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: Base Metal Clays

This past week I was fortunate enough to play around with some of Hadar's base metal clays. The last time I had used Hadar's clay she only had Copper and Bronze clay, now when I look at her site I feel like a kind in a candy store.

This week I experiemented with combining some pearl grey steel with copper clay (THANKS Liz). Sadly, I have not fired them as they got damaged in transit and I haven't had time to repair them. (I may just fire them as is as I can't wait to see what they look like!).

All this to say I thought I would introduce you to the world of base metal clays. There are many companies developing and selling base metal clays. Unlike silver clay where there are similarities between brands, base metal clays vary significantly on firing and handling.

Generally, most base metal clays require the use of a kiln to fire (there are a few exceptions). In addition most of the base metal clays require that you fire them in an oxygen free enviroment. This is primarily acheived by using a heatproof container filled with carbon.

I know all this can be confusing so let me start by introducing you to the main types of base metal clays. Then in the weeks to come I will comment on specifics.

Here are some of the brands of base metal clay:


Hadar Jacobson (her site is http://www.artinsilver.com/)

In my opinion she has been on e of the pioneers in the whole base metal clay business. Her current types of clays available are:

• Copper (both quick fire and original)
• Bronze (both quick fire and original)
• Quick Fire White Bronze
• Quick Fire Steel
• Pearl Grey Steel

All of her clays come dry and require that the purchaser mix their own clay by adding distilled water and they all require kiln firing in carbon.

Ms. Jacobson's website is a wealth of information about mixing and creating with her clays. It is a FABULOUS resource no matter what type of metal clay you choose to use. She also has a series of fabulous books.


Metal Adventures (formerly Metal Clay Adventures)

This is another North American source of base metal clays. The types of metal clays they create are:

• BRONZclay (http://www.bronzclay.com/bronzclay_education.htm)
  
• COPPRclay (http://www.copprclay.com/)
  
• Fast Fire BRONZclay (just released - Fast Fire BRONZclay information)
  

These clays come already mixed and require kiln firing in carbon. There is a great source of information about BRONZclay by M. Schindlel published on Squidoo BronzClay it is a great resource and it appears she is working on one for the Copprclay too.


Art Clay

Art Clay, the makers of Art Clay Silver released in December 2009 their version of copper clay. It is called Art Clay Copper and is different than the other types of copper. This clay can be torch fired (but it takes over 5 minutes) and can be kiln fired without any carbon or medium to facilitate sintering. I have worked quite a bit with this copper and will post a detailed post about it in the weeks to come. (Art Clay Copper Information)


Prometheus (http://hobbymaxistore.com/)

This company is from Turkey and make the only bronze clay that I am aware of that does not require the use of a activated carbon for firing. Instead you are to wrap it in paper towel then in a fiber blanket. They now have two types of clay available:

• Prometheus Bronze
• Prometheus Copper
  

On their website there is a forum discussing firing experiments.

I have some of this clay, but have not finished my experiments with it. I have tried torch firing it and was successful. The piece is much rosier that the other bronzes I have used.


Make Your Own!!!

Apparently you could make your own. There are tutorials on the web on how to do this. Metal Clay Academy has a whole page of links on how to do this - Make your own MC. I doubt I will ever get around to trying this. If you have let us know what you think.


Base metal clays can all be unique. In the next few weeks I hope to elaborate on the base clays I have tried.

Copper Clay Firing Schedule

Just a quick note today for those who have been following my firing problems with the base metal clays.

I have come up with a firing schedule that is now working consistently for MY kiln. Everyones kilns are different, and experimentation with what works for you may be necessary.  I've now fired about a dozen batches all successful! (in a row mind!)  I'm now due to replace the carbon, and hopefully that won't cause problems.

I have a paragon SC2 with the bead door. I'm using a large firing pan, with coconut carbon.

ramp full speed to 665 - hold for two hours. Ramp full speed to 1620, and hold for an additional 3.5 hours. Shut off, and let cool naturally. This is able to fire a variety of thicknesses without over, or underfiring!  If I went up to 1650, I was seeing blistering (sometimes), If I brought it down to 1550, I would occasionally have batches that wouldn't sinter.

I hope this helps! Try something similar in your kiln with a few test pieces, and see how it works out.