I thought the previous article on enamel was interesting this one toped it. I have tried polymer clay and it just didn't do much for me and I have though about PMC but I just can't seem to get a fire going for it but enamel may be the next thing I try. If only I lived closer to Edmund!

I agree it looks awesome.I know someone who was selling a whole bunch of enameling stuff. want me to see if it's still available?

 Hallo Bentiron,

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such simple Sgraffito-work as shown in the last AJ-issue, is good for the start in enamelling.

Contrary to the proverb „Universe beginnings acres difficult. “, the beginning is simple when enamelling. The difficulties come later.

This simple pendants shown here were made by 10 year old boys and girls in one approx. 20 hours extensive course.

Into the wet email background, with wet enamel the Design was painted in and fired after drying. 

And also these pendants in different techniques were made by 10-12 year old children. 

 A simple, but tidy text book is important for the beginning. Like e.g. „Enamelling “ by Ruth Ball.

And if you have questions, I think you’ll ever find in this forum a friendly backer.

Fresh to the work

Edmund

www.emailkunst.de  

Edmund, Thank you for the images that the children made, very talented indeed. I also visited Ruth Ball's web site and she has a far ranging ability in enamel, bowls, panels, rings, etc. Visually stunning is an understatement. I have ordered two books on enameling and will do a cost analysis to see if this is possible. I will see if one of the community organizations will be offering a class this fall so that I won't need to buy equipment right away. With the current economic situation the cities have cut out a lot of the art programs or curtailed them greatly. We will have to wait and see, meanwhile I eagerly await the arrival of the books.

I checked with the Phoenix Parks & Recreation Department and I'm a week to late to sign up for the beginners class. My next search took me to Mesa Center for the Arts and they have a three dimensional class in mid July for beginners to advanced for  doing 3-D objects but I don't know if this is a good place to start. They do bowls and corrugations so that sounds different for sure.

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Hallo Bentiron,

I always start with the fashion of enamel samples with my workshops. If you work accurately you learn a lot about the characteristic of the enamels. Than I let make at first little domed or flat pendants  or  trays with a little rim for glasses, because that gave a quick  feeling of success, what is very important for the kids. And with the domed pendants or with trays with a rim the people learn how to use the glue.

Edmund

www.emailkunst.de

Edmund, That's the reason I was thinking that the 3-D class was not a good place for beginners to start and the cost, $300 for two days. I am going to wait and see what is on the fall schedule. When the books get here I will read about torch fired enameling first to see how that works and go from there this summer. Thanks for your advice.

I got my books on enameling over the weekend and have almost finished both, one is by Ruth Ball and the other by Linda Darty. After reading these books enameling is not something that one should just go out and buy a truck load of equipment and have at it, a class is definitely a good place to start. So I'm keeping my eye out for a class in beginning enameling this fall.

oh trust me, after doing one class you will be hooked!

The thing I liked about enamelling at first was the sharp contrast to my working style - I really like very spontaneous work and this really made me slow down and think a bit more.  I am new at it but find it very very relaxing because as it makes you stop and think, and because some of the processes are time consuming its kind of like meditation with a creative overtone.

There is something both creatively stimulating and rewarding about seeing your end product which took you a lot of love and care + time to complete. With enamelling you really do have to care about your task at hand.  On the flip side, it does also allow you to throw some fast made visual punches with several techniques... though cloisonné is still my fave ;) Here is the piece I am most proud of as a beginner of course! I hope to get better and better...

its an un-ground brooch...decided not to ground because I wanted to keep some of the 'sharpness' of the lines and retain my surface without further fudging :)

Hallo Cynthia ,

a work very much succeeded if one considers that you are a beginner. Did you attend a course with Carolyn Delzoppo? The back carries my judgement Carolyn' s handwriting! If so, my best greetings to Carolyn.

Edmund

www.emailkunst.de 

Hi Edmund,

I'm from Western Australia, I did do a class with Jacquie Sprogoe who is very sweet and talented. 

Thanks for the compliment too but there are things I notice about my work that requires a lot more skill (I guess we all pick on our work more than anyone else!)- Jacquie is a fantastic teacher though and I am signed up for another of her classes this season so I'm looking forward to it!

Enamelling is very addictive!

Cynthia :)

  Normal 0 21 Hello Cynthia, I know Jacqui too. She is a very friendly person and a very competend enamel artist too!

Many years ago she visited me together with some other foreign enamel artists on the occasion of an international enamel exhibition in my house in Geisenfeld near Munich. It was a very interesting and amusing day. If you meet Jacqui again, please give Jacqui kind regards from Ursula and Edmund.

Edmund

 wow! Such a small world after all!

I have another class with her starting the end of this month so I will be sure to pass on your regards :)

Jacquie is unique - I wanted to try something different so even though she was very very busy with my student peers, she took extra time out to show me how to construct that brooch.. she was patient and informative as well as being approachable and knowledgable - an amazing teacher and artist!

Can't wait until my next class!