STAGE ONE INTRODUCTION
Designing in Wax
You will have the opportunity to learn lost wax casting techniques. This wax modelling for casting course introduces students to a variety of wax working techniques, including carving and basic jewellery making skills. This jewellery making workshop is designed to provide students with new skills in a fun environment and walk away with a unique piece of jewellery created by them.
We believe there are numerous ways to start your jewellery journey. While some courses have strict prerequisites, we believe that if you want to start your learning here, then that’s fine with us! This course is very adaptive to individual learning needs and our expert tutor can easily accommodate for absolute beginners and those with experience who wish to take their skillset to the next level!
In Stage Two jewellery at The Bench, you will experience the use of a range of jewellery tools and techniques in a friendly and relaxed environment. Your experienced tutor will guide you through a range of techniques to expand upon the fundamentals of introductory jewellery making. This class is designed to have a rotating specialisation each term E.g. Soldering Intensive and Stone Setting.
When: Monday 6:30pm – 9:00pm
Duration: 8 Weeks (20 hours)
Class size: Maximum 10 people
Cost: $595 (Final term is 4 weeks, 3 hours pw $395)
As part of Joynton & 107 Projects, The Bench will provide subsidised courses to residents in the Zetland, Sydney area. For further information please email us at jewellery@thebench.sydney
ABOUT THE COURSE
Prerequisite
There are no prerequisites however, we recommend first completing Learn to Make Jewellery Stage One - An Introduction or equivalent. We encourage you to attend both courses in no particular order.
Course Objectives
Stage Two is designed to cover core specialisations throughout each term. You will be guided through the following techniques over the first few weeks:
Design and manufacture - Understand how to design, prototype and manufacture wax models for reproduction
Basic methods of model production - Carving, building up or a combination of both
Techniques in wax - Organic and irregular shapes, Interesting textures, spontaneous shapes and surface effects or Intricate carved patterns.
Methods of clean-up procedures - You will acquire knowledge of how to remove casting sprues and professionally polish your finished design.
Findings/ connections - You will gain an understanding in how to attach clasps and connections or additional finer details.
Advanced soldering – You will be able to undertake more complex solder joins, knowing what type of join and solder to use for the job at hand.
Course Outcomes
Each course begins with short, structured technical exercises and then fabricating, decorating and joining will be demonstrated. You will learn the basic skills needed to create your own carved wax ring and pendant. You may find that there is time to create your own simple design using your new skills. Everyone should complete at least two pieces of jewellery. Casting cost is not included in course fee - you may or may not choose to cast your wax model.
Discussion between tutor and the students as a group and as individuals will take place each week, to guide you to improve your skills.
What’s Included
A materials pack is supplied for your two projects. A selection of materials will be available to buy from your tutor at cost price.
Casting cost of wax model is not included - you may or may not choose to cast your wax model.
Casting costs are priced as follows:
+ cost of model
+ cast fees
+ GST
Your tutor will assist you in your costing calculations. (Non tarnish silver is currently $2.10 per gram - June 2021)
The Tutor: Erin Pearce
Erin Pearce is an award-winning Jeweller, who began her career almost 20 years ago with a Bachelor of Fine Arts. Practicing across multiple artistic disciplines allowed her the opportunity to pursue an increasing motivation to explore concepts through jewellery making. Erin expanded her skills through a number of roles and jewellery courses within the industry, before undertaking an apprenticeship in Jewellery Manufacture.
In 2020 Erin formally launched her own jewellery manufacturing business, Mill Foundry, with a personal focus on further exploration of technique and a desire to learn through every piece she creates. Her work is influenced by mid-century modern design and a constant consideration of the placement of both herself, and her work, between the worlds of Contemporary Art and traditional jewellery manufacturing.
The Bench workshop
The Workshop
The Bench is a modern, light filled, industry standard workshop focusing on education and training. It is a relaxed and friendly place to learn traditional and contemporary jewellery techniques, a space to develop ideas and projects such as ring making, silver jewellery and stone setting gems. We provide concept based jewellery classes to the absolute beginner, the aspiring maker and to the professional jeweller.
The Bench is a safe working and learning environment, complete with a wide inventory of tools and equipment, such as Vaniman polishing extraction, enamelling kiln, fume cabinets, micromotors, soldering torches, rolling mill, tumbler, ultrasonic and more.
Location
The Bench acknowledges Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples as the traditional custodians of our land – Australia. The Bench acknowledges the Gadigal of the Eora Nation as the traditional custodians of this place we now call Sydney.
Joynton Avenue Creative Centre in Green Square
Joynton Avenue Creative Centre in Green Square
The Bench is located at the exquisite historic site, Joynton Avenue Creative Centre in Green Square, and is easily accessed by bus, train (Green Square Station), ride or walk.
The Bench cultivates inclusive, creative and accessible spaces for everyone to have the opportunity to feel safe and welcomed.
The building has full wheelchair accessibility, ramp access from street and park entrances, internal lift for access to upper levels and a unisex accessible toilet on each level.
THE BENCH, Joynton Avenue Creative Centre
3A Joynton Ave, Zetland NSW 2017
Please be aware that we are a very small operation. Voicemails are listened to once a week on a Wednesday. We understand that you may prefer to talk with a real live human, and we are very happy to speak with you too. However, we politely ask that you schedule a suitable time. Instead of leaving a voicemail, we recommend sending a brief audio text or text message with your enquiry. We are very prompt when replying to a text message or email.
Additional notes
All the tools, materials and consumables you need for the course will be available at the venue; including an apron. You may want to buy further materials from our metal suppliers – your tutor will provide you with supplier information.
For health and safety reasons, please bring along with you the following
Hair tie: If you have long hair, please bring along something to tie it back with
Closed in shoes: We will be working with hot, sharp and heavy tools, so please wear shoes, which will protect your feet. Avoid wearing loose flowing garments.
Sketch book/note book/ pen and/or pencil: Please bring along a notebook for your own notes and design ideas. Notes will be provided to complement the techniques you will be learning but you may wish to make your own notes.
Remember: If you use glasses for reading and /or close up work please remember to bring them along.
Book your course
Questions?
Email us at: jewellery@thebench.sydney
or call us on: 0406 794 112