Discovering More About: Metal Clays

You may have seen the classes listed or the packages in the store. You may have also seen jewellery components or finished pieces listed as 'made from metal clay'. But what exactly is 'metal clay'?

When metal clay was first developed in Japan in 1990, it was only available in silver. The clay-like pliability of this substance allows users to fashion pieces that, when fired using a torch or kiln, create metal components that can be used in a variety of jewellery applications. In essence, atomized particles of metals such as silver, gold, bronze, copper or steel are mixed with an organic binder and water and can then be shaped, textured, extruded or pressed into molds. During firing, the binder burns away leaving pure, sintered metal. There are several brands of metal clay available on the market including Art Clay Silver, Prometheus and Hadar’s Clay (the three brands sold at BeadFX).

Metal clay can be used to create pendants, bead or end caps, toggle clasps, charms and much, much more. In many cases, within reason, if it can be created in pottery clay it can also be created in metal clay. That means, you can create your own custom pieces that no one else will have. Can't find what you're looking for - then create it!

Art Clay Silver fires into pure fine silver. Pieces can be taken to a bright shine or to a beautiful satin finish. Darkening applications, such as liver of sulphur, can be added to bring up textures and surface designs.

Hadar's Clay starts off as powder to which distilled water is added to create lump clays with can then be worked in similar ways. These are base metal powders are available in various bronze colours, copper and steel.

Prometheus Clays are also base metal clays and are available in bronze and copper and is the most recent on the market.

Of course, each brand and type of clay will have its own working and finishing requirements and this is why an introductory class is a good idea to get started working with metal clay. We are fortunate to have experienced metal clay instructors who have each specialized in a particular type of metal clay as well as taking it beyond the introductory stages.

Friday, September 18
Copper Charm Bracelet using Prometheus Metal Clay
Instructor: Sue Henry
5:00 - 9:00pm

Sunday, September 27
Getting Started with Hadar's Clay (Part 1)
Instructor: Liz Reynolds
11:00am - 4:30pm









Sunday, October 4

Metal Clay Finishing (Hadar's Clay Part 2)
Instructor: Liz Reynolds
11:00am - 4:30pm

Friday, October 9
Bronze Earrings and Pendants using Prometheus Metal Clay
Instructor: Sue Henry
5:00 - 9:00pm

Saturday, October 10 and Sunday, October 11
Champlevé Enamelling on Art Clay Silver
Instructor: Christine Woollacott
10:00am - 5:00pm both days

Friday, October 23
Introduction to Art Clay Silver
Instructor: Jenn Jevons
11:00am - 7:00pm

Saturday, October 24
Mold Making for Art Clay Silver
Instructor: Jenn Jevons
10:00am - 4:00pm

Sunday, November 1
3-D Bronze Pendants or Earrings in Prometheus Clay
Instructor: Sue Henry
12:00 - 4:00pm

For complete information about each class including course descriptions and class or kit fees, please see our website. Go to www.beadfx.com and click on 'Classes'. Follow the links to the class calendars and the individual classes.

Metal Clay Lovers Unite!

If you are a metal clay lover, then I have great news for you: Open Metal Studio: Metal Clay is back! This is your opportunity to come in and use BeadFX's Metal Studio to work on projects under the helpful eyes of our new facilitator Liz Reynolds. As many of you already know, Liz teaches our Hadar Clay classes, and she is very knowledgeable about all of the metal clays that we carry and will help you with tips and techniques to make your projects the best they can be.

Open Metal Studio: Metal Clay is not a class; you do need to know how to work with the clay, but it is a perfect time to work on a project. All participants are welcome whether you prefer to work with Art Clay Silver, Hadar's Clay or another brand.

Registration is done the same way as any Open Metal Studio session - simply call BeadFX at (416) 751-1911 and let us know you're coming. A nominal charge of $20 + HST will be charged and payable at the time of registration. Kiln firing is not included in the cost of the session but is available.

Participants are encouraged to bring their own tools, however, tools and texture plates will be available for use. Clay will be available at BeadFX for purchase.

Upcoming dates:
Friday, May 1; 6:00 - 8:00pm
Friday, May 29; 6:00 - 8:00pm
Friday, July 17; 6:00 - 8:00pm
Additional dates will posted in the near future and added to the class calendar.

So, come on out for some fun and join Liz at our revamped and revitalized Open Metal Studio: Metal Clay!

Getting to know...Liz Reynolds

Liz Reynolds is a devotee of Hadar's Clay and she has been busy introducing this powdered metal clay to lots of students.

A creative person by nature, Liz began early adding personal touches to many things. "I’ve tended to largely focus on one medium at a time," says Liz. "When I was much younger I really liked sewing and sewed a lot of my own clothes. I then moved into pottery and for the better part of a decade, I made my living (such as it was) from pottery. Later I learned how to knit, but it was pretty basic. But, when I worked in textiles at the Royal Ontario Museum (ROM), I was taught the European method and my knitting really took off and expanded into spinning and weaving. I got into beading through a lucky accident, and when I discovered metal clay, well…..there was no looking back!

Like most people, Liz started learning about metal clay through classes. "I started with local teachers at Beadfx, she explains,"then as Beadfx brought in international teachers, I was exposed to a wider variety of clays and techniques. I continue to take online classes with some well known international instructors to expand my repertoire.  I am currently nearing completion of a teaching accreditation program with Hadar Jacobson."Liz's inspiration comes from many sources. "There is just so much - pattern, texture, colour, other artists, ethnic and cultural design and pattern…on and on," she says. "I generally have an idea of what I want to create, but I try not to be too fixed about it and to allow it to change and develop as I proceed. This often produces a better result."

Liz continues, "I have a large envelope taped to the side of my desk and will drop in photos or drawings of elements that I might want to explore. I also have a computer file where I deposit ideas/inspiration that I see online."

What does Liz love about teaching? "Seeing students eyes light up when they grasp a concept and their delight with their finished creations," she replies enthusiastically. "M least favourite part is cleaning up after a class…as evidenced by the state of my own studio!"

Liz's advice to others who create? "Don’t stop…..ever! Creativity is inexhaustible."

Upcoming classes with Liz Reynolds:

Sunday, February 9
Sunday, April 13 
Sunday, June 8 
Sunday, August 17
Getting Started with Hadar's Clay (single day classes) 
12:00 - 4:00pm

Saturday, January 18
(10:00 - 5:00pm)
Inlay & Onlay in Metal Clay
(1 day class)

Saturday, March 22
(10:00am - 5:00pm)
& Sunday, March 23
(11:00am - 4:00pm
Hollow Forms in Metal Clay
(2 day class)
 

Saturday, May 24 (10:00am - 5:00pm)
& Sunday, May 25 (11:0am - 4:00pm)
Micro Mosaic in Metal Clay (2 day class)

Your input is needed ... Metal Clay Play Days

BeadFX runs a monthly Metal Clay Play Day for the lovers of Art Clay Silver and the many other metal clays available. However, we're finding that we are seldom getting sign-ups for the sessions -- and we don't really know why!

We are asking for your help! If you're a lover of metal clay, what would you like to see for an open session? We've had lots of new classes in metal clays led by Heather Bell Denison, Liz Reynolds and Jenn Jevons and many people have been introduced to this fascinating medium.

As it stands now, the Metal Clay Play Day is held monthly on a Sunday from 11:00am to 4:00pm. Participants, who have had a metal clay class, can come in and work with metal clays and use the tools and materials that are on hand at BeadFX. Participants can come in for the full session or for part of the session. Jennifer Tough, our knowledgeable facilitator, will help you with your designs and give you tips to work with the clays. The nominal cost of $20 per person covers the cost of having a facilitator and other overhead expenses.

We'd love your input on the following questions by e-mail to Pamela Kearns, our Class Coordinator:

1. Are you aware of the Metal Clay Play Days?
2. Have you been to a Metal Clay Play Day?
3. Would you be interested in coming to a Metal Clay Play Day?
4. What would encourage you to attend?
5. Is Sunday convenient or inconvenient for you? What is a better day or time for you?
6. How often would you want to come to a Metal Clay Play Day?
7. Do you have any comments or concerns about Metal Clay Play Days?

Please give us some feedback by e-mail to Pamela Kearns at pam@beadfx.com.

Thank you so much!

Come out and play at Metal Clay Play Days!

You've taken an introductory class for one of metal clays such as Art Clay Silver and have caught the excitement in working with this versatile medium - now what?! Well, come on out to a monthly Metal Clay Play Day!

Jennifer Tough, a certified Silver Metal Clay Instructor, facilitates the sessions and will happily share tips and techniques with you. "This session is a perfect opportunity to spend time with fellow metal clay enthusiasts, share techniques, your newest projects, and a chance to refine your skills in our comfortable, and well-stocked studio", says Jennifer.

The sessions are open to all who have taken an introductory course in working with Metal Clays. "We have participants with a range of skill levels. Whether you have only taken one class, or you've been working with metal clay for years - you'll find a day spent playing in the studio a refreshing change of pace. Share, create, and be inspired", Jennifer adds.

Metal Clay Play Days run from 11:00am to 4:00pm and cost a nominal  $15. It includes the use of BeadFX's tools, texture sheets, stamps, torch firing, and more. You're welcome to come for the full session or drop in for part of the day.

Kiln firing of Art Clay Silver, Art Clay Original and Metal Adventures Fast Fire Bronze and tumbling of finished pieces are not included in the session cost, but is available. At this time, we are not firing Hadar's Clays.

Upcoming scheduled Metal Clay Play Days:
Sunday, October 20; 11:00am - 4:00pm
Sunday, November 17; 11:00am - 4:00pm
Sunday, December 15; 11:00am - 4:00pm

Upcoming Art Clay Silver classes:
Saturday, October 26: Charmed, I'm Sure Intro to Art Clay Silver; with Heather Bell Denison
Friday, November 22: Introduction to Art Clay Silver Express; with Jenn Jevons
Saturday, November 23: Silver Clay Ornaments and Embellishments; with Jenn Jevons

Upcoming Hadar's Clay classes:
Sunday, October 20: Getting started with Hadar's Clay, with Liz Reynolds
Sunday, November 3: Getting started with Hadar's Clay, with Liz Reynolds
Sunday, November 24: Getting started with Hadar's Clay, with Liz Reynolds

To see complete details and descriptions of Metal Clay Play Days and classes, please refer to our website. To register for any sessions or classes, please call BeadFX at (416) 751-1911.

Metal Clay Artist Wanaree Tanner Coming to Teach at BeadFX

Wanaree Tanner, award winning artist and instructor, is leading two classes in April! She travels to teach her techniques, participates in art shows, is a contributor for Art Jewelry Magazine, Metal Clay Today, Metal Clay Artist Magazine and is currently the video editor for MCAM’s resource library.

Although I'm not a metal clay artist myself (seed beads talk loudly to me), I am amazed at the detail that shows in Wanaree's work. I'm looking forward to meeting her and seeing her work in action!

Wanaree will be teaching two courses at BeadFX, both over multiple days and for several hours each day. Looking for a Spring getaway? Forget the sunny south, come to BeadFX!

A Crash Course in COPPRClay
Wednesday, April 3 and Thursday, April 4
10:00am to 5:00pm each day

Course Outline: Want all the wonder of creating in metal clay without the price tag of silver? In this two day crash course we’ll explore the warmth of copper metal clay without the headache. Wanaree will share all of her tricks for securing consistent results with this historically fickle medium. We’ll cover COPPRclay and Art Clay Copper, dealing with distortion, construction, firing, and finishing. In this two day workshop students will learn how to created a kinetic donut bail “Spinning Wheel” and a “Fabulous Focal Bracelet.” Skills you’ll  take home: making custom copper tube components, toggle clasp, bead caps, and the joy of seamless components.

Technique focus: successful firing, combining copper clay to milled copper, making a kinetic swing bail, toggle assembly, making bead caps, making pendant caps, texturing, making clean and consistent connections in dry base metal clay.

Cost: $425 (+HST) plus a kit fee of $10. Registered students will be e-mailed a materials list of what to bring to the class.

Book Locket in Copper
Friday, April 5 to Sunday, April 7
10:00am to 5:00pm and Friday and Saturday
11:00am to 4:00pm on Sunday

Course outline: Students will  learn the art of the extruded metal clay hinge, swing bail, pin clasp,  and no fuss construction in this three day workshop. COPPRclay’s flexibility makes it the ideal practice medium for this advanced technique, but the construction techniques apply to silver as well. Book cover design and bail is created using a new easy texture medium, no UV lights, no carving involved! Class also covers firing, dealing with distortion, how to fire in your home studio, and beautiful finishes in copper.

Technique Focus: Wet and dry construction, learn the art of extruded hinges, perfect corners, and smooth swing bail construction.

Cost: $530 (+HST). Registered students will be e-mailed a materials list of what to bring to the class.

SPECIAL OFFER: REGISTER FOR BOTH CLASSES FOR ONLY $900 - SAVE $55!

Note: both classes require previous experience; please see the class descriptions on our website at: www.beadfx.com and follow the class links to April.

The joy of metal clay: Sculpture

I embrace the ease in which you can create sculptural elements with metal clay. Well OK it may not be EASY but it is much easier than if you wanted to create with traditional metal working techniques.

Here is some of the fun I have had over the years working with metal clay:

Building BUILDINGS:

I love building miniature buildings, homes, apartment buildings, birdhouses and more. I especially like making rounded buildings for some reason. The birdhouse below was inspired by a birdhouse my mother-in-law had in her yard.

"Barb's Birdhouse"

The windmill below was one of my early building attempts. I made it by wrapping clay around a dowel to make the round part of the building. The roof (which you can't see but is similar to the birdhouse roof) was made by creating a cone shape by cutting out a circle then cutting out a pie piece from the circle (size depends on how you want to make your cone) then shaping the cone shape. (BTW - the blades on the windmill spin!)

"Windmill"

Making DANGLING LEGS:

Wacky sculpture with moving parts is one of my passions. Here are two of my favorites. I use fine silver wire to create sturdy moving legs.

"Heron"

"Fine Silver Girl #3"

I have been making variations of a Fine Silver Girl doll pendant for a while now. The first Fine Silver Girl was a flat shape which I had decided was sort of boring and uninspired (my eldest son who is a sentimental 8-year-old still loves it and thinks its the best). Personally, I decided I had to create movement and so I began making them with moving legs. I use fine silver wire that is balled on the end and inserted into the hollow body so that the legs will swing.

CARVING:

Metal clay lends itself to carving as well. This is a great way to add texture to your sculpted piece. This ring is made to look like a branch. It was a rolled and shaped piece of clay that was then carved.

"Dogwood Trio"

Go forth and experiment!

Have a happy Thanksgiving...or Columbus Day!

Metal Clay Academy

I may or may not have blogged about this site in the past (see yesterday's post on my addled brain) ;-)

That said - It's an awesome resource for metal clay, and the best part is that the information is not brand specific. There is also a link there to the Masters Registry - This is a course I'm seriously considering signing up for. In this course, you create pieces to a certain specification - but instead of being judged by an individual, you are judged by a panel of your peers. Interesting indeed.

Have a look through the links - this should keep you busy for quite some time

http://www.metalclayacademy.com

Free is good

Ok, so on occasion I can be seriously behind the times. This morning, while blog hopping - I came across an online Metal Clay Today magazine - completely free! 

I say I'm slow here - as I had somehow managed to already 'like' it via facebook - but I couldn't recall ever hearing anything about it. My brain is becoming seriously addled ;-)

Anyway, for those of you metal clay fans (or potential fans) who haven't come across this yet, go check it out now.

http://www.metalclaytoday.com/

More playing with resin

I've been (very slowly) working on some projects that will allow us to teach a resin class this fall. As I think I've mentioned a few times already - with the kids home for the summer, I'm really not getting too much done.  :-)

The other day I was experimenting with painting the resin on paper. It could be the humidity, but it just isn't hardening up like I thought it would. I want to make some teeny/tiny little book necklaces out of actual paper, and bound with  a hinged metal clay cover. I can see these in both silver, and copper or bronze. Could be a lot of fun!  I think I'll have to wait a few more days and see how the paper hardens up.

Pics to come once I have time to actually make it! (don't hold your breath for this one) ;-)

Syringe Metal Clay

Syringe form silver clay is a fun an interesting form of metal clay. Syringe clay is a thinned form of silver clay preloaded into a syringe. With the syringe clay you can pipe out long strands of silver clay and make some interesting designs.

There is a lot of ways you can use your syringe:

"Sunflower", in this piece I used syringe to create the centre. It was done by creating a cork form that the clay was syringed over top.

This piece is a Art Clay Level One Certification project. This one is done by Susie Levitsky. It is a freeform syringe project capturing a marquis gemstone. It was made with three layers of medium syringe to create this filligree like design.

Other ways syringe can be used:

• Use it for repairs and attachments. Any form of paste will work for repairs. Some people like to use syringe for repairs as you can squeeze it into cracks and small spaces.
• Use it to make fine free form "filigree" designs
• Use it to shape over burnable cores to make interesting hollow forms.
• Use it to embellish your work. Add swirls, writing, and other shapes on top of a piece of solid clay.
  
• Use it to capture gemstones, glass or other inclusions.
  

You can purchase a variety of tips for your syringe:

Art Clay Silver has three tips for syringe clay. When purchasing your syringe clay you can buy it with one tip, three tips or no tips (refills). The standard tip is the green (medium) tip; it is the most commonly used tip. The three pack comes with a blue tip (fine) green tip (medium) and gray tip (thick). I like the fineness of the blue/fine tip but it can be quite brittle due to its fineness, keep this in mind. (I would not use blue/fine tip for a free form piece. If you are attaching blue/fine tip syringe to a piece of solid clay take extra care in making sure it is attached to the clay or it can break off even after it is fired.)

Can you make your own syringe clay?
The answer is many have tried and failed. It is quite difficult to get the right texture/consistency. I have tried with little success. In addition, to the challenge of getting the right consistency the other challenge the issue of possible clogging the syringe with a small bit of clay.

Suggestions on technique:
Art Clay World has a great PDF Mastering the Syringe, it describes step by step on technique.

The key is to keep your tip up and drape the clay where you want it. Problems happen if one stays too close to the surface and the clay will often drag and get pulled.

Another tip is to use a damp paintbrush or damp makeup sponge to smooth any points and to soften the syringe.

Mastering the technique
I mastered syringe by creating many, many organic syringe shapes without putting pressure on myself to be exact.

With the cost of silver and silver clay being what it is there is a simple inexpensive way to practice technique. Practice with toothpaste!!! Fill a syringe with toothpaste (I find the white non gel type of toothpaste the most similar). The toothpaste it behaves similarly to syringe clay and you can freely practice handling the syringe. Once you get the "hang" of then move to silver syringe clay.

Enjoy!!!

Successful Firing of Sensitive Gemstones uisng Activated Carbon

Aqua Czs fired in Silver Metal Clay (using activated carbon to preserve colour)



Last week, I test fired the new gemstones that had arrived at BeadFx (posted o7/04/10). The one stone I was most excited about was an Aqua Cubic Zirconia which sadly failed my original kiln and torch firing tests. The stones turned brownish:

Left stone (brownish) is the result of (open) kiln firing aqua czs. Right stones are unfired aqua czs.

I was disappointed by I had one last test to try, which I did this week. Firing the piece in a kiln embedded in activated carbon, and guess what? I had success!!!!

Several weeks ago I posted about firing gemstone in metal clay (posted 06/20/10), in this post I referred to a great resource from Mardel Reins at Cools Tools - Gemstone Firing Guide. In this reference she mentioned that she came to the idea that perhaps it was the heat and oxygen that caused some gemstones to fail her test firings in metal clay. The advent of the new metal clays the require firing in an oxygen free environment (which is achieved by placing them in a pan covered in activated carbon) gave her the idea to test this theory with some of the failed gemstones. (you can read the full story on the link).

Thanks to this information I decided to try this on the new aqua czs. And this is what I did:

• I made a metal clay piece and embedded the aqua cz's in the metal clay.
• Dried it completely.
  
• Once completely dry. I used my butane torch to burn off the binder. I placed my piece on my kiln brick and ignited the piece (once the piece ignited, I turned off the torch, this is important as you don't want to overheat the piece and damage the stone).
  
• I repeated igniting the piece and then letting the flame go out until the piece did not flame any more. This was to burn off the binders.
  
• After all the binder was burned off I carefully placed the piece in a steel pan with activated carbon covering it completely.
  
• I fired it in my kiln at 1575F for 1.5 hours (the reason I didn't go higher was a time factor, in theory a higher temperature and longer will work as well).
• Cooled the piece naturally (remember you don't want to thermally shock your gemstones by quenching them).
  
• Polished.

Success the aqua colour was maintained!!!

Gemstone tests

As I mentioned in a previous post new gemstones arrived at BeadFx. When I add a new material that I am unsure of I will test fire it out of clay to make sure it can withstand the time and temperature I intend to fire it at.

I took six of the new gemstones and tested them at 1650F for 2 hours to see if they would withstand to maximum temperature I would fire my silver metal clay creations. Here are the results, the stones on the LEFT are the test stones that have been fired :

Garnet Cz (no obvious colour change)

Lab created black saphire (no obvious colour change)

Aqua Cz (Oh oh, BIG CHANGE -FAILED all my tests)

Lab created Blue Spinels (no obvious colour change)

Lab created Ruby (no obvious colour change)

Lavender Cz (no obvious colour change)


It looks like all but the AQUA cz's survived. I retested the aqua cz's at 1200F for 30 minutes (the minimum I would fire at) and they failed yet again, they turned a lighter yellow brown. I torch fired one for two minutes and yet again I got a shade of brown. Disappointing as this stone would look awesome embedded into silver, of course you could set it in a fine silver setting after firing. I will test them in carbon in the next few weeks.


Lastly, I had mentioned my tests with a piece of Labradorite at 1650F here is a picture of what happened:

Remember, if your fire gemstones in metal clay DO NOT quench them, allow them to cool naturally or you may cause thermal shock and the stone may fracture.

Resin and metal clay....there is so much you can do!!!!

It has been a while since I have pulled out my resin and used it with my metal clay, but it is quite a fun way to add colour, pictures or treasures to your metal clay. I know Jen has been working with papers, resin and metal clay - lovely stuff. Let's look at other uses for resin with metal clay and at the end I will add one tip I discovered along the way.

When I first started using resin several years ago, BeadFX didn't carry any and I was having a hard locating it locally, until I walked into my local big box building center and found a two part resin type product by a company called Circa 1850. I decided I would try it out and guess what it worked out just fine.

Now BeadFX carries ICE Resin, and I hear it is great stuff...but I need to use up my current resin before I buy some (trying to abide by that rule anyway). ICE Resin has a great site explaining how use it www.iceresin.com. There is detailed information on how to mix, how to colour, how to cast and more!!! Check out this great resource.

Hear are a few examples of what I have done with resin:

Added pictures:


For this piece sized and printed out the pictures on to card stock. I have found that thin paper will go slightly translucent with the resin and make the pictures look odd.

Added colour:


Several ways to colour your include adding dyes, pigment powders, oil paints and more.



Added Objects:


You can add interesting things in your resin. Above, I added candied sprinkles....


The one thing that I have not seen in all the resources I have searched is what to do if you don't like your resin. Can it be taken off? Am I the only person that has asked this question? I experimented and I found it can be removed, unfortunately, with some pretty heavy duty chemicals. What has worked for me is using the Circa 1850 Heavy Body Paint and Varnish Remover. I have applied a layer of the remover on top of the resin, allowed it to sit, then with a tooth pick and a stiff brush scrubbed it off. Sometimes several applications are needed....Beware this stuff is toxic use appropriate protection. So if you must remove that resin, there is an option. If anyone have found any other solutions let me know.