Beginner Series with Joy Raskin

Time & Location

Jan 12, 2022, 2:30 PM – Feb 23, 2022, 5:30 PM
Lexington, 130 Waltham St, Lexington, MA 02421, USA

About the Class or Event

6 Wednesdays, 2:30- 5:30 pm

Begins January 12, In Studio

Tuition: $300 (Includes a $30 Studio Fee)

Materials Fee: $40 (the Materials Fee will be due to the instructor on the first day of class.)

Description:  This class is an ideal introduction to metalsmithing for students with no previous experience. Over the course of 6 weeks, you will explore the fascinating world of jewelry making and simple metalworking. You will complete up to 4 projects, using different processes such as filing, soldering, sanding, forging, fabricating, setting stones in bezel settings, and various ways of finishing such as creating hammer textures and polishing. You will work with four metals: brass, copper, bronze, and sterling silver.

The syllabus will proceed as follows:

Week 1 – Basic Soldering, Forging, and filing to make rings.

Week 2 – Sawing/piercing sheet metal, sweat soldering, drilling

Week 3 – Using the Flex Shaft, Riveting and Cold Connections

Week 4– Bezel setting – learn to set cabochons

Week 5 – Bezel setting continued

Week 6 – Project completion

Toolboxes will be available for students to rent.  They will contain a saw frame and blades, one large file and a set of needle files, round nose pliers, chain nose pliers, scissors, safety glasses, tweezers, a solder pick, 4 grits of sandpaper, drill bits, and solder. In addition, students are encouraged to bring an assortment of hand tools they may possess, such as a jeweler’s saw/blades, pliers, files, and visors, as well as whatever metal/material they plan to use.

Course level: Beginner

About the instructor: Joy Raskin, an NH native, calls herself a New Englander. In 1984, Joy took jewelry-making in high school, thus starting her metalsmithing career, and was one of the youngest craftspeople to be accepted into the League of NH Craftsmen in 1986.   After completing a BFA from RISD and an MFA from UMass-Dartmouth, focusing on flatware, earning the nickname Spoon Lady since flatware is her forte.   Since 1996, she has been teaching jewelry making/metalsmithing locally and all over NH, MA, and CT. She has grown into a creative metalsmith, being able to translate clients’ ideas into wearable jewelry and functional silverware /tableware.   Her work is a mixture of jewelry and functional tableware, such as flatware, serving utensils, candlestick holders, small metal bowls, and more. She works primarily in silver, gold, steel, and some brass, bronze, and copper, plus gemstones.