The Original Imaginative Captures

The Original Imaginative Captures
Instructor: Andy Cooperman
August 23-26 ,Friday - Monday, 4 days 9:30-5:00
Class Fee: $780 | $30 materials fee payable to instructor

Class format: in studio at Danaca Design

Prerequisites: Must be able to solder unattended. 

Class Description

They used to call me-- Andy Cooperman-- “The Crusher” for my heavy hand in stone setting. I had to find a new way to include stones without breaking them. What began as a work-around became a way of working: This is Capturing. 
Got a stone, enamel, little found treasure or tiny rubber chicken that’s been lying on your bench just waiting to become something special? This information-packed workshop can make that happen by helping you develop new, elegant, more fully integrated setting (capturing) solutions and break down some of the rigid walls between idea, process and material.
We’ll loosen up and liberate the problem solver within, examine the why’s along with the how’s and explore a variety of tricks, studio tips and some really bad jokes. Among the topics demonstrated and discussed: cold connecting, caging, back setting, the flex shaft and advanced soldering techniques.
 
*Participants must have basic jewelry skills and experience with the rolling mill, torches, hammers, buffers, etc. Required skills include drilling with the flex shaft machine, sawing, filing, silver soldering and basic bezel setting. Those who enroll must be able to solder unattended.  

Materials INCLUDED:

• Copper and brass wire for riveting
• Finishing materials, such as sandpapers/emery and polishing compound

Students MUST Bring:

• METAL: Sheet: 18-22ga.Appox. 6 X 6 - Whatever metal you wish from which to make several small brooches or jewelry objects: Sterling, copper, brass, bronze (even small amounts of gold). (Remember, we can always roll down thicker material.)
• Clean (no solder) scrap (sterling, gold, bronze - if you have some): This can be handy to melt for wire or small amounts of sheet or simply to play with, fuse, etc.
• Silver Wire (if desired) for riveting: 18 or 20 gauge round (available in studio store)
• Wire for possible forging or forming: 8, 10 or 12 ga. (We can even make wire from scrap) (available in studio store)
• Sawblades: 2/0, 6/0 (available in studio store)
• Silver solder: wire or sheet: easy, medium and hard (available in studio store)
• Drills: any you have, especially: 1mm (18ga) approx. #58, .8mm (20ga) approx. #66  (available in studio store)
• Magnifiers (loupes/optivisors) - if you need them (available in studio store)
• Sketchpad and pencil
• Dust mask
• Several objects to incorporate:
• Participants should bring to class some small artifact, gemstone or found object that you find interesting-- or in some way compelling — for examination and even group discussion. Time permitting, these objects can be included in or even serve as points of depart for a piece of jewelry or a non-wearable item.
  
  

Students MAY Bring:

• Flex shaft tools: any burs, buffs, abrasives, etc. that you might like to use.
• Favorite pliers, files, small riveting or goldsmith's hammer or any hand tools and a solder pick if you use one.
• Measuring devices (if you have or use them)

Instructor Bio:

Andy Cooperman makes all sorts of things from all sorts of things and is known for applying the ethos and discipline of High Craft Metalsmithing to a wide variety of often disparate materials. He has been a jeweler and metalsmith for over thirty years and a writer and educator for close to that.
 
Andy’s work has been exhibited nationally and internationally and can be found in public and private collections as well as books and publications that include Art Jewelry Today (I, II & III), The Penland Book of Jewelry, Humor in Craft and many more.
Andy teaches and lectures nationally and has spoken at the Society of North American Goldsmiths conference, the annual CoMA (Colorado Metalsmithing Association) conference and as keynote speaker for both the International Society of Glass Bead Makers and the Eastern Carolina University Materials Topics Symposium.

Learn more about Andy, HERE.

Review our class cancellation policy HERE.

All students must fill out and electronically submit the Danaca Design COVID-19 Studio Safety Protocol and Waiver form before attending class.