ARTS 341
Jewelry II – Intermediate Jewelry and Metalsmithing
1. Catalog Entry
ARTS 341
Jewelry II – Intermediate Jewelry and Metalsmithing
Credit hours (3)
Prerequisites: ARTS 241
Students will gain an understanding of the lost wax casting process through creative exploration achieved through hands on assignments and readings. Students will be introduced to working with jeweler’s waxes through reductive and additive processes. Students will also be exposed to casting organic materials such as wood, and casting pre-existing plastic found objects. Stone setting techniques that will be covered are tailored for cast jewelry such as bezel, flush and cast in place stone settings. Students will also be introduced to rubber mold making for producing multiples for one of a kind pieces and production line jewelry.
2. Detailed Description of Course
Upon completion of this course, students will demonstrate an applied understanding of the lost wax casting process, and forming and stone setting skills that enhance cast works, both body and small sculpture.
This course will focus on understanding the history, processes and materials used in the lost wax casting process. Students will gain an understanding of the origins of the lost wax casting process from its beginning in ancient Egypt to how it is used in the jewelry field today based on centrifugal casting techniques; refined by dentists in the 1950’s.
This course will focus on understanding how to construct a wax model through an additive or subtractive process using specialty wax tools. Students will then learn how to calculate the wax to metal ratio through the same mathematical formulas used in the jewelry industry. Students will cast primarily in sterling silver, brass and the Japanese alloy of Shibuichi. If students like, they can cast a final piece from gold depending on their skill set and the current market price.
Following the examples of new library resources pertaining to contemporary metal work will heighten the students’ awareness of contemporary trends in casting.
3. Detailed Description of Conduct of Course
Through lecture and hands on demonstrations. Examples of previous successful student works and examples from magazines such as Metalsmith will be used as inspirational resources. Student readings will be assigned from magazines, as well as library and internet sources.
4. Goals and Objectives of the Course
1) Continue personal aesthetic and conceptual growth.
2) Develop observation, critical thinking, and problem-solving skills.
3) Introduce various three-dimensional concepts.
4) Form unique, inventive ideas.
5) Make informed decisions before deciding upon a possible final solution.
6) Present ideas and solutions in a clear well-crafted visual form.
7) Become more familiar with a range of artists who work in the jewelry/metalsmithing
field
through slide lecture, library/internet sources, SNAG (The Society of North
American
Goldsmiths), and Metalsmith Magazine.
8) Encourage the application of basic design principles and personal expressiveness
to
compositions in precious and non-ferrous metals and other related materials.
9) Teach processes and materials common to jewelry design and to other creative
works on a
small, sculptural scale.
10)Provide knowledge of and insight into contemporary jewelry and metalsmithing
practices.
5. Assessment Measures
In addition to the successful completion of 3 cast works:
1) Ongoing sketchbook plans and drawings
2) Quizzes on processes that are required for preparation of wax models for the
lost wax casting
process and wax-to-metal ratio formulas
3) Critical thinking in application of wax carving skills, and marked evidence
of successes and
failures
4) Evidence of library and internet research and completion of assigned book/DVD
reviews
available in McConnell Library
6. Other Course Information
Additional Readings may be selected from books of the student’s choice and articles available in jewelry related Magazines.
Review and Approval
March 18, 2005 Revision by Steve Arbury, Chair
October 2, 2012
September 2, 2014