Hydraulic Die Forming for Enamellists

Spring Promise

Although I am now officially retired from teaching, I will be presenting a lecture and demo soon for my fellow students in a class I am enrolled in. I am adding this PDF to my blog for the benefit of students who might like to view it again or have it on their own computers. The techniques and info are freely shared, however the designs are not.

Link to PDF for illustrating Hydraulic Die Forming for Enamellists

 Die Formed and Enameled v-2013 b opt

I created this PowerPoint presentation to accompany my lecture and demos for the Die Forming and Enameling classes that I taught at Monterey Peninsula College. It wasn’t meant as a stand-alone tutorial and so does not include instructions for the tools and techniques illustrated. If this works as a way to easily share the PDF, I will update and expand the original and replace this link. Meanwhile, I’d like to hear from anyone who reads this regarding ease of viewing the PDF.

 

Another Color on Metal Sample

coloring copper with a combination of techniques

Sample created using a combination of techniques demonstrated in my 2010 Color on Metal workshop. Copper sheet with roll printed texture, red and black heat patina using a torch, plus a cold process cupric nitrate patina. I found the formula, instructions, and chemicals at ScienceCompany.com.

Reading and suppliers-Color on Metal 2014

Looking Back… and Forward

Teaching Materials

This won’t be “news” to friends, family, and students, however, others may not know, so here is my big announcement:

Six months ago (August 2013) I officially retired from Monterey Peninsula College where I taught Jewelry and Metal Arts classes for nearly 30 years! Over the years, as a part-time instructor, I taught more than 20 different special topic classes in addition to the basic and advanced metals classes… some more than 40 times, a few only once. I really enjoyed the research, writing, sample making, and learning, that went into every class I taught. The binders full of instruction, photos, resource lists, etc., that I created for each class, are a record of those classes and also a reminder of the many wonderful students who made teaching such a fulfilling endeavor. Their enthusiasm, creativity, and appreciation, helped keep my own creative energy flowing.

I am frequently asked, “Are you enjoying retirement?” Well… yes and no. I like having more time for my own work and for gardening, but I miss teaching. I miss the camaraderie of the classroom, as well as the focus required for preparing new demos and improving on content. I am thinking about how I can continue, or return to, the process somehow. Since so many are sharing their knowledge via the web, maybe this is the way; it is certainly something to think about. For now, I am working on updating and expanding a PowerPoint presentation that I can convert to a PDF for sharing here. This one is for Color on Metal, a workshop I presented in 2010. Meanwhile, here is one sample that I created for that class:

acrylic paint sample

Water based acrylic paint on textured copper.