Tapered Sculptural cuff or bangle, two day workshop with Ellen Monaghan

We are pleased to be welcoming one of our favourite jewellers back to the gallery Ellen Monaghan, to teach another fantastic workshop.

This time we will be creating our very own sculptural bangle’s inspired by the local contours found within the landscape.

Day 1

We will start the workshop by drawing simple lines that we can see in the landscape. Once we have drawn shapes we are happy with we will then start creating these in silver. We will be using a thin silver wire initially to create prototypes. The prototypes will incorporate your scoring and folded designs. After prototypes have been created both Emily and Ellen will explain how we can incorporate a taper within your chosen design.

Ellen Monaghan will do her first demonstration which will be demonstrating a technique called tapering using planishing hammers. This means we will be learning how to shape a 3mm piece of silver wire that will be wider at one point and will gradually narrow at the other. This technique takes quite some time so we will start by using a piece of copper and once you are comfortable with the process you will then start to work with your 3mm silver wire. Once you have tapered your  silver  we will then demonstrate how to clean up the hammer marks that will be visible on the silver by using files and emery papers.

Day 2

We will all have a piece of successful tapered silver wire, which will be ready to score and fold. Ellen will do a demonstration on scoring and folding at this stage. Once we have created our sculptural bangles we will then be focusing on cleaning up the silver. Emily and Ellen will do three demonstrations at this point how to create a polished finish using a polishing mop, how to create a planished finish and how to create a satin finish.

What’s included 

All materials and tools are included in this workshop as well as refreshments and cake. An email will be sent out a week before the workshop.

Techniques we will learn

annealing silver

Tapering

Scoring and folding metal

soldering

designing

Finishing techniques on silver polishing, planishing and a satin finish.

Capability 

All capabilities but an understanding of how to solder is advised.