So I'm teaching beginning metals this semester, for the first time. I have to cover the basics (texturing metal, rivets, soldering), but other than that, the projects are entirely up to me. I've been thinking about what project I want to do, what projects I don't want to do, projects I enjoyed, and what projects will get good results. All of this got me wondering about project other metalsmiths have done.
So I want to know: What was your favorite project, either at a beginning metals level or above? What did you enjoy about it and what did you learn from it?
Leave a comment by Friday, and I'll pick one at random and send that person a little surprise!
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5 comments:
I think one of my favorites was the box project. there were a lot of problem solving with soldiering moments in those pieces, a great learning experience. Similar to that was the hollow ring project. The chain looked interesting too, but that was after we had moved up in the ranks of awesome ^_^
hollow ring was one of my favorite projects as was dapping. i *hated* doing cluster basket set earrings with huge swarovski crystals. ugh. one of the projects i have had luck giving is one where at the end of the semester they take the skills they have learned (make a list) and make a present for someone. they have to us a certain number of the skills and they have to explain how the design is specific to that person. this satisfies the wanting to make presents part of intro metals but keeps the mermaids and hearts out of it unless it actually makes sense!
Hollow forming was definitely my favorite, but I could have done with better instruction. In Australia, we got to use the huge hydraulic press in the Industrial Design studio, but I didn't get really good at soldering two halves together until I looked at Jan Baum's section in the Penland Book of Jewelry. Her tips helped me immensely!
my second semester in metals/jewelry my instructor created this project based on characters. it really involved more than one project, but could be simplified. we chose a character (human or animal or whatever) and created a piece/s for them. my character was from the illustrated novel "the three incestuous sisters." it was really quite interesting for me as a young artist to think about how to make something for another person while still developing my own style. although, perhaps some students took it completely too literally, it was still fun.
i was always jealous that i never got to do the hollow ring project in jewelry 1 at kent. that would really get soldering figured out fast, if thats your goal. also i really liked riviting projects (one class interpreted architectural spaces) because it helped you move from 2d to 3d by using planes of metal and all sorts of textures and cutting/piercing.
and the multiple link/chain project of jewelry 1 (i'm assuming you had this project as well) that resulted in really varied interpretations that turned out really nicely.
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