Visual Arts Center of Richmond

Beginner to intermediate with soldering experience

This course covers basic stone setting. Students will learn basics on stone cuts and shapes and how to make bezel settings, and very simple prong settings. This course may be repeated. Students must supply or purchase their metal and stones. Metals may be purchased through the instructor in class.

Instructor: Daniel Eaves

6 Thursdays
March 29 – May 3
6:30 – 9:00 PM

All Levels

Join collaborative artists Robin Kranitzky and Kim Overstreet for a fun-filled workshop as we take a closer look at objects and techniques used to create a mixed-media brooch. Armed with 26 years of experience, using offbeat and diverse materials to create their narrative jewelry, these two mix-masters will share stories and images of their work, as well as tips and techniques they have acquired over the years. Using one of three themes as a jumping off point, students will be guided through the making of a simple collage brooch. You will come away with a mixed-media brooch you have created, as well as a new way of seeing everyday materials, plus lots of ideas to carry over to your own work. Participating students should know the basics of using a jeweler’s saw.

Instructor: Robin Kranitzky & Kim Overstreet

2 Saturdays
April 28 & May 5
10:00 AM – 4:30 PM, each day

Soldering experience recommended

Join the "chain gang" and learn to make a variety of chains. We will explore chains made by linking, forging, and weaving. Etruscan, Viking knit, Idiots Delight, and chain mail are just a few chains that will be covered. Students will explore multiple types of chain making processes each week. Open to all levels; soldering experience desirable but not necessary.

Instructor: Susan Adams

8 Wednesdays
February 1 – March 21
6:30 – 9:00 PM

This start of this class has been postponed 1 week, to begin February 8 and run through March 28.

This class is currently full. If you would like to be placed on the waiting list for this course, please contact us at frontdesk@visarts.org.

All Levels (sewing on a button is the only prerequisite)

In this one day class learn how to make a chunky bracelet with large glass beads, including druks, bugles, leaves, and rondeles. These are sewn onto a cable base with silver plated magnetic clasp closure (so easy to put on!). You may not complete the bracelet in one day, but you will be well on your way to completing it. Check out Ingrid's web site at www.ingridbernhardt.com. A $22 materials fee covers tools and materials and is due at the beginning of class. Enrollment limited to six students. This class is taught off-site at the artist’s Richmond, VA studio.

Instructor: Ingrid Bernhardt

Section A - Full
Saturday, January 14
1:00 – 5:00 PM

Section B
Saturday, April 21
1:00 – 5:00 PM

Beginners to Intermediate

Students will learn basic techniques in enameling, such as sifting and kiln firing. We’ll apply these techniques (plus a few other fun things) to everything from earrings to items for the home - think drawer-pulls and light switch plates!

Instructor: Annie Grimes Williams

8 Tuesdays
January 10 – February 28
6:30 – 9:00 PM

Beginners

This class is geared toward the absolute beginner who owns no tools and has had no metals experience. Students will learn about the properties of metals and how to use the basic tools needed for metalwork. Your instructor will discuss and demonstrate each tool, and students will practice using each tool. Students will then work on an original piece combining the fun techniques that they’ve learned. Enrollment is limited to 6 students.

Instructor: Lynalise Woodlief

Saturday, January 21
10:00 AM – 4:00 PM

This class is currently full. If you would like to be placed on the waiting list for this course, please contact us at frontdesk@visarts.org.

Other Suggested Courses
The Art of the Bead: A PMC Workshop
Steam Punk 101
Marble Making Workshop

Intermediate

This class is intended for students who have already taken one or more metal jewelry classes. The emphasis will be on creative design and independent projects with supervision and guidance from the instructor. Various metalworking techniques will be demonstrated as requested, including advanced soldering and construction techniques. Students will need to purchase their own materials.

Instructor: Susan Adams

8 Wednesdays
April 4 – May 23
10:00 AM – 12:30 PM

Beginning

This class is open to students new to metal jewelry as well as returning students with some basic metals experience. Students will work with copper, brass and silver (both sheet and wire) while designing their own jewelry. In learning to forge their own metal jewelry, students will learn to solder metal to metal using an acetylene torch. Students will also study the characteristics of various metals, and explore metal decorating techniques, from surface texturing to coloring. In addition, this metals course covers riveting, basic stone setting, sawing, drilling, texturing, working with wire, polishing and silver soldering. Tuition includes basic materials and some tools.

Section A - Canceled
Lynalise Woodlief
8 Tuesdays
January 10 – February 28
10:00 AM – 12:30 PM

Section B - Full
Jay Sharpe
8 Mondays
January 16 – March 5
6:30 – 9:00 PM

Section C - Full
Susan Adams
8 Wednesdays
February 1 – March 21
10:00 AM – 12:30 PM
The start of this section has been postponed 1 week, to begin February 8 and run through March 28.

Section D - Full
Jay Sharpe
8 Mondays
March 26 – May 14
6:30 – 9:00 PM

If you would like to be placed on a waiting list for a full section of this course please contact us at frontdesk@visarts.org.

All Levels (sewing skills would be helpful)

This class instructs you how to use the peyote stitch around any sort of aperture (sphere, square, etc.) and then how to embellish your bead-a-bead. You will start out working around a sphere. Check out Ingrid's web site www.ingridbernhardt.com and see some examples of her bead-a-beads. Some experience in peyote stitch preferable. A $12 materials fee covers tools and materials and is due at the beginning of class. This class is taught off-site at the artist’s Richmond, VA studio.

Instructor: Ingrid Bernhardt

Saturday, March 10
1:00 -5:00 PM

All Levels

This course covers the fundamentals of metal casting using the lost-wax technique. Working from their own designs, students will use wax to create jewelry models to cast in metal. Wax modeling techniques from basic to complex will be covered so that all students can benefit regardless of experience. The course includes the following techniques: model preparation, investing, burning out, and casting with centrifugal and vacuum casting machines. Course may be repeated. Students must supply or purchase their metal (metals can be purchased through the instructor). The class will focus on casting in Sterling Silver, but other metals will be considered by the instructor on an individual basis.

Instructor: Daniel Eaves

10 Thursdays
January 12 – March 15
6:30 – 9:00 PM

This class is currently full. If you would like to be placed on a waiting list for this course, please e-mail us at frontdesk@visarts.org.

Beginners

Create fun and funky jewelry made out of paper in this two-day workshop – just in time for a unique Mother’s Day gift! We will cut strips of decorative and recycled papers such as magazines, newspapers, and wallpaper to roll into beads. We will also experiment with some simple ways of folding origami jewelry. Then using yarn, thread, beads, and vintage buttons, we’ll assemble our creations into necklaces, earrings, and bracelets – time and sky’s the limit! Tools and materials for simple beading will be provided, but the focus is on using recycled materials so please bring your own findings, accent beads, wire, and jewelry pliers if you want to get fancy.

Instructor: Aijung Kim

1 weekend
Saturday, April 28 12:00 – 4:00 PM
Sunday, April 29 1:00 – 3:30 PM

All Levels

This workshop is being taught by the collaborative team of metal smith and sculptor Lynalise Woodlief and robot designer, engineer and co-founder of hack.rva, Luke Libraro. In this class you will learn how to use a disc cutter, drill press, handheld hole punches, a torch, a dapping block, texture stamps, a tube cutting jig and texture hammers and a range of pliers and hand tools. There will be an assortment of objects, beads and materials to incorporate into your design. Participants will complete a steam punk belt buckle and then using objects and raw materials, work on an original design. You are encouraged to bring items from home to incorporate into your buckle as well. No two are ever alike. Enrollment limited to 6 students.

Instructor: Luke Libraro & Lynalise Woodlief

Saturday, May 12
10:00 AM – 4:00 PM

All Levels

Throughout the ages, beads have been one of the most popular objects of adornment. In every culture and from every era, beads made of shell, glass, carved gemstone, and precious metals have been treasured both for their perceived magical powers and for the sheer beauty of their forms. In this class, students will use wonderful material called metal clay to create 2-3 fine silver, hollow beads. You’ll drape wet clay over a variety of forms, and use dry construction techniques to turn those shapes into big, beautiful precious metal beads. We’ll discuss how, with more experimentation, they can be transformed into boxes, inros, and vessels. Fun and challenging for both novices and advanced makers.

Instructor: Lora Hart

Saturday, April 21                  10:00 AM – 5:00 PM
AND Sunday, April 22          1:00 – 4:00 PM