Patrik Kusek – Master Muse Challenge #43

Patrik shares with us a quick synopsis of the steps he takes to create his fantastic hinged bracelet. 

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!

Patrik says “Did you know that hinges can be fun and easy! With these asymmetrical hinges say good-bye to boring perfectly parallel bracelet panels and hello to fun and easy. This versatile bracelet can be made with just about any texture to create a variety of different looks plus, the best part is, it’s reversible too!  Two bracelets for the efforts of making one!”

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 #43 Tutorial!

In this tutorial you will learn:

• How to texture metal clay
• How to use eyelets to use as connectors for the articulating hinges
• How to connect hinges using wire and a torch
• How to use a torch to bead wire
• How to construct a toggle and pin clasp
• How to use gold, Aura 22K and fire it

Lubricate your texture sheet (TL1193) with a Badger Brush.

Photocopy your bracelet template and cut it out.

Roll out the silver metal clay, using slats and roller onto a flat worksurface. Re-roll the clay out again on the texture sheet again, pressing hard to acquire a light texture.  Don’t forget to transfer the slats to the texture sheet before rolling.

Using a tissue blade, cut out the silver metal clay shapes.

Repeat this step for each of the links.

(Patrik includes lots of detail and templates for this process in the full tutorial)

Once these shapes are dry, sand to perfect.

Mark the placement of the eyelets on each of the links.  Check to make sure they line up perfectly.

Using a small u-shaped gouge, carve out a small groove into the dry clay link.

For side “B”, roll out more silver metal clay, as in step 1.  Patrik used texture sheet, TL1196.

Taking the side “A” pieces, place silver metal clay paste/slip in the grooves you carved out using a clay shaper.

Place side “A” down onto the freshly rolled out side “B” clay.  Hold this for 3 seconds.

Using your tissue blade cut out the link.

While the silver metal clay paste is still wet, take the eyelets and push them into the grooves of the bone dry links.  The silver metal clay paste will secure the eyelets.

Remember correct positioning of the eyelet is for the neck (where the head meets the straight wire) is buried in the clay, just beneath the surface.  Make sure they are also facing the right direction.

Dry completely.  Sand and perfect.

Roll out another strip of silver metal clay, as in step 1.  Patrik used texture sheet TL1194.

Cut this strip a little longer than the link.  Patrik left one edge uneven and rough.  It is not straight.

Adhere the strip to side “B”, using water, to the link.  Make sure the straight, tissue blade edge, is facing toward the eyelet edge when you adhere it to the link.

Repeat this step to the to the adjoining links.  This is a decorative element and adds additional support for the eyelets.  

Roll out another section of textured silver metal clay.  This time Patrik used two textures and sandwiched the clay and slats between the two textures to create texture on both sides of the clay.

Cut out the toggle and bar using the template.

Patrik includes lots of tips on how to make toggles the perfect fit.

Dry completely, sand and perfect.

Drill a hole in the ends to accomodate the jump rings.

Using silver metal clay and a clay shaper, fill the gaps and make it so there is no appearance of separate layers of clay.  Patrik shares excellent tips for this!

Fire at 1650°F for 30 min to 2 hours (or according to manufacturer instructions).

Apply Aura 22K gold or AGS 24K to the links using a clay shaper.  Fire with a torch.

Make 10 hinge pins using fine silver wire.  Ball up one end using a butane or duel fuel torch system.

Using the torch, heat up the hinge pin wire until the other side balls up.  This may be difficult as more panels are added to the bracelet.  This is why a duel fuel (oxygen and propane) torch system is used more often than a butane torch.  It will take just the right set up and positioning of the butane torch to ball up the wire once the panels are added due to the extra heat sink.  It can be done, but will take practice.  With the duel fuel torch this is effortless.

Using a brass brush, soap and water, burnish the bracelet components.  Attach the toggle, pin and extra rings.

Liver of Sulphur (LOS) the bracelet until it is black.  Neutralize and then using Pro Polishing Pads, remove the LOS on the high areas.

Coat with Renaissance Wax or Nikolas Spray to retain the patina longer.

Patrik’s bracelet is wonderful and shows yet an innovative way to articulate panels using a different type of hinge.  This gives you a little more leeway in the way that it lays and moves on the wrist than precision pin-set hinges.  Two different looks and two different approaches.  Patrik’s use of texture and gold accents set this bracelet apart from most.  Fun and delicious to wear!

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, a $40+ value!  Try your hand at making a Faux Bone ring from our third round of challenges by the Master Muses.

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.

Patrik Kusek has been in the design and fashion industry for over 20 years and currently teaches metal clay classes and workshops in the San Francisco Bay Area as well as nationally. He is a senior PMC® instructor who teaches for Rio Grande and his work has appeared in numerous publications including Art Jewelry, Lapidary Journal, MJSA, and various books. He is a member of SNAG, ACC and the PMC Guild. Patrik is the 1st place Saul Bell winner of the 2007 PMC category.

Check out Patrik’s work at www.PatriksStudio.com. You can purchase his work online as well!

Photo credit: final piece Drew Davidson; step-by-step Patrik Kusek