Metals/Jewelry at Bravo School of Art

Using acrylic sheet, learn to create a simple die shape of your choice and recreate the shape in metal. This is a technique that mimics the use of a hydraulic press but is done by hand without expensive equipment. Learn to saw and file acrylic sheet. Also to drill, punch, anneal and texture metal. This will all be brought together by wire weaving the piece to a frame enhanced with beads. Provided from your materials fee are acrylic die material, copper, steel wire, beads, chain and use of tools.

$81 Bravo member / $93 non-member + $15 Materials fee

Thursday, May 16 10am - 4pm

Monday, June 3 10am - 4pm

Sunday, July 28 10am - 4pm

Friday, August 16 10am - 4pm

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BOTTLE CAP-A-CHONS

Turn your collection of bottle caps with pretty and colorful graphics into fabulous “cap-a-chons” incorporating equally fabulous beads, buttons, flat marbles or whatevers! Learn several techniques to "set" your object into the cap and how to create a simple bail made from sheet metal which is riveted to the bottle cap. All tools are provided.

$42 Bravo member / $48 non-member + $10 Materials fee

Wednesday, May 8 6 - 9pm

Saturday, June 1 2 - 5pm

Sunday, July 21 9am - 12pm

Monday, August 5 1 - 4pm

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METAL COLLAGE

Envision like a painter or collage artist while working like a metal smith. Create an autobiographical, abstract, figurative or scenic composition. Cut images out of thin, 32-gauge copper or brass. Use a variety of tools and metalsmithing techniques as you learn to hammer, punch, stamp and emboss detail and texture; bend, fold and form with fingers, mandrels, and pliers; file, forge, fringe and ruffle the edges; ‘cold-connect’ shapes and add linear movement with wires you twist, coil, spiral, bend and sew to your forms. Enrich some pieces with color using ‘Liver of Sulphur’ and ‘Brass Ager’. Discuss other ‘patina’ options you may do at home. Prepare the wooden base with acrylic paint and attach elements with an assortment of copper, brass and steel nails, tacks, and wires to sew, wrap, coil and connect. Create a 2-D composition or let it project dimensionally from the surface.

$68 Bravo member / $78 non-member + $20 Materials fee

Sunday, May 26 10am - 3pm

Saturday, August 17 10am - 3pm

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METALS AND MIXED MEDIA

Create an assemblage that is a visual metaphor, an autobiographical statement or an abstract collaged collection of metals and art elements found in nature or recycled from daily life. Use a flat piece of wood as a base. Cut shapes from thin-gauge copper or brass. Add texture, line, form and color as you hammer, stamp, punch, emboss, bend, fold, crunch, twist, forge, fringe and oxidize metal shapes using a variety of tools and metalsmithing techniques. Create cold-connections and add linear movement with wires you twist, coil, spiral, sew, and rivet. Arrange metals and ‘found’ ephemera (buttons, twigs, stones, glass shards, etc.) into an art composition and attach everything to the base with adhesives, copper and brass wires, and an array of colorful tacks and nails. All tools and materials provided. No experience necessary.

$81 member / $93 non-member + $20 materials fee

Saturday, June 29 10am - 4pm

Friday, August 2 9:30am - 3:30pm

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REPOUSSE FOR TODAY

Learn the ancient art of Repousse; a metalworking technique in which a malleable metal is shaped by hammering from the reverse side to form a raised design. Use Cooky’s methods of simple design, working with tools and techniques of today. To speed along this typically time-consuming process, students will work pitch-free. Materials list provided upon registration.

$42 Bravo member / $48 non-member + $50 materials fee

Sunday, May 19 2 - 5pm

Monday, June 17 9am - 12pm

Friday, July 26 1 - 4pm

Saturday, August 10 1 - 4pm

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RINGS AROUND THE BANGLE

Learn to forge and solder sterling silver to create a beautiful bangle bracelet. This is a simple introduction to silversmithing with perfectly amazing results guaranteed! All tools are provided.

$42 Bravo member / $48 non-member + $10 materials fee

Friday, May 31 2 - 5pm

Sunday, June 30 2 - 5pm

Monday, July 29 10am - 1pm

Monday, August 19 6 - 9pm

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SILVER EARRINGS

Create a pair of unique sculptural earrings in sterling silver using basic metalsmithing techniques and tools! Design and cut your earring shapes out of thin-gauge silver. Enrich the surface with texture or words using hammers, stamps, files or punches. Bend, twist or 'form' your earrings dimensionally. Create movement and areas of interest by adding colorful glass or semi-precious beads with linear elements of wire that you learn to twist, coil, spiral and forge. Learn to ‘cold-connect’ shapes of copper or brass with wires or rivets to add greater contrast. Attach ear wires and wear your earrings home! All tools and materials are provided. No experience required.

$68 Bravo member / $78 non-member + $18 materials fee

Friday, May 3 10am - 3pm

Sunday, July 14 10am - 3pm

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GARDEN ART

Enjoy making whimsical metal Garden Art to display on your patio, porch or garden wall, or hang in a tree or window. Use a variety of metalsmithing tools and techniques as you learn to cut, texture, emboss and stamp words or designs into flat, thin-gauge copper or brass sheet, and then move the metal into 3-D sculptural form through bending, folding or twisting. Create a decorative brass hook and add colorful glass bead elements with wire ‘cold-connections’ after you’ve learned to forge, twist, coil and spiral!

$55 Bravo member / $63 non-member + $14 materials fee

Monday, May 13 1 - 5pm

Saturday, July 27 10 - 2pm