Fall 2013 Workshop Schedule

Woo-hoo!  It's time to play with some metal this Fall!  Here's your chance to do it with me! 

When possible, I have linked to the actual registration page, so just follow that and you'll be on your way!  And check back often because I'll add more workshops as they're confirmed.


Taste of Art : Copper Earrings Taste of Art is a wonderful new program at Sawtooth School for Visual Art. Spend a fun evening learning something new, socializing with friends and create a lovely piece of jewelry to take home. Perfect for beginners and anyone who just wants to spend a fun Friday evening out being creative with friends! Students are always welcome to bring beverages and snacks, but all supplies and tools will be provided. In this class we'll be making copper earrings!

Sawtooth School for Visual Art: Winston-Salem, NC

Section A
Friday, August 16
6:00-8:00pm

Section B
Friday, October 18
6:00-8:00pm

 

 

Metals/Jewelry : Enameling Enameling is an ancient process where glass is fused to metal through heat. Students will experiment with enameling on copper and are encouraged to explore the possibilities that this process allows. Annie will introduce a variety of enameling techniques such as sifting, stenciling, sgraffito, and basse taille. Students may apply these techniques to everything from pendants and earrings to decorative home items. No experience necessary. Most materials included in the fee.

Sawtooth School for Visual Art : Winston-Salem, NC
Section A
Five Tuesdays
September 17 - October 15
6:30 - 9:00pm

Section B
Five Tuesdays
October 22 - November 19
9:30am - 12:00pm

Exploring Enamels Workshop

Students will learn basic techniques in enameling, such as sifting and kiln firing. We will also explore fun and contemporary techniques such as controlled over and under firing, inclusions, and more! Students will make several samples and will have the opportunity to finish a few pieces to take home.

Visual Arts Center of Richmond - Richmond, VA

2 Day Workshop
Saturday, October 5  - 10:00 - 5:00
Sunday, October 6  - 1:00 - 4:00

 

 

 

Jewelry Fabrication Weekend Workshop This is the perfect introduction to creating jewelry the traditional way, by starting with sheet metal and wire. You'll learn about the basic tools of the jeweler: a jeweler's saw, pliers, hammers, and the torch. We'll cover techniques that will enable you to create beautiful wearable jewelry, such as rings, bracelets, and pendants! We'll work with copper with sterling silver, and will provide all the materials, tools and equipment. No experience necessary - all you need is enthusiasm!

Sawtooth School for Visual Art : Winston-Salem, NC

2 Day Workshop
October 19-20 (Sat-Sun)
10:00 - 4:00

 

 

Metals/Jewelry : Forming This class is designed for students who have learned the basics of jewelry fabrication (soldering, sawing, etc.) and want to expand their skills. There will be lots of demonstration and plenty of time to develop your skills. We will concentrate this session's demos on forming metal with both hammer/stakes and the hydraulic press. Materials available for purchase in class.

Sawtooth School for Visual Art : Winston-Salem, NC

Five Tuesdays
October 22 - November 19
6:30pm - 9:00

 

 

 

Taste of Art : Copper Bangle Bracelet

Taste of Art is a wonderful new program at Sawtooth School for Visual Art. Spend a fun evening learning something new, socializing with friends and create a lovely piece of jewelry to take home. Perfect for beginners and anyone who just wants to spend a fun Friday evening out being creative with friends! Students are always welcome to bring beverages and snacks, but all supplies and tools will be provided. In this class we'll be making copper bangle bracelets!

 

Sawtooth School for Visual Art : Winston-Salem, NC

Friday, November 1
6:00 - 8:00pm

 

 

Metal Forming Weekend Workshop This workshop is designed for students who have learned the basics of jewelry fabrication (soldering, sawing, etc.) and want to expand their skills.  Students will learn to use thinner gauge materials to create voluminous and structurally sound forms. Students will learn synclastic and anticlastic forming, as well as shell forming.  We’ll get you creating small, delicate forms that can be used in jewelry and a variety of other applications!

Visual Arts Center of Richmond : Richmond, VA

2 Day Workshop
Saturday, December 7  - 10:00 - 5:00
Sunday, December 8  - 1:00 - 4:00

 

 

 

Hope to see you this Fall!

It's Your Work : Create a Simple Watermark for Those Beautiful Images!

With so many ways to market your work online these days, it's important to retain ownership of your images.  Some websites have built-in tools that will not let your image be downloaded or shared to social media sites such as Pinterest. (See my blog posting about Pinterest here.)  There is also a way to block people from "pinning" from your site by embedding a special code in your html or css.  But why not take full advantage of these social media platforms as free marketing??  Sure there certain regulations about self-promotion with many of them, but getting friends to share your images with their friends, etc, etc is a great way to get your work out there.

But then you start to think, "What if my work is out there but is no longer attached to my name?  Is it then a free-for-all to copy it or claim ownership?"  Well, I think one good solution to this little connundrum is just to watermark your images.  I'm not saying you have to have a giant black "COPYRIGHT" across the middle of your photo.  That would probably do the trick, but I know I would like something a little more subtle.  You know, a little more emphasis placed on my work rather than the fact that I'm a paranoid crazy person.  I think people would be a little more likely to share something that still looks nice while giving proper credit to the artist.

So here's a little tutorial about making a classy-looking, not-too-in-your-face watermark for your images in Photoshop.

1. Open a new document in Photoshop, at least 2000 ppi, at 300 resolution.

2. Use whatever tool you like to create your watermark image.  I just use the type tool.

3. After typing your watermark in black or converting your logo to all black, Go to Select / Color Range, and select all that is black.

4. Add a new layer in the layer pallette.  Then use the "paint bucket" tool to fill in all the selected areas with black on the new layer, right on top of the old layer.  You must fill in each letter or each separate piece of the logo.
Now you have two layers, one with your font or logo and one with a selection of your font or logo. 

5. Make sure the new layer with the selection is highlighted and at the top of the list in your layer pallette.  Then go to Layer / Layer Style / Bevel and Emboss...  Make any adjustments you want here.

I use:
Structure:
Style: Inner Bevel
Technique : Smooth
Depth : 100%
Direction : Up
Size : 20 px
Style:
Angle : 120
Altitude : 30
Highlight : Screen
Opacity : 75%
Shadow Mode : Multiply
Opacity : 75%

I also added an Inner Shadow:
Blend Mode: Multiply
Opacity :75%
Angle : 120
Distance : 5 px
Choke : 0 px
Size : 5 px

6. Once you have all that figured out and all set like you want it, click the "Blending Options" settings on the upper left hand above the Style list.
Under "Advanced Blending," drop the "Fill Opacity" slider to 0, so that you only see the Bevel and Emboss, getting rid of the color and background.  Click OK to close the dialog box.

7. Delete the background layer and the background text layer (not the layer you just styled.)  Save as a .psd file to make editing easier later and to retain your transparent backround, and save a copy as a .jpg file.

And there you go, a lovely beveled and embossed watermark on a transparent background that you can drag and drop onto any photo you want to post online so that even if the title and file information disappear, your watermark will always be on your image.

Unless some A-hole crops it out.  But that's a different story all together.  Cheers!