Creating with small metals and an art show

Metal is a medium I’ve never worked with before. I’ve always thought of it as hard and unweilding, so when a friend suggest a jewellery with small metals evening course at Plymouth College of Art I thought, why not?

The first term was very intensive with learning the basic techniques. I never knew creating delicate jewellery required such heavy duty tools.

I liked the course and eventually decided to do another term. Then I started to love it. It is so absorbing. I can sit down and cut out a shape or solder a few things together and before I know it the whole evening is gone!

After two terms (20 weeks) there was a summer show and I put four pieces in. Other people in the class were a bit shy about this, but I think if you have the opportunity to get your work out there you should snap it up! Especially if you wish to work as an artist.

Now there’s a break for summer so I’m going to work on the theme of the sea and have lots of ideas for pieces of jewellery and metal art. I was going to do a hot glass course but don’t feel ready to leave small metals yet.

I also gave a pair of earring to a friend and she was delighted with them so I got my first testimonial.

“I have been absolutely delighted with the copper and bronze drop earrings created by Gillian Adams. They are a delight to wear and have attracted no end of compliments from people of all ages – even my teenage daughters like them! The lovely gilded colour is great for lifting your spirit and they enhance virtually any outfit. Absolute delight and look forward to acquiring my next piece of Gillian’s jewellery.”
- Mrs Malone, Plymouth

The work below involved lots of soldering, forging and sawing. We mainly worked in copper and brass, but I also bought some silver for my ring.

Here are some of my pieces:

My pieces in the art show.