Presented here are examples of workshops conducted by Jenny Gore in Australia and throughout the world.
Contact Jenny for further information about these and other workshops.
A number of workshop demonstration pieces from the ‘taking a risk’ and reticulation workshops are available here.
■ ‘taking a risk’ workshop
Preferably a four or five day workshop, but may be squeezed into three
RISK — allowing your intuition to do the designing
RISK — playing with colours and shapes, mixing enamels and techniques to develop new imagery ... straight from the ‘unconscious’
Using sifting with torn stencils, sgraffito, painting and watercolour enamels, fine gold and silver foils, wet inlay, ceramic oxides, ‘carefree lustres’ and gold leaf to develop the story which emerges … be surprised, maybe learn something about yourself!
■ reticulation workshop
Three to four days for students with some previous enamelling experience
Precious metal foils will be reticulated on the surface of pre-fired enamel pieces, to create imagery with beautiful textures, and varying colours of gold and silver. Many different effects can be achieved by the use of different base colours and the layering of fluxes and transparent colours over the top.
We will be enamelling four inch (100 x 100 mm) squares of copper with a black background and a simple stencilled design in opaque colour. If time permits more experiments may be made over transparent colours.
Torn or cut 24k gold and fine silver foils will be applied and fired to produce an effect of reticulation, creating interesting textures and abstract imagery. For more advanced work, figurative imagery may be used. Some areas will be covered with various fluxes and transparent colours for different effects.
More detail can be built up with opaque colour, ceramic oxides and/or ‘carefree lustres’. If time permits, experiments can be made to discover the different effects on the foils of different base colours.
■ stencils / using design from collage workshop
Three day workshop
We will create a design of abstract imagery from a coloured paper collage, made with pieces torn or cut from glossy magazines. We will then cut stencils from a working drawing of the selected area of the design.
On a black or white enamelled base we will proceed to build up layers of coloured opaques, using sgraffito techniques, grids etc to add interest and texture.
When the imagery is complete we will add gold and silver foils, as part of the design, then either wet-inlay or sift transparent colours over.
Drawing or writing, using ceramic oxides or ‘carefree lustres’, and gold leaf fused to the surface will complete the piece.
■ playing with ‘watercolour’ and painting enamel workshop
Five day workshop for students with some previous enamelling experience
Explore new possibilities, enjoy playing with materials, create spontaneous imagery using watercolour and painting enamels ... inlaying gold and silver foils, with details added with ‘carefree lustres’ and ceramic oxides. Finish with fine gold leaf fused to the surface.
We will be using four inch (100 x 100 mm) squares of copper with a white background as a base for various enamel painting media, eg watercolour enamel, screening enamels (enamel crayons if desired), to create spontaneous imagery on opaque white backgrounds. Different textures will be achieved with other materials and selected firing times and temperatures.
When the imagery is complete we will embellish with gold and silver foils, as part of the design, then either wet-inlay or sift transparent colours over.
Drawing or writing, using ceramic oxides or ‘carefree lustres’, and gold leaf fused to the surface will complete the piece.
■ design for enamelling / artist block workshop
Four day workshop
Good design, the combining of colours and materials, and ‘artist block’ are some of the problems facing any artist and there are some simple ways of resolving these.
We will be looking at different ways of preparing designs and the practical application of various methods of creating a working drawing with ways of interpreting this into the medium of enamel. We will also try an intuitive approach using collage and accidental ‘happenings’ on the pieces and consider the reasons for making the particular piece, the inspiration behind the idea, fun ways of getting started when the mind is blank!
And finally considering ‘the rules of design’ and when it is appropriate to break them.
other workshops
■ Liquid enamels
■ Experimenting with textures
■ Grisaille (using Thompson Leaded Enamel)
■ Enamelling for beginners
© jenny gore |
