Journey of Self-Discovery:Artistic Exploration Metal Clay Class Series from HollyGage.com

Journey of Self-Discovery:
Artistic Exploration Metal Clay Class Series
For workshops available see descriptions below. For more details or to arrange a workshop, please give me a call at 717-445-5755 or e-mail me at hgage1@ptd.net.

Each workshop is intended to stimulate the artist within, explore new artistic styles, encourage students to take a new creativity leap, develop design, technical and craftsman skills, while making beautiful and innovative jewelry you didn’t know you could create. The classes are suitable for beginner through advanced.

The very first step in finding your artistic voice is being open to the journey of self-discovery. You have already acknowledged your desire to find your voice by seeking out information, and now it is time to “allow” for the process. And yes, it is a process. It is unlikely, you will wake one day and your voice will suddenly appear, however the journey of discovery can be an exciting one.

Each lesson in The Self-Discovery Series is broken into 5 main elements.
The first is self-exploration. All the artwork we create is an extension of who we are. You cannot separate the person from their art. When we create, we draw from our experiences, our influences, our emotions, our beliefs, and our desires. Deep down, we really do know what these things are, so now it is a matter of bringing these things to the surface, and using an artistic language to express it, so we can articulate ourselves in a clear manner.

The second element is to study the artistic language we would like to use. This is when exposing yourself to different art styles and forms are important. We are naturally drawn to particular styles Realism, Fantasy, Modern, Classical and so forth. Now it is time to pay more attention to what we like and don’t like and more importantly “why.”

It is also interesting to see how other forms of art will influence your designs in jewelry. Architecture, sculpture, painting, will help your minds eye to see things in a multitude of dimensions

The third element is exploring different technical skills. For a writer who wants to communicate her ideas, she first needs the vocabulary, then sentences, then paragraphs and so on before a rich and engaging story can be told. The artist, in contrast uses images, not words to communicate, but can’t tell her story until she has mastered her technical skills, tool box of knowledge, which make up her own unique vocabulary.

The fourth component is design. Here we will learn the elements that make up good design. How the elements in your design work with the spaces surrounding it (negative and positive space). Does the piece have balance? How does its function work with the design. All the decisions we make about our piece have a perceived and actual value. Nothing can replace good design.

Finally, we will discuss our pieces. This final analysis is for growth and not to evaluate if it is right or wrong. With these self-discovery lessons there are no right and wrong scenarios. We need to look at what we have done and understand what we liked and what didn’t appeal to us. By going over the various elements we can start to hone in on the voice deep inside, for if we skip this step a bit of our purpose and understanding will be lost.

Workshops Available
The following workshops are great for a group or guild. For a richer personal experience the workshops can be attended in as a series, and they are also available as a stand alone workshop. For more details or to arrange a workshop, please give me a call at 717-445-5755 or e-mail me at hgage1@ptd.net.

Jewelery that Rocks!
JewelryExploring Art, Design and Line through Music
2 - day workshop • All levels of ability
Music is a powerful trigger to our senses. Music can have energy and movement and emotion. For this lesson we will let different musicial selections guide the way as we explore design and line and transform the musical melody into an inspired pair of earrings or pendant

The jewelry will be made with a Music CD set in a frame of fine silver. The techniques learned include cutting the CD, riveting, polymer plate making with an emphasis on how line is used to create motion, tension, drama, and direction in your surface embellishments.
Bring a music CD that has an interesting design on the surface for cutting or or buy one cheapy at class.

Ever-Changing World: Kinetic Jewelry
2 - day workshop • All levels of ability
Personal memorabilia and the theme of moving on in an "ever-changing world" will become the inspiration for the elements in your kinetic necklace. The technical portion of this project is inspired by constantly changing designs in wind kinetics and wind sculpture. With the new PMC Pro, touted for its strength, we will push it to the limits as we explore free moving parts, gems, and riveted connections to make a beautiful piece that makes a statement.
Bring a piece of personal memorabilia that has meaning to you, anything can be uses as inspiration such as a piece of cloth, a trinket, or picture. This item is meant to stimulate your creativity, so no anxiety necessary.

Mood Swingers
2 - day workshop • All levels of ability
There are many facets of our personality and many moods to go along with it. This lesson is a great opportunity to explore different artistic styles for expressing those many moods. The class will start with exposure to different styles through examples or an outing to a gallery or museum where different styles will be discussed. Afterward, the student will pick three styles of artistic expression to explore, and three moods that you think best match that style. For instance, the style may be cubism and the mood might be confusion. The possibilities for expression are wide open. Create anything you want, that speaks to who you are as a person, but you will use the qualities you observed in the prior exercise as your guide and motivation to explore each new style. Technical guidance will help you to master the skills to complete your pieces. At the end of class you will have three “Mood Swinging” pendants in three different styles.

Mandala Clasp
2 - day workshop • All levels of ability
The mandala is widely recognized as a meaningful reflection of its creator. Mandalas consist of a repetitive pattern of symbols, oriented in either a circular or square pattern, that symbolically represents our conscious thoughts and priorities. For example, whatever is at the center of the mandala is thought to be the most important in ones life, while things further from the center are increasingly less important. After a study of symbols in history or culture we will develop our own personal symbol system to create a centerpiece style clasp. Techniques explored include various methods for texturing metal clay, after which we will apply colored UV resins.
This class non-religious allowing for individual self expression.
You may choose to bring symbols of meaning along with you and several examples will be available during the workshop to explore.

Elegant Meadow Pods
2 -day Class • All levels of ability
Nature has a wonderful way of inspiring us. If we look closely to the pods that are left behind by a flower or plant we can see the beautiful symmetry of nature. Pods represent a renewal as it releases its seeds to start the life cycle a new. In this workshop we will capture the elegance of pods and fashion them into jewelry. We will explore "constructing" pods that look realistic with texture. The detail in this method can not be captured with merely painting slip on the surface as this would only capture the basic form, and capsulate the detail on the inside where no one can see it.

• • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •

Innovative Prong Solutions for Setting Titanium
2 -day Class • All levels of ability
Free-formed rainbow Titanium can be very intriguing. It is bright, colorful, and sculptural. Against the bright shine of silver it certainly has the “bling” factor. One method for setting Titanium is by making your own hand built prongs. Our exploratory trip will highlight innovative handmade prongs solutions; proper placement
and structural consideration for the prongs; basic do’s and don'ts of prong making; as well as learning how to design with shrinkage in mind. Your finished piece will be of your own unique design inspired by your individual titanium or free-formed item of choice.
You may bring your own irregular shaped item for setting or purchase Titanium at or before class at Holly's website. Recommended size is 20mm – 40mm.

• • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •

Negative Space Caning
2 0r 3 Day Class Your Choice • All levels of ability
Negative Space Caning is a high energy workshop focusing on creating filigree, chambers for resin, enamel or polymer inlay, and patterns easily duplicated for tessellating designs by combining Metal Clay and a combustible material that disappears after firing in a kiln.This exciting new technique developed by Holly Gage is a springboard idea for looking at and working with Metal Clay in a whole new way.

Day 1 - 2: Class will include a presentation and handouts on the basic cane making process, what combustible materials are suitable for the process, as well as simple and advance assembly techniques. You will also learn how to make a complex cane . Your finished piece will be of your own design ready for polishing and a patina at the workshop or inlaid on your own.

Optional Day 3: You will learn how to add a resin inlay. The glassy effects are stunning with silver surrounding each chamber.

• • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •

Peruvian Applique Style Jewelry
1-day • Great for beginners - All levels of ability
This project is fun and spontaneous. You will learn an applique technique to make a sheet of patterned metal clay of your own design. From there you will add and assemble other elements to create a series of pieces that can be used for a pendant , matching earrings, bracelet components or other set. The class will feature a demo highlighting the applique technique as well as finishing techniques. I'll work my hardest to make sure you leave more informed than when you came, providing tips, tricks, and handouts all in a relaxing environment.

• • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •

Repoussé Effects in Metal Clay
2 -day Class • All levels of ability
Learn the secrets of transforming original photos or drawings into highly detailed, low relief images, which look similar in style to traditional Repoussé. Discover how to wet-work a reverse polymer mold of your image; manipulate silver metal clay and use tools to create different hand-wrought textural effects; and to carve details for the finishing touch.

The Repoussé effect is only achieved by this technique and is different from photopolymer plates. The results are unique and original, beautifully echoing the hand of the artist.

Students should bring: Bring 3 - 4 “original” drawings or photographs to choose and together we can pick the best for the project. Anything that inspires you is fair game . The photos or drawings will be reduced in size with a photo copier if needed. So a 3 x 5 picture/photo would be fine. I will teach the students how to frame and focus the viewers attention as part of the lesson.

• • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •

Stone Setting Like A Pro
2-day Class • All levels of ability
A fantastic stone needs a fantastic setting and in this workshop that’s exactly what you’ll learn to make. The key to a professionally set stone is with good craftsmanship and a clean and well-finished bezel. During class you will learn to make a bezel for a stone of your choice using fine silver bezel wire. The bezel will be attached to a piece, which has been designed and fired in class. Afterward, you will attach the bezel to the rest of your piece and prepare for a second firing. Finally, the stone will be set and ready for the final touch. The result will have people wondering, “How did you do that?” So come and join me, and you too will be setting stones like a pro.
To prepare ahead for class, bring a stone or glass cab (approximately 15 mm – 30 mm) or purchase one here. Faceted stones, cabs or glass cabs welcome – please stay away from irregular shaped stones until you gain confidence and experience with this technique.
You may also want to work out your design on paper and bring it to class or you may design while in class. Your design should leave room for the stone with no elements overlapping the stone. For your first time trying this technique, keep the design simple, but don't worry, I'll provide some ideas and design guidance during class.