Rethinking Silver: More Glow, Less Dough
$430.00
$430.00
VIRTUAL WORKSHOP-Silver and Steel Jewelry
June 6-7
With silver prices tripling in the past year, many metalsmiths are being forced to rethink how—and whether—they continue working in silver. This two-day workshop reframes that challenge as an opportunity.
Rather than relying on mass or volume, students will learn high-impact, cost-savvy strategies for combining silver and steel, using silver as surface, texture, and visual punctuation instead of bulk material. Working with silver in multiple forms—including silver foil bonding (Eun Boo), reticulated silver, and fused silver and white bronze powders. Participants will explore ways to create richness, contrast, and luminosity while using surprisingly small amounts of the precious metal.
The focus is on making silver work harder: smart placement, bold contrasts, and surface manipulation that amplify silver’s presence against steel’s dark strength. Through demonstrations, hands-on experimentation, and targeted design discussion, students will gain tools to design confidently within material constraints—without sacrificing impact or ambition.
This workshop is ideal for metalsmiths who want to stay inventive, relevant, and economically resilient while continuing to make strong, contemporary mixed-metal work.
The workshop will be packed full of information, hands-on skill building and fun. In addition, a big focus of the workshop will be on the design aspect of silver and steel jewelry, learning to use silver elements as a guide for design.
What We Will Cover
Day 1 May 16 8:30 a.m.-4 p.m. PST
- Alloying fine silver to create lower karat metal mixes with the same silvery glow
- Fuse fine silver powders to steel, which results ins sparkling spheres resembling a starry sky
- Fuse white bronze powder, a silver lookalike with a smooth surface at a fraction of the cost of silver
- Design tips for maximum impact: how to draw the eye to the gold
Day 2 May 17 8:30 a.m.-4 p.m. PST
- Alloy your own reticulation silver and create a beautiful reticulated silver element to combine with silver
- Apply different patinas that highlight the bright flow of silver against steel
- Seal your jewelry to protect it for years to come
- Tips for selling steel and silver jewelry to emphasize its value
KIT $60 billed after registration
Instructor will send an email after you register asking which kit option you want and then will send an invoice.
- • One 12” x 12” steel sheet 20g
- 2”x4” sheet of fine silver foil
- Silver powder—5 grams
- White bronze powder—10 grams
- Shared supplies (cost prorated)
- Copper powder for alloying
- Gun bluing and various other patinas
- Sealing wax
- Shofu silicon wheels for flexshaft
STUDENT PROVIDED SUPPLIES
- Note that the sources shown are merely examples. Many different vendors can be sourced for these products.
- 1 charcoal block hard (new or clean)
- 2 agate burnishers
- Jeweler scale (accurate to .00grams)
- Fine silver. At least ½ -1 ounce casting grains, sheet or wire.
20 in stock