Glass & Silver, Art/Craft

From a young age it has been very important to me to always express creativity, whether it be arranging leaves in the garden, to drawing a picture, to taking photographs. Developing a set of skills to make objects is the thing that drives me in life and my main goals are to become a highly skilled craftsperson to create quality produce.

My time in the Glass and Ceramics department at Sunderland University did initially seem geared to producing artists with heavily conceptual outcomes to project briefs, whilst developing skills to make art. As I have progressed towards the final stages of my second year, there is a sense of acceptance for those of us who are learning these techniques to put to use for the love of the materials, to then sell on for a profit. The dream is to eventually own my own business, making and selling my creations through fairs and markets, online stores and hopefully one day my own shop.

After a couple of years away from education it became increasingly evident that working several non-creative jobs was not a life I had hoped for. Who says that we can’t make a career out of something we love and want to share with the world?

Passion for material is vital to the progression of my work. Combining glass and silver and precious stones drives me to keep learning everyday. It can be hard to see how this will all come together someday, but I definitely feel I am driven enough to make it happen. For now, I’m starting at the bottom and learning as many skills as I can until I can safely say that my produce is worthy of sale.

The people around me at university and my adult learning course have taught me it is always best to ask questions. Without speaking to people and finding things out for myself I don’t think I would be where I am today. I feel far from ready to sell my work, as a perfectionist it is important to me that it is of the highest standard it can be and yet friends and acquaintances are eager to encourage me into commissions already.

Hopefully one day I will be able to look back on this time in my life fondly and be proud that I made the steps to start my journey. My first ever combination of glass and silver is the result of a quick fusing lesson and a wire wrapping YouTube demo…

Fused glass pendants wrapped in sterling silver wire, March 2016

View in the light

Silver Progress

Completing my four session silversmithing class filled me with achievement. In four short lessons I was able to say I could successfully make silver jewellery without any assistance. The final class of the course was dotted with new starters, resulting in the “more experienced” members using their own skills to practice techniques with the equipment. Initially this caused great anticipation and panic, as I would not have my mentor looking over my shoulder during the five hour session to prevent me from making mistakes, however two of the silversmithing veterans were able to keep me right with any queries.

Practicing my newly learned techniques was so fulfilling and to have developed a new skill in such a short space of time was everything I hoped to get from the course. Using tools and processes I have attempted and witnessed, I was able to create an open ring and layer it was loose layering detail in silver.

Silver Ring, March 2016

As a student with a part time job, it is safe to say I am far away from setting up my own business in glass and silver craft. The cost of the materials alone is out of my reach never mind the amount of tools required to create these pieces. For now I have signed myself back onto another set of four sessions to develop my new skills and processes starting in late April.

The dream of combining my two loves (glass and silver) may finally be becoming a reality through sheer determination and passion for the materials. Watch this space…..

Development of Silversmithing over four sessions, January – March 2016

Developing as a Silversmith

Similar to the style of my degree, my experience of jewellery making is developing at a fast pace. In only my second session I began learning to create bezel settings to fix stones/jewels onto a ring. Using my previously learned skill of sawing the metal, I carried out each step on copper first followed by silver, to ensure I did not damage the more expensive material.

Within the studio there are other jewellery makers who have more experience, which has proved both fascinating to see them work and beneficial for asking questions. Alongside these makers we were creating our own jewellery, which is really a dream come true for me. Whilst learning about the metal itself, we are able to see our ideas become a beautiful piece to wear.

During this session I did not manage to complete either of my rings, as I spent so much time trying to get every stage correct as well as soaking up the techniques going on around me for future projects. By the end of the day I had almost all of the components of my rings made, ready to bring together at the next class.

Two whole weeks went by until I was able to finish my jewellery and as an impatient maker I can admit was tough, meaning it became my mission to have a piece of silver jewellery completed by the next session to wear and show off my new skills. After three sessions I can proudly say that I have made three pieces of jewellery. Two attempts in copper and one completed silver ring with an amber stone.

Far from perfect, but we all start somewhere!

Becoming a Silversmith

Combining my love of glass and silver has always been a dream of mine. Had I not become a student of Glass and Ceramics at University of Sunderland, I am sure I would have moved away to become a trained Silversmith and jewellery maker.

My first job when I was at school was in the popular costume jewellery sister store ‘Accessorize’ where I worked part time and received amazing discount to feed my jewellery obsession. The price of the jewellery always interested me as it was not of the highest standard, due to the mass production of stock for high street sales. Every time a new piece of my jewellery became worn out and damaged after a period of time, it made me wonder how precious our jewellery becomes, especially if it is given a gift.

In the first year of my degree, jewellery influences crept into my glass work. My newly developing skill in the hotshop, resulted in five blown glass wearable sculptures for the ‘Contain’ module brief. With a conceptual basis of glamorisation of Hollywood icons, I researched starlets of the silver screen who died in tragic circumstances in the 1960s. Each piece was dedicated to a different actress, designed in response to their struggles glamorising the tragedies within the public eye.

Drop Dead Gorgeous, 2015 (Blown glass, newspaper)

Prior to this I began experimenting with beading, but soon became tired of the simplicity and access to materials, as anyone could make the pieces I was creating. My hunger for skill and originality resulted in scouring of the internet for local classes to gain some experience. Although the North East is becoming increasingly developed in terms of art and design, I did still find it hard to find an affordable jewellery class that was near to me.

Initially I started working with precious metal clay. Although I have never really taken to ceramics, it is an area I have had access to at my time in Sunderland. The metal clay is a similar medium to use, but can be a bit stickier and finer. Using this material I was able to create small disks of silver with images printed on them to attach to chains for bracelets. The clay is burned away with the use of a kitchen blow torch and the metal component is left behind.

Precious Metal Clay Bracelet Disk, 2015

My first encounter with silver jewellery making. It is true what they say about learning a new craft skill, you do become hooked. Several months following my self taught silver making, I found a course in a local adult learning magazine to teach beginners silversmithing. Regardless of my ever-decreasing bank account (which I’m sure fellow students can relate to) I signed up for the four session class.

Balancing my degree, my job and now this adult learning course has been a challenge, but it is amazing the efforts you will go to for something you are passionate about. After my first five hour class I was addicted and immediately began thinking of ways to combine my degree work with my new hobby. Much like glass work, silversmithing requires practice and patience to perfect techniques. Beginning with the cheaper alternative copper, we were taught to cut, shape, distort and solder the metal to create a ring.

First Copper handmade ring, January 2016

Since I was a child, I have always made things and it is only now that I am able to see myself making a career out of it one day. My drive to join together my two favourite materials will push me to develop my skills whilst I can seek advice from professionals during my studying. Next stop, New York Fashion Week!