Jewelry & Metals   

Explore various ways to connect beads—from stringing, knotting, and using wire connections to make necklaces, bracelets and earrings. Different ways to finish the ends and use of different types of clasps and closures will also be covered. Along the way learn about the materials, and the tools and their purpose. Create your own unique designs from purchased or repurposed beads, have fun, and end up with several new pieces of jewelry. Includes some supplies; please see website or link below for materials list.

*Metals Supplies Note: Tuition for metals classes covers basic studio supplies, chemicals, and access to tools and equipment.  Some classes include a limited supply kit unless otherwise noted.  Students should anticipate additional fees for other tools, metal, and findings for their samples or projects. Please see website for specific supply list.

*Jewelry/Metals Open Studio Open studio time will be permitted prior to and immediately following class time; limited outside of class for open studio time will be discussed in class.

*SAFETY NOTE: All metals classes require a strong ability to comprehend and follow directions, with full understanding of all safety protocols, requirements, and restrictions due to the tools and equipment used in studio processes. Students should possess good upper body strength and strong hand-eye coordination. Individuals who cannot meet these requirements should not register for metals classes, as this is essential for both personal and class safety.

What does it take to make a ring? Construction of handmade rings will be the focus of this two-day course in metal. Students will be introduced to the basic techniques of working with non-ferrous metals (copper, brass, and silver), basic hand tools, forging, forming, silver-soldering using a torch, surface embellishment, and finishing techniques. In two days, students should expect to walk away with at least two finished projects. NOTE: Please bring a bag lunch. Bilingual instruction is available. Includes a materials kit for simple projects covered in class; see *METALS SUPPLIES NOTE.

*Metals Supplies Note: Tuition for metals classes covers basic studio supplies, chemicals, and access to tools and equipment.  Some classes include a limited supply kit unless otherwise noted.  Students should anticipate additional fees for other tools, metal, and findings for their samples or projects. Please see website for specific supply list.

*Jewelry/Metals Open Studio Open studio time will be permitted prior to and immediately following class time; limited outside of class for open studio time will be discussed in class.

*SAFETY NOTE: All metals classes require a strong ability to comprehend and follow directions, with full understanding of all safety protocols, requirements, and restrictions due to the tools and equipment used in studio processes. Students should possess good upper body strength and strong hand-eye coordination. Individuals who cannot meet these requirements should not register for metals classes, as this is essential for both personal and class safety.

Learn the fundamental techniques and tools used to create unique jewelry and small metal sculptures as you work through a series of projects focused not only on technique, but also on encouraging individual expression. Techniques covered will include sawing, basic forming, surface textures, silver-soldering, riveting, ring-making, and surface finishes. Note: Tool kits and some supplies included; see *METALS SUPPLIES NOTE and see link below or website for a materials list and links to sources.

*Metals Supplies Note: Tuition for metals classes covers basic studio supplies, chemicals, and access to tools and equipment.  Some classes include a limited supply kit unless otherwise noted.  Students should anticipate additional fees for other tools, metal, and findings for their samples or projects. Please see website for specific supply list.

*Jewelry/Metals Open Studio Open studio time will be permitted prior to and immediately following class time; limited outside of class for open studio time will be discussed in class.

*SAFETY NOTE: All metals classes require a strong ability to comprehend and follow directions, with full understanding of all safety protocols, requirements, and restrictions due to the tools and equipment used in studio processes. Students should possess good upper body strength and strong hand-eye coordination. Individuals who cannot meet these requirements should not register for metals classes, as this is essential for both personal and class safety.

Learn the fundamental techniques and tools used to create unique jewelry and small metal sculptures as you work through a series of projects focused not only on technique, but also on encouraging individual expression. Techniques covered will include sawing, basic forming, surface textures, silver-soldering, riveting, ring-making, and surface finishes. Note: Tool kits and some supplies included; see *METALS SUPPLIES NOTE and see link below or website for a materials list and links to sources.

*Metals Supplies Note: Tuition for metals classes covers basic studio supplies, chemicals, and access to tools and equipment.  Some classes include a limited supply kit unless otherwise noted.  Students should anticipate additional fees for other tools, metal, and findings for their samples or projects. Please see website for specific supply list.

*Jewelry/Metals Open Studio Open studio time will be permitted prior to and immediately following class time; limited outside of class for open studio time will be discussed in class.

*SAFETY NOTE: All metals classes require a strong ability to comprehend and follow directions, with full understanding of all safety protocols, requirements, and restrictions due to the tools and equipment used in studio processes. Students should possess good upper body strength and strong hand-eye coordination. Individuals who cannot meet these requirements should not register for metals classes, as this is essential for both personal and class safety.

In this follow up course to Basic Metal Skills.1, students will hone their sawing, soldering, forming, and surface finishing skills and apply those basic metalsmithing techniques to create more complex projects. Student will be encouraged to design and fabricate independent projects.  Demonstrations will be covering various techinques. Students can anticipate completing at least two projects. See *METALS SUPPLIES NOTE.

*Metals Supplies Note: Tuition for metals classes covers basic studio supplies, chemicals, and access to tools and equipment.  Some classes include a limited supply kit unless otherwise noted.  Students should anticipate additional fees for other tools, metal, and findings for their samples or projects. Please see website for specific supply list.

*Jewelry/Metals Open Studio Open studio time will be permitted prior to and immediately following class time; limited outside of class for open studio time will be discussed in class.

*SAFETY NOTE: All metals classes require a strong ability to comprehend and follow directions, with full understanding of all safety protocols, requirements, and restrictions due to the tools and equipment used in studio processes. Students should possess good upper body strength and strong hand-eye coordination. Individuals who cannot meet these requirements should not register for metals classes, as this is essential for both personal and class safety.

Confidence when soldering is invaluable to metalsmiths and jewelers, and this class will hone that skill through jewelry-scale soldering exercises and practice of fundamental techniques.  Students will work through a series of projects focused on applying techniques covered, while also creating unique small metal forms. Students should expect to complete two to three projects. NOTE: Students should have taken Metal Skills.1 or have equivalent soldering skills. Tuition includes basic supplies kit and access to studio tools; see *Metals Supplies Note

*Metals Supplies Note: Tuition for metals classes covers basic studio supplies, chemicals, and access to tools and equipment.  Some classes include a limited supply kit unless otherwise noted.  Students should anticipate additional fees for other tools, metal, and findings for their samples or projects. Please see website for specific supply list.

*Jewelry/Metals Open Studio: Open studio time will be permitted prior to and immediately following class time; limited outside of class for open studio time will be discussed in class.

*SAFETY NOTE: All metals classes require a strong ability to comprehend and follow directions, with full understanding of all safety protocols, requirements, and restrictions due to the tools and equipment used in studio processes. Students should possess good upper body strength and strong hand-eye coordination. Individuals who cannot meet these requirements should not register for metals classes, as this is essential for both personal and class safety.

For millennia, charms have been made and collected for all sorts of personal reasons—to keep us safe, to remember special moments, as sweet little gifts to cherish, marking milestones or sharing joy in our lives. Create your link bracelet as you hone your soldering and fabrication skills creating chains and clasps. Then create charms that are either fabricated, formed, or cast (wax or sand) to truly personalize your charm bracelet. Students can work in bronze or silver. Materials will be discussed at the first class. See *METALS NOTE.

*METALS NOTE: Tuition for metals classes covers basic studio supplies, chemicals, and access to tools and equipment. Some classes include a limited supply kit unless otherwise noted. Students should anticipate additional fees for other tools, metal, and findings for their samples or projects. Please see website for supply lists

Jewelry & Metals Open Studio: Open studio time will be permitted prior to and immediately following class time; limited open studio time outside of class will be discussed in class.

*SAFETY NOTE: All metals classes require a strong ability to comprehend and follow directions, with full understanding of all safety protocols, requirements, and restrictions due to the tools and equipment used in studio processes. Students should possess good upper body strength and strong hand-eye coordination. Individuals who cannot meet these requirements should not register for metals classes, as this is essential for both personal and class safety.

For the advanced student wishing to pursue a new or continued topic of metalworking and/or jewelry-making or to create a small body of work. Although projects are self-directed, the instructor will work with each student to assist with design, aesthetic, and/or technical decisions. Prerequisite: Students must contact Jill Sortore at jillian.sortore@utsa.edu for prior approval before registering and should have successfully completed of at least three metals courses or equivalent intermediate metals experience. See *METALS SUPPLIES NOTE.

*Metals Supplies Note: Tuition for metals classes covers basic studio supplies, chemicals, and access to tools and equipment.  Some classes include a limited supply kit unless otherwise noted.  Students should anticipate additional fees for other tools, metal, and findings for their samples or projects. Please see website for specific supply list.

*Jewelry/Metals Open Studio: Open studio time will be permitted prior to and immediately following class time; limited outside of class for open studio time will be discussed in class.

*SAFETY NOTE: All metals classes require a strong ability to comprehend and follow directions, with full understanding of all safety protocols, requirements, and restrictions due to the tools and equipment used in studio processes. Students should possess good upper body strength and strong hand-eye coordination. Individuals who cannot meet these requirements should not register for metals classes, as this is essential for both personal and class safety.