Jewellery

What will the course Cover?

This is a hands on, workshop based jewellery course, for students to develop practical jewellery making skills used to create silver (or copper/brass) rings, necklaces, bracelets and more. Students are welcome to join at any point in the year, and to stay for more than one term if they wish to continue building their skills. The projects and demonstrations change each term depending on the students, to focus on different particular skill groups. Students will be encouraged to build up key skills of soldering, piercing, and polishing throughout the course, and explore their own design ideas with the tutors support. Project choices include wax carving to make a ring design for casting, making an articulated pendant or bracelet, chain making, making a silver spoon, or stone setting techniques using claw, bezel or gypsy setting techniques.

Who is this course for?

A way to try a new hobby, or to expand your existing creative skills, or to build towards further education or employment in this field. This course is flexible, for students with no experience yet of making jewellery as well as those who’ve done some making before.

What skills, knowledge or experience do I need to start this course?

This is a mixed level course for students of any skill level. Students do not need any jewellery or creative experience – just an interest in gaining new skills and exploring making silver (or other metal) jewellery.

What should I be able to do by the end of the course?

Students will learn key jewellery making skills and by the end of the course should be comfortable with doing simple jewellery soldering jobs to join metal parts together, with using a jewellers saw to cut out shapes, using files and emery papers to refine elements, creating surface patterns on sheet metal, and to shape rings or 3D forms. Students will be able to make simple jewellery pieces in copper or silver from scratch. Students should expect to complete a series of test pieces and probably 2/3 finished pieces of work each term, depending on the complexity of their designs. Students will be able to (in relation to the new techniques learnt); - • Put into practice health & safety procedures relating to materials and equipment. • Use necessary tools and equipment with a degree of competence. • Select and obtain materials for your own project. • Identify and use a range of materials for jewellery making, including settings and fastenings, and give examples of a range of uses for them. • Select tools, equipment and techniques to execute designs from idea to completion, describing how they will be used and why. Students will also be supported individually to work on personal projects if desired as well as, or instead of, through the group projects and demonstrations, to ensure each person practices and builds on their existing knowledge in a way and at a speed that works for them and suits their previous skill level.

How is the course organised?

This is a hands on, practical course. Students will learn through making, and will be encouraged to experiment, while learning and building on their key skills to create a solid skills base to work from. There will be group demonstrations and explanations of different techniques towards the start of the term, and students will be encouraged to experiment with these techniques before using the later part of the term to develop a design that uses these skills in some way. Beginners will follow set projects to start with, more experienced students can choose to explore their own personal projects with the tutors support. There will be group discussion, written handouts with visual diagrams for techniques, and regular individual tuition and support from the tutor for each student.

What extra study or practice is expected outside of the class?

This is optional, but some further design work and research may be helpful to develop and practice skills and refine plans for your projects, as may some practical work such as finishing. Visits to museums, craft fairs or jewellery shows and other research will also support your progress.

How will my progress be assessed?

Progress is informally assessed through discussing the work individually with the tutor, as well as with the group and through self-reflection which may be recorded in your Individual Learning Plan and/or your sketchbook.

What can I expect to go on to after this course?

Continue in the same or similar classes to increase your skills by tackling different projects. Move on to intermediate level classes, different types of jewellery making classes (such as beading), or to other creative classes, or start to create at home.

Are there any other costs and what do I need to bring?

We have a fully equipped craft workshop with larger machinery as well as hand tools for students to use. Included in your course fee is an allowance to cover use of general consumables such as saw blades, emery papers, solder, and base metals in small amounts. If you plan to use precious metals or gemstones, or particularly large amounts of other consumables, then you need to buy these yourself. Your tutor will provide details of suppliers and help with ordering as needed during the course. It is good practice to keep a notebook or sketchbook for design work, ideas and to make technical notes for future reference, so it would be useful to bring a pad and pen.

What support is available?

Details of all available support can be found on our website (https://www.hfals.ac.uk/information-advice), in the Guide and the Student handbook, or from teaching or reception staff.