Exploring Liquid Enamel on Dimensional Forms - Virtual Workshop
In this live, online workshop, students will explore the potential of ultra-thin copper and its paper-like properties in combination with liquid enamel. The potential for this material to quickly transform into a three-dimensional form lends itself well to creating light and dynamic forms suitable for the enameling process. After an exploration of sheet manipulation, the instructor will demonstrate how various liquid enamels can be used to create a base coat to build upon or as stand alone elements that create interesting textures and color combinations.
This course will consist of two sessions. There will be a no-class day between each session.
Class will be held live via Zoom during the designated time frames. A link to the Zoom meeting will be sent via email.
Each session will be recorded and you will receive a password protected link to the recordings that will expire after 30 days.
Please read the Materials & Tools tab!
Meet the instructor
Tanya Crane is a Southern California native who holds a degree in Metal from the State University of New York at New Paltz, and a degree in Art/Metals from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. She seeks adventure and experience, which has led to a lifetime of moving from one metropolitan city to another. These experiences have informed her work offering a diverse range of materials, which she has integrated into her jewelry and sculptures that speak more to her research about identity and race, than to the material itself. Crane’s work has been on view most recently at the Fuller Craft Museum in Brockton, Massachusetts and the National Ornamental Metal Museum in Nashville, Tennessee.
Materials & Tools
Students will need to have the following materials in preparation for this online workshop. If you do not already have them, a suggested item and/or a vendor from which you can purchase these items has been provided below. Click the vendor name (in red) to be redirected to a page where you can find or choose the item. The quantities you need for each item are listed first. Please be aware that some items may come in larger quantities than needed for this class. Please order these materials as soon as possible due to longer than usual turn-around times. We recommend not opening the enclosed packaging until the day of the workshop.
You will need enameling supplies for this course. The instructor has suggested the following colors of WG Ball or Thompson enamels - pick your preferred brand and color palette. You will need Thompson 303 clear regardless of which enamel brand you go with. Optional painting enamel supplies will also be listed.
WG Ball Liquid Enamels
- 1 x 4oz pack of ivory 12544 (E-namels)
- 1 x 4oz pack of sky blue 12547 (E-namels)
- 1 x 4oz pack of jade 12553 (E-namels)
- 1 x 4oz pack of celadon green 12548 (E-namels)
- 1 x 4oz pack of deep yellow 12549 (E-namels)
- 1 x sample pack - if not ready to invest in larger amounts (WG Ball)
Thompson Liquid Enamels
- 1 x 4oz pack of Thompson 533 white (Enamel Warehouse)
- 1 x 4oz pack of Thompson 929 chartreuse (Enamel Warehouse)
- 1 x 4oz pack of Thompson 801 hyacinth (Enamel Warehouse)
- 1 x 4oz pack of Thompson 303 clear (Enamel Warehouse)
- 1 x sample pack - if unsure about your color preferences (Enamel Warehouse)
Painting Enamels (optional)
- 1 x 10g pack of Ferro Sunshine reed (Cool Tools)
- 1 x 10g pack of Ferro Sunshine lemon (Cool Tools)
- 1 x 10g pack of Ferro Sunshine ochre (Cool Tools)
- 1 x 10g pack of Ferro Sunshine poppy (Cool Tools)
- 1 x 10g pack of Ferro Sunshin mixing white (Cool Tools)
- 1 x 2oz bottle of clear balsam of copaiba (A Painter's Collection)
- 1 x 2oz bottle of non-dry mixing medium (A Painter's Collection)
- 1 x 2oz bottle of anise oil (A Painter's Collection)
- 1 x vial of best black overglaze (A Painter's Collection)
You will need firing tools and equipment throughout this course. The instructor recommends a kiln, but torch-firing will also work.
- 1 x fireproof work area - steel baking sheet(s) will work (Amazon)
- 1 x kiln or torch (Rio Grande)
- 1 x sifting pan set (Rio Grande or Cool Tools or Thompson Enamel)
- 1 x flanged screen - 6"x6" (Enamel Warehouse)
- 1 x three-point trivet - 3" (Enamel Warehouse)
- 1 x three-point trivet - 2" (Enamel Warehouse)
- 1 x firing fork - if using kiln (Enamel Warehouse)
Forming tools and equipment.
- 1 x raw hide mallet (Rio Grande)
- 1 x pliers set - all kinds (Rio Grande)
- 1 x steel block - 6" - optional (Rio Grande)
- 1 x round mandrel or other hard round forming tool - optional (Rio Grande)
Sheet metal that will be used to make your enameled forms.
- 1 x sheet of 6"x12" copper sheet - 26 gauge (Rio Grande)
You will also want to provide the following common items:
- dust mask
- eye protection - for kiln / torch
- glass containers - for mixing enamels
- rubber spatulas - for mixing enamels
- old utility tweezers - straight-tip 6" - (Rio Grande)
- glass beads
- sand - from your local environment is fine
- silver, copper, steel shavings and filings
- fan and open window - for ventilation
If using optional painting enamel materials, you will need the following.
- palette knife
- tile - for mixing
- pipettes
- 90% isopropyl alcohol
- good quality paint brushe(s) - size 03, 02, 01 fine
- 1/2" flat brush
- calligraphers pen with fine nib - size #512, #513, #107 nibs work