One of my goals in the new year is to experiment with new enameling techniques. This desire was jumpstarted by an Experimental Enameling Class I took a few months back the Crucible in Oakland. The class was taught by the talented Judy Stone, who makes lovely layered enamel vessels. I'm actually going to take another class from her in April at the Mendocino Arts Center, which I'm really looking forward to.
The class I took at the Crucible focused on the enamel work of Fred Ball, which was highly experimental. It was a big change from me, as we broke all the rules that I had been following in my enamel practice. It was quite liberating, although sometimes mystifying trying to figure out how a specific enamel result had been achieved. And thus harder to determine how to replicate it.
Exploring texture and sgraffito technique in white enamel.
Exploring copper balls in white liquid enamel.
Exploring painted enamels over crackle enamel base.
After the class, there were definitely a few techniques I wanted to play with some more, but I didn't have a chance with the craziness of running a jewelry business around the winter holidays. I loved the Sgraffito technique of scratching a pattern by hand through enamel. I loved how if you hammered or scratched the copper before enameling, a light layer of enamel would allow the pattern to show through. I love playing around with copper foil, gold foil, glass lumps and beads. I also enjoyed the funkiness of the crackle enamels. But I was too crunched for time to let myself experiment.
Exploring airbrushed and painted enamel.
Exploring copper foil and glass lumps in enamel.
Exploring gold foil in enamel.
But now, with the fresh start of the new year, I've decided it's time to stop putting off all the experimenting and push myself to make something new everyday. A new piece of enamel jewelry everyday for 100 days. This is my challenge to myself. A way to cut out a slice of time to dedicate to trying new things and seeing what happens. You can follow my results on my instagram where I'm posting my results. Today marks my fourth day.
Today's creative experiment: Geometric enamel earrings with sgraffito in overglaze black over clear enamel that lets the copper beneath it shine through.