Vickie Hallmark – Master Muse Challenge #12

Vickie shares with us a quick synopsis of the steps she takes to create her beautiful ring. We hope the tutorial will serve to inspire you to create! No matter if you just get out your sketch book and draw a similar project based on these challenges. It’s a place to start. It’s a way to start off your day in the right frame of mind with a creative exercise!

If you are interested in the full step-by-step tutorial please stay tuned. It will be available in June at Whole Lotta Whimsy. They will be in a handy bench format too! This tutorial looks like it will be over 70 pictures with tons of detail in this #12 Tutorial!  She’s got a great section on the etching process and finishing your pieces.  This is a primer to the Masters Registry project B3 for those of you looking to sharpen your skills or learn a new one in order to complete the Masters Registry program.

Vickie was inspired by her love of torch firing things.  She is an accomplished lampworker after all!  She loves mixing techniques and materials so this was not only challenging but fun!  

In this tutorial you will learn:

• How to design mixed media elements together and compensate for shrinkage
• How to torch-fire opaque enamels
• How to etch copper to create a relief which becomes the design element
• How to create an open box hollow form in metal clay
• How to make cold connections in the metal clay to capture the enameled copper piece
• How to make a wire ring and tricks for sizing with shrinkage

Preparing the Wire Ring Shank:

Wrap fine silver wire around ring mandrel to form the ring shank. Cut wire with a jeweler’s saw or cut-off blade. File rough edges away.

Bend the flattened areas up to form prongs, using chain nose pliers.

Constructing the Bezel Ring:

Roll out a full pack of fresh clay to the determined thickness of the prongs. Cut disc out with needle tool and circle template; remove excess clay. Embed wire ring shank into back.

For the side walls of the bezel, roll remaining clay. Texture as desired. Turn ring slowly, moistening again and positioning rest of strip until ends overlap.

Fill any gaps in the seams with fresh clay using the clay shaper. Dry. Use 600 grit sandpaper to ensure top edge is flat and smooth.

Using a jeweler’s saw, cut tiny tabs.  A dry duster brush can be used to sweep away dust. Texture top edge of bezel by using triangular diamond file to cut radial lines. Support ring, bezel up, in a container of vermiculite. Kiln fire at 1650° for 2 hours. Rings need to be strong enough to take a lot of abuse, so torch firing is not recommended.

Etching the Copper Disc:

Using 600 grit sandpaper, sand the surface of the copper disc in a circular motion to prepare it for marking. Draw as desired on the freshly prepared surface. Errors can be removed with a craft knife to introduce fine detail. Cut a length of clear packing tape long enough to extend across plastic dish. Attach the discs, unmarked side of the copper to the sticky side of the tape. Suspended marked side down in etchant liquid.

Doming the Copper Disc:

Starting with the largest cup on the dapping block, place the copper disc etched side down. Insert corresponding punch into cup behind the copper and tap with mallet to slightly dome the copper. Keeping doming until the domed disc approaches the appropriate size to fit into ring bezel.

Enameling the Copper Disc:

Copper must be cleaned to remove oxidation and oils. For copper that isn’t fresh from the acid, clean with pickle. To hold the enamel powder on a curved surface, use a light coat of klyrfire applied with a brush or sprayed on. While the adhesive is still wet, sift the desired color of enamel to evenly coat the surface so that the copper is no longer visible. Torch fire.

Assembling and Finishing:

Tumble and patina the ring. Insert domed enamel piece into bezel. Determine desired position of rotation. Close the bezel until the domed enamel piece is snug in place. Using the AdvantEdge polishing point, highlight the lines on the top edge and the design on the walls of the bezel. Add decorative embellishment to the shank to make the ring stronger.

I couldn’t wait to try this ring on.  The enamel is so sumptuous.  It called out my name!  If it was the right size, it definitely would be mine 😉  The texture on the ring is of course wonderful.  The use of the wire to make the shank is smart and efficient. It’s design is well thought out which makes this tutorial a success for everyone wanting to make one themselves!

We’d love to see you take the challenge as well to make an incredible Torch Fired Enameled PMC Ring. Can’t wait to see your pieces. Send them and we’ll post pictures in a future Challenge Gallery. Challenge yourself!

Don’t forget to leave a comment.  We are giving away an Opaque Enamel Kit this month.  How to win?  Leave a comment on every blog (even older posts) or get two entries for tweeting, putting it on Facebook, the Metal Clay Yahoo Gallery forum, your blog etc.  Just send us a copy of the link to support@wholelottawhimsy.com!  Let your friends know how to make their Wednesday’s rock…. with of course, the Master Muse Tutorial launch!

Bridging many medias, Vickie Hallmark pursues her artistic muses in whichever direction calls: metal, glass or fiber. This cross-pollination of different ideas, coupled with her experimental nature as a research scientist, leads Hallmark to combine materials in novel ways. Metal over glass is a particular fascination, be it electroformed copper over lamp worked beads or silver clay formed around enameled-painted tiles.Over the last decade, Hallmark’s work has been exhibited in prestigious juried fine craft shows, including Craft Forms, Crafts National, and Materials: Hard & Soft. Chosen as a Glasscraft Emerging Artist in 2007, images of her beads have appeared in The Flow, The Glass Bead, and Bead Release 3, an annual compendium of the year’s best beads. Metal Clay Artist and Metal Clay Today have showcased her metal clay jewelry. The best of Hallmark’s creations are preserved in both private and museum collections.

Check out Vickie’s work at www.VickieHallmark.com. You can purchase her beads and work online.  She is also teaching at the Bead and Button Show!

Photo credit: final piece Drew Davidson; step-by-step Vickie Hallmark