Lora shares with us a quick synopsis of the steps she takes to create her Silver Metal Clay and Dry Media Pendant. This is the fourth challenge for the group of 5 Masters. The second team has tackled Steampunk combined with Metal Clay, Resin combined with Metal Clay, and Metal Clay Faux Bone Rings.
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!
Lora says “When I began to sketch ideas for this tutorial I took a walk around the block to think about my design and noticed a fresh bit of graffiti on an industrial building. One definition of Graffito is ” a rude decoration inscribed on rocks or walls”. With that as my inspiration I took a look through my collection of stones & rocks and chose one to trace as a template for my design.”
If you are interested in the full step-by-step tutorial please stay tuned. It will be available at Whole Lotta Whimsy. They will be in a handy bench format too! This tutorial looks like it will be over 65 pictures with tons of detail in this #37 Tutorial!
In this tutorial you will learn:
- How to make a walled bezel pendant with negative spaces
- How to use fine silver wire for prongs and pearl posts
- How to make a wire bail and work harden the metal
- How to use dry media, Prismacolor to add color to the metal
- How to polish the fired metal clay
Sketch out the shape of the inner copper component. Mark the places where you will set the prongs to secure the copper component. Next draw the outer silver metal clay shape. To save silver metal clay material draw one or two shapes inside that will be the negative space cut out of the silver metal clay to reveal the back side of the copper component.
Make a photocopy and enlarge to compensate for the shrinkage.
Cut out these templates.
Make a polymer clay template of the shape. Wrap a strip of paper around the form and mark where it overlaps. Cut off excess paper.
Lubricate the polymer form. Roll out a strip of silver metal clay and wrap it around the form. Seal the seam as if it were a finger ring. Remove when partially dry. Dry to bone dry. Perfect by filling seams and sanding.
Roll out clay that will become the supporting front plate and fit to the bezel walls. Cut out the negative spaces and remove the extra clay. Using the pin tool, push it through the holes made previously to mark where the prongs will be set.
Perfect the seams, sand and refine.
Drill out the holes where the prongs will go, the bail holes, and also the optional pearl posts. Use a torch to ball up the ends of 6 Fine Silver Wire pieces. Thread these through the holes and secure with silver metal clay paste or slip.
Fire in a kiln supported by fiber blanket or vermiculite at 1650°F for 30 minutes.
Finish the piece with a rotary tool and 3M radial bristle discs. Paint Black Max onto the back side of the piece. Neutralize and dry completely.
Remove the majority of the patina with 220 grit sandpaper.
Seal the surface with two light coats of Nikolas Spray sealer.
Using the template, cut out the copper component using a jeweler’s saw or Joyce Chen shears.
Smooth the edges with the 3M Sanding Pads.
Sand with 80 grit, medium pads, in a multidirectional movement to give the surface tooth for the colored pencil to bond.
After applying a thin coat of gesso, begin applying Prismacolor Pencil to the surface.
Blend the colors with Turpentine or Turpenoid.
When the layers are complete, seal with two layers of Renaissance Wax.
Cut, sand and trim the prongs and pearl posts. Bend the prongs over the copper component.
Feed two wires through the underside of the piece to create the two bail loops. Hammer to work harden the bails. Feed your chain through the bails and you’re done!
Lora’s piece is so feminine and soft. It draws you in and mesmerizes you! A fantastic way to show off your drawing skills in a jewelry masterpiece.
Incredibly each of these Master Muse class tutorials exposes new techniques to even the most seasoned of instructors and makers. I’m always surprised at how differently each artist approaches a challenge and how their skills allow them to execute a creative result. I learn at least one valuable shortcut or new technique in each tutorial.
These are affordable classes that you can take in your studio, at your pace, with all the details and more that you would get in a live class. Not to mention that they are scrupulously edited and if the details aren’t there, I ask for more info and pictures.
We’d love to see you take the challenge and make this or a similar piece as well. 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 a 1/2″ Faux Bone Ring Blank along WITH a Faux Bone Peeler from Robert Dancik this month, a $40+ value! Try your hand at making a Faux Bone ring from our third round of challenges from this team of masters.
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! Your odds of winning are pretty darn good so leave a message or comment.
PMC Connection Senior Instructor Lora Hart began working with metal clay at the turn of the century. After nearly 20 years as a busy make-up artist in the entertainment industry, an actor’s strike put her career onhold. Four happily creative years later, she began a new and fulfilling life as an instructor in the greater Los Angeles area. Working out of her quaint Venice Beach Studio, Lora is honored that her work has been included in many publications including The PMC Guild Annual, Barbara Becker Simon’s Metal Clay Beads, Sherri Haab’s Metal Clay and Mixed Media Jewelry and Holly Gage’s The Art and Design of Metal Clay Jewelry. This year, Lora has begun an online challenge to make a Ring A Day and started work on the first level of The Master’s Registry.
Check out Lora’s work at www.LoraHart.com. You can purchase her work online! Contact her for more details.
Photo credit: final piece Drew Davidson; step-by-step Lora Hart
Very cool project, Lora! I like the way you used the polymer clay to form the bezel. Great idea!
Gorgeous piece !!!!!
You are a wonderful artist, Lora !!!
Wow, this is positively inpired! What an amazing way to push those of us who follow your work to stretch our pallettes! Thank you for this wonderful gift.
Love this one–the shape, proportions, muted colors, and those awesome bails! Tonya’s right about how it draws you in.
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