Jewellery Essentials

 

Program Highlights

The fabrication of a piece of jewellery engages every element of the design and creative process. It embodies the technology, the materials, and the artist's message in a work that can be easily realized in time and place. You will be encouraged to explore personal style in conjunction with developing the skills and techniques to design, fabricate, and finish basic jewellery forms. Processes will be addressed for the use of a variety of precious metals.

This 14-week program is delivered in an intensive format, and is the equivalent to two semesters of full-time studies.  Including studies in design, drawing, and history for jewelers, these courses provide a strong foundation for fabrication, chain making, surface decoration, casting, forming, stone setting, as well as marketing and portfolio development.

 

 

Word from the Workplace

The Jewellery Essentials program inspired me to start my own home studio in the hopes of pursuing jewellery design as a career.

Niki Law

 

Why Choose Fleming?

The program is delivered at Fleming College’s Haliburton Campus, in the spectacular environment of Northern Ontario, yet less than three hours northeast of Toronto. The light and airy architecture of the main building, which was completed in the fall of 2005, houses studios and classrooms which were carefully designed for visual arts and crafts studies. This is an immersive experience -- you will be able devote yourself to your artwork in a challenging and collaborative atmosphere.

As a Fleming student, you will enjoy a number of choices in selecting your areas of interest in visual arts, as well as the duration of your study. With two semesters of study in addition to any art certificate program, you can complete the Visual and Creative Arts Diploma (two year). You can also enjoy the benefits of a number of credit transfer agreements with other post-secondary institutions.

Faculty members are not only professional artists and designers, but also dedicated teachers who are intent upon the development of your technical skills, creative thinking, and artistic integrity. The 40-year history of the Haliburton School of The Arts is proof of the passion and focus of its faculty, administration, and support staff, whose collaboration provides an environment rich in potential for studies in the arts.

 

Career Opportunities

You have started a life-long learning experience in the world of art with endless options in your pursuit of a career in the art field. You might continue to pursue a career by taking more advanced studies, or work as a studio artist to further develop your talents, become a teacher or work in the art world, in a gallery, museum or art/craft retail operation. Graduates will have the skills to establish their own jewellery studio and operate a home-based or cottage industry, apprentice with an independent jeweller, or seek an entry level position with a jewellery production/manufacturing shop.

 

Minimum Admission Requirements

 OSSD with the majority of credits at the College (C) and Open (O) level, including:

• 2 College (C) English courses (Grade 11 or Grade 12) 

When (C) is the minimum course level for admission, (U) or (U/C) courses are also accepted. 

Mature Students
If you are 19 years of age or older before classes start, and you do not possess an OSSD, you can write the Canadian Adult Achievement Test to assess your eligibility for admission.

 

Selection Process

 

Related Programs

The Glassblowing Certificate comprises 14 of the elective credit requirements for the  Visual and Creative Arts Diploma - also available at the Haliburton School of the Arts.

Graduates of the Jewellery Essentials Certificate will be considered for entrance into the Sheridan College Crafts and Design advanced diploma program. Successful applicants will enter directly into the second year of the program. All applicants will be required to present a portfolio as part of the admission process.

 

Additional Costs

Material fees are approximately $1,983.00 and are included in the tuition/fees above.

 

University Transfer Agreements

• Emily Carr University of Art + Design

Course	Hours
Semester 1
Art History VIII: Jewellery	47.50
Chain Making for Jewellery Arts	47.50
Design - Jewellery	47.50
Jewellery Casting I - Modelmaking	47.50
Jewellery Drawing and Rendering	47.50
Jewellery Fabrication I	47.50
Jewellery Fabrication II	47.50
Jewellery Fabrication III	47.50
Jewellery Forming I	47.50
Jewellery Forming II	47.50
Jewellery Stone Setting	47.50
Jewellery: Surface Decoration I	47.50
Jewellery: Surface Decoration II	47.50
Marketing/Portfolio Development	47.50

Semester 1

Art History VIII: Jewellery

Course Number: ARTS526

A piece of jewellery is evidence of the creative process. It embodies the technology, the medium, and the artist's message in a work that can be pinpointed in time and place. In this course, students will be exposed to, and analyze jewellery from different eras and cultures. As part of this exploration, they will develop criteria that will be used to compare the design and aesthetics of works from different cultures. Students will integrate this knowledge in their studio work. This survey course uses a cross cultural versus traditional chronological approach. Comparisons of medium, technique and technology may include Japanese Tsuba; jewellery from Benin, Africa, or examples of the granulation technique as practiced in ancient Etruscan jewellery, and in the 20th Century. By the end of the course each student will be able to research, select from and adapt a past style or technique to their own work; write a critique of an artwork, and prepare a collection of visual material from a specific culture.

Units: 47.50
Hours: 47.50

Chain Making for Jewellery Arts

Course Number: ARTS527

This course explores the fundamental techniques of chain making. Students will learn how to anneal and draw wire, which they will fabricate into links and elements to be connected and / or soldered in order to form traditional and experimental chain styles. Proportion, materials, flexibility, and shape will be explored in the development of students' own designs. They will also learn the mechanics of fasteners, drawing on historical design and techniques to develop functional and pleasing forms.

Units: 47.50
Hours: 47.50

Design - Jewellery

Course Number: ARTS983

This studio-based course will provide the student an understanding of the basic design process as applied to jewellery. Line, texture, colour, symmetry, balance, and proportion will be explored in relation to the form and function along with the wearability of a piece in conjunction with construction processes and material limitations. Through research and presentation, examples of different jewelers and their work will be related to styles and technology from a design point of view. Students will be challenged to identify elements of personal interests in style through a series of in class exercises and critiques.

Units: 47.50
Hours: 47.50

Jewellery Casting I - Modelmaking

Course Number: ARTS528

This course is an introduction to the fundamental techniques of model making for the purpose of lost wax casting. Students will learn to make wax models through the processes of carving and model making. Technical and exploratory exercises and projects will help to develop student understanding of the materials, tools, historic and contemporary techniques and processes necessary to wax model making. The samples produced, will be applied to practical casting situations in the next level casting course. There is a special emphasis on the competent use of equipment, as well as maintaining a healthy and safe working environment.

Units: 47.50
Hours: 47.50

Jewellery Drawing and Rendering

Course Number: ARTS530

This course is an introduction to the fundamental techniques of drawing and rendering for jewellery applications. Through technical and exploratory exercises and project work, students will develop understanding of the different types of images, their applications, and the tools, materials, techniques and processes necessary to produce accurate shop drawings and presentation renderings for a range of contexts. A variety of media will be explored that are appropriate to communicating design concepts in the jewellery arts. The results will be discussed through in-class review.

Units: 47.50
Hours: 47.50

Jewellery Fabrication I

Course Number: ARTS531

This course introduces the fundamental fabrication techniques used with nonferrous metals. Students will learn to use hand tools competently in order to design and construct basic metal forms (rings, pendants, brooches, and earrings). Through technical and exploratory exercises and practice students will develop skills in the use of the oxygen / propane torch system with which they will anneal and solder their forms. There will be a special emphasis on the appropriate use of shop equipment and the health and safety procedures essential to work practices in the jewellery studio.

Units: 47.50
Hours: 47.50

Jewellery Fabrication II

Course Number: ARTS532

This course builds on, and refines techniques explored in Jewellery Fabrication I. Students will design and execute more complex forms, which may be hinged, riveted, or fabricated using multiple, soldered joints. Examples of complex designs could be layered, or hollow, constructed rings, brooches, pendants, earrings, clips, and/or findings. This course examines different types of mechanism fabrication including bending, scoring, and riveting. Students will design and problem-solve through a range of exercises and practice pieces while developing their repertoire of jewellery fabrication techniques. Development of skill, technique, personal style, and expression will be facilitated through group and individual work.

Units: 47.50
Hours: 47.50

Jewellery Fabrication III

Course Number: ARTS533

This course will further develop and strengthen techniques used in Jewellery Fabrication I & II as well as introduce advanced techniques requiring greater skill and accuracy. Specifically, these include the use and function of hinges and skill in making tubing from sheet metal. Students will develop further understanding of metal and its working properties to apply to assignments and or projects.

Units: 47.50
Hours: 47.50

Jewellery Forming I

Course Number: ARTS726

This course is an introduction to the basic processes exploiting the malleability of metals used in jewellery arts. Students will have the opportunity to explore the wealth of options available in creating objects with volume and form. Through technical exercises and personal exploration, students will be able to form metal through a series of different techniques such as hammering, rolling, fold forming, bending, and chasing and repousee. Design principles will be integrated into course activity in order to help students explore the problems of form and function. Starting with sheet or square stock, they will use the techniques introduced in the course to build on and enhance objects of their own design.

Units: 47.50
Hours: 47.50

Jewellery Forming II

Course Number: ARTS727

This course is a continuation of the skills acquired in the Jewellery Forming I course; building on the basic techniques used in forming for jewellery arts. Through lectures, demonstrations and practice exercises, students will explore more techniques to form metal including sinking, planishing, forging, step rolling, tubing, fold forming, bending, tool making, and chasing and repousee. There will be a continued emphasis on design principles and their application as students work though the various techniques that are applied to jewellery.

Units: 47.50
Hours: 47.50

Jewellery Stone Setting

Course Number: ARTS535

This course is an introduction to the basic fabrication techniques used for stone settings including materials, design, fabrication, and finishing. Through technical and exploratory exercises and projects students will produce a variety of different types of settings for different functions and markets. The properties of gem stones will be assessed in relation to their appropriateness for a given setting as well as techniques for setting them in the finished design. The competent use of equipment and safety procedures in the jewellery studios will be emphasised.

Units: 47.50
Hours: 47.50

Jewellery: Surface Decoration I

Course Number: ARTS536

Surface Decoration I introduces students to an inventory of surface treatments for metal, including a variety of finishes, polishes, textures, decoration, and pattern. Working with sterling silver, copper and brass, the emphasis will be on consistency, attention to detail, and concepts such as pattern, contrast, and personal expression. Students will explore a variety of options for finishes, including high polish, brush finish, and matte finishes. The chemistry of metals will be addressed while learning about depletion gilding, and students will use various resist methods and sandblasting techniques. Using tools, hammers, files, burrs, and stamps, students will explore texture and patterning and will be introduced to tool making by fabricating one decorative steel stamp. Sterling silver will be fused to create richly textured surfaces. Students will research and experiment with various methods of patina applications and metal leafs to add colour. Special attention will be paid to health and safety in the studio and the appropriate use, handling, storage and disposal of chemicals. Development of technique, personal style and expression will be facilitated by individual and group critiques and keeping a studio journal.

Units: 47.50
Hours: 47.50

Jewellery: Surface Decoration II

Course Number: ARTS537

Students will continue to build on and refine their repertoire of surface treatments for jewellery. The focus will be on texture, imagery, pattern and colour through the exploration of roller printing, married metal, and etching, with an emphasis on consistency, and attention to detail. Students will roller-print designs and patterns using found objects, paper, and pierced and textured metal patterns and will learn the correct use and care of the rolling mill. Concepts of mirror image, positive and negative space, and repeat pattern will be added to their design repertoire. Using married metal techniques such as inlay, multi-metal lamination and twisted wire lamination, graphic imagery and pattern with different coloured metals will be created. In addition, students will experiment with heat-colouring married metal designs and copper as well as etching and resists and the combination of finishes. As this course is image and pattern based, drawing and design will be integrated into the studio work. Through assignments, maintaining a studio journal, and personal exploration, students will discover both the technical and expressive natures of surface decoration techniques. Health and safety in the studio will be emphasised with a focus on the proper and safe use of chemicals.

Units: 47.50
Hours: 47.50

Marketing/Portfolio Development

Course Number: MKTG053

Practicing artists can choose from many different paths to advance their personal and artistic goals. This course examines the ways in which artists can assess choices in further education, financing and operating their own studio, presenting themselves, and promoting and marketing their work. Students will analyze the various aspects of developing a portfolio, photographing and editing quality images for promotion and documentation, and writing an artist's statement, cv, cover letters, and promotional materials. They will research and evaluate the services of trade/support organizations, marketing venues, the process for grant applications, artists residencies and internships. Resources for learning the issues in successfully operating a studio, along with the business practices and legal implications of these operations will also be investigated. Students will summarize their personal goals to establish their own specific set of options for continuing their artist's practices. In class sessions will involve research, writing, presentation, and critical discussion.

Units: 47.50
Hours: 47.50