Jewelry and Metalsmithing, August 2018 Session
This introductory class is perfect for anyone who wants to learn or refresh the fundamental skills involved in making jewelry and metalsmithing. Working primarily in copper, nickel and brass, each student will be guided through the design and fabrication of a piece of jewelry or small metal object of their own design. Skills covered will include sawing, filing, forming, surface textures, soldering with a gas fueled torch, and bezel setting stones. This fun and interactive class will involve many demonstrations and lots of hands on work. This class is limited to eight students. Studio tools and equipment will be available for use.
Five Thursdays, August 30 - September 27, 2018: 6:30 – 9:30 PM
(make up class Thursday, October 4)
All levels are welcomed and no metalworking experience is required (ages 16 and up).
Class Fee: $220
Materials/Supplies: Basic materials included. Silver, stones and additional materials available for purchase.
Instructor: Kim Baxter
Soldering Boot Camp
Whether you have taken a class, attempted to learn on your own, or never tried before… if you want to learn or improve your silver-soldering skills, this updated boot camp is for you! We will take you step by step through the soldering process with detailed demonstrations followed by lots of hands on practice. Build confidence as you progress through a series of exercises designed to challenge you and whip your soldering skills into shape. If you have questions, or are struggling with a problem, this immersive workshop will have the answers you are looking for. This class is limited to eight students. Tools will be available for use.
Saturday, September 1 10:00 am – 4:30 pm
All levels are welcome, and no metalworking experience is required (ages 16 and up).
Class Fee: $105.00 Materials Fee: All materials are included
Instructor: Kim Baxter
This class is curently full. Please contact us at (440) 205-1770 to be on our wait list.
Champlevé Enamel on Silver Metal Clay
Fine silver metal clay is a perfect “canvas” for transparent vitreous enamel. In this class, we will use these two complementary materials to make colorful jewelry. Metal clay is a jewelry material made from microscopic particles of fine silver with a binder and water. After kiln firing, the binder burns away and pure silver remains.
Learn to texture, cut, join, and finish silver metal clay as you create a setting for your enamel work. Learn the basics of enameling and simple shading with enamels as you fill the setting with color. This class is limited to eight students. Tool kits will be available for use.
12:00 – 5:00 pm Saturday, September 8 & 10:00 am – 5:00 pm Sunday, September 9
All levels are welcome, metal clay experience is helpful but not required (ages 16 and up)
Class Fee: $235 Materials Fee: $50 payable to the instructor, includes metal clay, enamel and other materials
Instructor: Catherine Davies Paetz
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Faceted Stone Setting Theory and Applications: Fancy StonesShed your apprehension and learn to set challenging-shaped stones in this comprehensive, hands-on weekend intensive with master stone-setter Kirk Lang. Building off of Faceted Stone Setting Theory and Applications: Round Stones, this more advanced workshop will teach students how to confidently set faceted stones with pointed corners. The workshop covers three types of settings: prong, flush, and bezel and three types of stone cuts: pear, triangle, and princess. Students will learn the theory behind stone setting, gemstone characteristics, and how to make setting tools. The workshop focuses on solid demonstrations of each setting followed by practice setting stones in class. Use of tools included. Safety glasses & high magnification Optivisors are required. If students own a GRS benchmate with inside ring clamp they are strongly encouraged to bring it for use in this class. This workshop is limited to only eight students. Faceted Stone Setting, Theory and Application: Round Stones or equivalent experience required including prong, flush, and heavy-walled bezel setting. (Ages 18 & up) September 15 - 16 10:00 am - 5:00 pm Faceted Stone Setting, Theory and Application: Round Stones or equivalent experience required including prong, flush, and heavy-walled bezel setting. (Ages 18 & up) Class Fee: $425 Materials Fee: $125 payable to the instructor Instructor: *visiting artist* Kirk Lang Please note our *Visiting Artist* registration & refund policy for this workshop. |
The hollow ring is a classic jewelry design that is still stylish today. Malleable, but strong, metal can be shaped and formed in impressive ways. Using a “dog bone” style pattern, learn how to size and form a sterling silver ring. Then select and set a dramatic cabochon to complete the look. Additional ring patterns and artistic twists will also be presented, inspiring an exciting variety of creative options to make in your studio. This project is a great introduction to essential jewelry making basics including hollow forming, soldering with a gas fueled torch, filing, fitting, surface finishing and stone setting. Tools will be available for use.
Saturday, September 22 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Basic metalworking skills, and comfort with a torch is required. (Ages 16 and up)
Class Fee: $130
Materials Fee: $35 payable at time of registration
Instructor: Eldon Kohler
(Save 5% on your Class Fee when you register by August 22)
Only one spot left!
In the art of enameling, cloisonné is probably the most widely recognized technique that comes to mind. Have you even wondered how cloisonné enamel is made? Learn this ancient technique from Michael Romanik, a master in the art form. In this introductory weekend workshop students will be guided through the various steps from beginning to end to create a permanent and brilliantly colored piece of jewelry using thin ribbons of fine silver wire and fused grains of glass. Techniques covered will include forming cloisonné wires, enamel preparation and application, kiln firing and hand finishing. Students will work on a 1” disk of fine silver, and are asked to bring in ideas that will translate easily into simple linear designs. An assortment of images will also be provided. This class is limited to eight students. Tools will be available for use; magnifiers are suggested.
Saturday, October 13: 10:00 AM - 6:00 PM & Sunday, October 14: 11:00 AM - 4:00 PM
While previous enameling experience is helpful, all levels are welcomed and no metalworking or enameling experience is required (ages 16 and up)
Class Fee: $295 Materials Fee: $45 payable to the instructor. Due to changes in the metals market,cost of materials may depending on cost at the time of order.
Instructor: Michael Romanik
(Save 5% on your class fee when you register by September 13.)
Free Form Pod Pendant with Molly Sharp
Using sterling silver sheet, students will construct a three-sided free-form hollow form pod pendant. Light as air, yet structurally sturdy, this elegant piece has been inspired by natures beauty. With the use of patterned brass plates or skeleton leaves and a rolling mill, students will emboss a texture onto the silver sheet before sawing, filing and soldering the three sides. Be warned, this is not as easy as it appears as much manipulation is involved. To complete the piece, a decorative bale will be constructed from wire and soldered to one side of the completed pod.
Friday, October 19 10:00 am - 6:00 pm
Some metalsmithing experience is required for this one-day skill building class.
Class Fee: $150 Materials Fee: $20 payable to the instructor
Instructor: *visiting artist* Molly Sharp
Please note our*visiting artist* registration policy for this workshop.
This class is currently full. Please contact us at (440) 205-1770 to be on the wait list.
Pebble Jewelry with Molly Sharp
Have you ever collected smooth pebbles, ceramic shards or sea glass from beaches and then wondered what to do with them? This course offers the perfect solution! Using traditional silversmithing techniques, students will drill these materials using diamond drill bits, then transform them into unique pieces of jewelry. Sterling silver will be used to fabricate each piece using techniques including sawing, filing, forming, stone setting, riveting, soldering and texturing with the use of the rolling mill. Tools will be available for use. This 2 day workshop is limited to only eight students.
Saturday, October 20 - Sunday, October 21 10:00 am - 5:00 pm each day
All levels are welcome. (Ages 18 & up)
Class Fee: $300
Materials Fee: $30 - $40 payable to the instructor (based on materials used)
Students are required to bring: Small pebbles, ceramic shards and/ or sea glass, notebook and pen/pencil, Ultra fine tipped Sharpie pen, Optical magnification, safety glasses, dust masks, & a shallow bowl or pan for holding water in which to drill pebbles
Instructor: *visiting artist* Molly Sharp
Please note our*visiting artist* registration policy for this workshop.
This class is currently full. Please call (440) 205-1770 to be on the wait list.
This weekend intensive will take you from wax model to finished silver ring as you learn about lost wax casting. Learn the basics of wax carving and model finishing techniques as you create your ring design. Then prepare your model for casting by spruing and investing. On the second day we will burn out the wax using a kiln, and then pour molten silver into the cavity to produce the positive of the ring. After casting, learn how to clean up and finish your ring. This class has a space limitation of only six students. Tools will be available for use.
Saturday, November 10- 10:00 am - 6:00 pm AND Sunday, November 11- 10:00 am – 4:00 pm
All levels are welcome, and no metalworking experience is required (ages 16 and up).
Class Fee: $275 + $25 Materials fee. The cost of sterling silver casting grain is not included, and will be determined by weight after your ring has been cast. Students will be charged for casting grain used at the end of class on Sunday.
Instructor: Susan Skoczen
(Save 5% on your class fee when you register by Ocober 10.)
Are you ready to take your bezel setting to the next level? Come learn the classic method of hammer setting stones as you create a distinctive silver ring with a visually heavy silver setting. Topics will include several key techniques to approach and prepare a heavy bezel as well as holding the work. Using a traditional hammer and punch, learn to close the setting without damage to the stone. A modern approach using a hammer hand piece for the Foredom will also be demonstrated. Then learn finish your setting for a seamless and professional polish. Studio tools and equipment will be available for use. Students are encouraged to bring their own hammer hand piece if they have one. Safety glasses and magnifiers are required.
Saturday, November 17 10:00 am - 5:00 p.m.
Basic metalworking skills are recommended, prior ring fabrication and bezel soldering is highly encouraged (ages 16 & up).
Class Fee: $130
Materials Fee: $40 payable at the time of registration. Materials Include Sterling silver wire and choice of stones.
Instructor: Eldon Kohler
(Save 5% on your class fee when you register by October 17)
Mentored Independent Study
Every Friday 10:00 am - 2:30 pm Attend as your schedule allows.
Class Fee: Five class blocks $195 or Drop-in by the hour: $15
*Block students will have space priority*
Materials are not included. Students are required to bring all project materials such as metal, saw blades, drill bits, sandpaper, solder and finishing materials. Materials and supplies are available for purchase.
Instructor: Kim Baxter