There are always new developments around metal clay, such as new materials or techniques.
When I started working with metal clay ten years ago, I only found silver clay. Then, different types of metals from different manufacturers started to come to the market.
I work mostly with Art Clay, and when Art Clay Copper came, several techniques to combine silver and copper were introduced. One of them is to fire the copper clay piece first (since it has higher firing temperature at 960°C), and then wrap it with silver clay. After firing the silver clay (at around 800°C), the silver will ‘capture’ the copper piece.
Some of pieces I made combining silver & copper when Art Clay Copper first arrived
Back then, I was curious, whether it would be possible to combine the silver and copper clay using polymer clay techniques to create cool patterns. However, quite significant difference of two firing temperatures kept me from doing any experiments.
When Art Clay introduced the New Mokume Gane technique, it was a wish came true.
New Mokume Gane (NMG) is a technique for Art Clay Silver and Copper based on 木目金 Mokume Gane. Mokume Gane is a traditional Japanese metalsmith technique for sword fittings which started back in the 1600s in Akita, Japan. Different layers of metals are fused and manipulated and the results often look like wood grain. Nowadays, Mokume Gane has been used to create jewelry, decoration items and hollow wares.
Through the NMG certification, Art Clay introduced six techniques of combining silver and copper clay to create amazing patterns. Although the root of the techniques is traditional Mokume Gane, the application on clay is unique, I’d never seen metals being manipulated these ways.
Art Clay New Mokume Gane curriculum
Here, working with silver and copper clay to achieve different patterns, I would say, is quite similar to working with polymer clay (except that polymer clay won’t dry out). Although ‘mixing clay’ sounds easier than layering metal sheets and manipulating it, New Mokume Gane needs a serious amount of work to make the result successful. Layering clay could be tricky, prefinishing is a detailed work, and kiln firing in two steps is a lengthy one. Then, to get a perfect piece, finishing is a key.
When creating a larger New Mokume Gane piece, I often have to do a couple of times or more firing. So here, we’re not talking about minutes or hours, but days of process. Of course, the result is totally worth it. As an artist, my wish is to create unique pieces which can tell a story in the best way possible, and having the NMG technique in my pocket allows me to do that.
My larger New Mokume Gane pieces are often also my contest pieces.
Perhaps because I need strong reasons to start working on a demanding piece :)
On ‘Coral’, the pattern was inspired by the contrast of colors on a fossilized coral cabochon. With NMG, I could adapt the contrast using silver and copper. Here, I used the Inlay technique. First, I had a copper clay base, then I hand-carved it according to the pattern and applied silver inlay. Carving and putting the inlay requires intense focus and is time-consuming. After firing, some fixing was necessary to get it perfect, especially as the piece was large and had intricate patterns.
The fossilized coral cabochon in the center of the pendant was my inspiration.
On ‘Between the Sea and the Sky’ I incorporated a part which used the ‘Skinner Blend’, a polymer clay technique to create a smooth gradation from one color to the other. I used this technique with Silver and Copper clay, with the wish to imitate the look of a sunset sky. I haven’t seen this technique used on NMG pieces before, so it was a challenge I set for myself. I love the result and made several smaller pendants using the same technique.
My wish was to create a sunset sky, utilizing the red color of copper and grey of silver.
On my ‘Winter Garden’ piece, I used NMG technique to create a part which resembles a ‘marble wall’ where the ‘fountain’ sits.
The NMG pendant is an element of the three-parts locket. It can sit inside the locket or be worn on its own.
Learning to combine silver & copper clay would make it possible to create extraordinary jewelry.
The techniques in Art Clay New Mokume Gane certification program are demanding, even for experienced metal clayers, so it’s understandable why it requires a full Art Clay Instructor certification (level 1, 2, and exam pieces).
I had been working to develop intro projects which allow the participants to step smoothly into the world of New Mokume Gane, and start creating fabulous jewelry that would stand out in the crowd. After many ideas and designs, I’m glad to present ‘Marbling of Silver and Copper Jewelry’.
In this one day introduction workshop, I’ll show how to create a stunning pair of earrings and/or a pendant utilizing the marbling technique and incorporate silver accent and synthetic fireable stone to ornament the piece. I’ll share the important dos and don’ts in marbling silver and copper, and as a bonus I’ll give demonstration of silver inlay on copper, so after the workshop you can start developing and creating unique designs. This workshop is suitable for anyone with previous experience of working with metal clay
Nowadays when there are so many jewelry being produced, the techniques from this workshop would give artists who are keen to create extraordinary pieces a big advantage.
About the marbling technique, I can tell you, it’s a bit of magic. I mean, look at these:
Each pattern is unique. You’ll never know what you’ll get.
If you’re a metal clay artist and interested to learn creating Marbling of Silver & Copper Jewelry like the earrings and jewelry set above, I’m scheduled to give this ‘Marbling of Silver & Copper Jewelry’ class on October 17th 2016, at Hobbyland, in Legnano, Milan, Italy. Following this one day class, I’ll give Silver Quilling class, which is as exciting and I’ll write more about it in my next post.
Silver and copper blend to create such lively patterns.
In just one day, you could learn how to create jewelry like these with me.
Please contact the host, or contact me by using the contact form or leaving a comment below if you have questions about the workshop, and watch this space as I’ll add any updates here.
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